KIC

RYOYUKAN　RY403

English

【+R-Jugyo】
This course will not have +R-Jugyo. The number of class hours for “+R-Jugyo” will be covered by activities related to the course.

This advanced seminar offers a comprehensive exploration of key issues in international development and environmental sustainability, tailored for undergraduate students seeking to deepen their understanding in these areas. Ideal for students with interests in topics such as political economy of development, foreign aid, cultural deprivation and survival, refugee crises, educational challenges, agricultural or rural development, over-tourism, energy sustainability, environmental pollution, global warming and climate change, and natural disasters, this seminar provides a multidisciplinary framework for analysis.
　The course encourages the application of diverse social science methodologies to dissect the intricate social factors and mechanisms driving global and local challenges, and to conceptualize potential solutions. Students will be guided to engage critically with at least one social science discipline, enabling them to develop a nuanced understanding of the complex, interconnected dynamics between stakeholders, issues, and environments relevant to their research interests.
　Throughout the seminar, students will receive personalized research guidance from their academic advisor to support the development of their graduation thesis. The seminar format includes in-depth presentations and collaborative discussions, fostering an environment of intellectual rigor and scholarly exchange.
    In this Zemi course, participation in the Zemi Research Convention is required once and will be counted toward your course grade.
   

By the end of this course, students will have developed the following competencies:
•Craft a Comprehensive Research Plan: Students will be adept at creating a well-structured research plan, demonstrating clear objectives, methodological rigor, and a thoughtful timeline.
•Integrate Social Science Disciplines: Students will acquire the expertise to anchor their research within at least one social science discipline, applying its theories and methodologies to deeply analyze their chosen topic.
•Effectively Analyze and Utilize Data: Students will refine their ability to gather, interpret, and apply data in a manner that is aligned with their research framework, ensuring robust and insightful findings.
•Communicate Research Findings Persuasively: Students will enhance their presentation skills, enabling them to convey their research findings in a clear, compelling, and impactful manner.
•Produce a Distinguished Bachelor’s Thesis: Students will culminate their academic journey by completing a well-researched, analytically rigorous, and valuable bachelor’s thesis that reflects their mastery of the subject matter and research process.

Students are expected to have a well-defined focus regarding their area of interest within development or environmental studies. They should be clear on the specific social science discipline(s) they intend to anchor their research in, whether it be sociology, political science, economics, or another relevant field. Additionally, students must thoughtfully select appropriate research methodologies, such as interviews, statistical analyses, or document surveys, to effectively explore and analyze their chosen topic.

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors)	Theme
	Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1-14	Seminar Management Method
	Year 3 (1st semester): In the initial seminars, participants will present a summary of an article of their choice. Following this, they will develop and present their research plan, informed by relevant literature. By the end of the semester, participants are expected to submit a term report on the topic chosen for their graduation thesis. Year 3 (2nd semester): Participants will continue reading relevant literature while refining their research plan and begin drafting papers that will serve as the foundation for their graduation thesis. Year 4 (3rd semester): Participants will implement their research plan and further develop the chapters of their graduation thesis. Year 4 (4th semester): Participants will finalize the writing of their graduation thesis based on their research findings.

Classes will be held face-to-face.

Students are expected to take ownership of their research by diligently identifying and engaging with pertinent literature aligned with their academic interests. This involves not only the thorough reading and synthesis of key ideas from these sources but also the regular presentation of their research advancements. Additionally, when deemed appropriate and when the students demonstrate sufficient capability, they may undertake fieldwork to gather primary data that substantiates the core arguments of their thesis.

Kind	Percentage	Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)
Report Examination (A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)
Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　 (Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)	100	Term Paper：40% Quality of ideas (16%) Organization (8%) Conventions (8%) Format and appearance (8%) Continuous Assessment (Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)：60% Attendance (30%) Presentations and discussions (30%)

英語/日本語での質問/メールでの質問/コミュニケーションペーパー執筆を可とする。English/Japanese will be acceptable in oral communication/mail communication/communication paper.

None

None

https://research-db.ritsumei.ac.jp/rithp/k03/resid/S001572?lang=en

Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Examples of Past Graduation Research (Graduation Thesis) Titles

(Environment fields)
・Analyzing the impacts of community choice aggregators (CCAs) in reducing carbon emissions and benefitting communities in California with the implementation of the renewables portfolio standard (RPS)
・The shift of ‘hilltribe’ identity and their demand in contemporary Thailand
・Development in Iran: An analysis of development paths Iran has taken and its current situations of development
・How can a company’s commitment to CSR contribute to the sustainability of the company and the environment
・Analysing the impacts of community choice aggregators (CCAs) in reducing carbon emissions & benefitting communities in California with the implementation of the renewables portfolio standard (RPS)
・Renewable energy policies and investments in the Australian solar energy market
・Three factors influencing the effectiveness of the implementation of plastic bag ban and levy policies
・Food production and consumption with their impacts on the environment
・Dumping on the Global South: Power and socioeconomic inequality and its avoidance of personal environmental responsibility
・Countermeasures to global warming: Looking at the situations in the developing countries
・A study on plant-based diet in Japan: Factors that motivate and hinder Japan’s prevalence of vegetarianism
・Air pollution caused by automobiles and international relations
・ESG and green management in Thailand
・The water crisis: A comprehensive understanding of Chile’s drought, the reasons, and the moves toward a solution
・Plastic pollution in Southeast Asia

(Development fields)
・The shift of ‘hilltribe’ identity and their demand in contemporary Thailand
・Development in Iran - An analysis of development paths Iran has taken and its current situations of development
・Hill tribe tourism in northern Thailand: An analysis of the development of hill tribe tourism and the relationships between the hill tribes and travel agencies
・Challenges of agricultural development in Myanmar
・Farmland abandonment in Japan: Its current status and the government’s response
・An analysis of Cambodia’s development problems
・Balancing over-tourism and sustainable tourism strategies in Jeju Island
・How can sustainable supply chain practices be effectively implemented in the fast fashion industry to address environmental and social challenges within the context of globalisation and the current capitalist global economy?
・Sustainable mining in Peru: Tailings dam risk management
・Volunteer tourism: Possible impacts and perceptions of host communities
・To what extent do state policies improve student participation and performance in primary education in developing nations?
・Comparison of capital relocation projects based on the influence of Brasilia: focused on the case studies of Nigeria and Indonesia
・How can the language education policies and educational strategies in the United States influence the educational achievement and social integration of immigrant and refugee students?

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