This course is offered in a hybrid format — students can choose to attend online or in person at UNU headquarters in Tokyo.
This course consists of two components: lectures and group work. The lecture series introduces key issues in international development, including challenges faced by developing countries, project evaluation methods, the relationship between engineering and development, applications of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for preserving world heritage sites, development and natural disasters, global urban climatology, education in the context of international development, and international plant construction projects. Through these topics, students will gain a multidisciplinary understanding of development issues and practical approaches to addressing them.
The group work component focuses on developing a proposal for an international development project. Students will assume the role of expert consultants who are asked to recommend development policies and projects to political and economic leaders in a developing country. The objective is to understand the process of development policymaking and project selection. Developing countries must balance social and economic objectives while working within severe budget constraints. As resources are insufficient to implement all desirable projects, prioritization is essential. Students will examine how political and economic conditions influence decision-making and how the selection of priority policies and projects can shape a country’s long-term development trajectory and future growth.
Course Structure
Please note that topics and schedule are subject to change.
Coordinator: Prof. Shinya Hanaoka (Institute of Science Tokyo)
- Lecture 1: Basics of Project Evaluation (Prof. Shinya Hanaoka)
- Group Work 1: Guidelines, Country Selection
- Lecture 2: Fundamental of Feasibility Study Skills for Project Development of Chemical Plant Business (Prof. Masakazu Sasaki, Institute of Science Tokyo; Toyo Engineering Corporation)
- Group Work 2: Prioritization of Development Policies
- Lecture 3: Application of ICT to preserve World Heritage Site (Prof. Shinobu Yamaguchi, UNU-IAS)
- Group Work 3: Interim Presentation and Project Selection
- Lecture 4: Engineering Technology and International Development (Prof. Jun-ichi Takada, Institute of Science Tokyo)
- Group Work 4: Project Outline, Project Procedure
- Lecture 5: Education and International Development (Prof. Naoki Umemiya, Institute of Science Tokyo; Sophia University)
- Group Work 5: Evaluation Criteria, Budget Plan
- Lecture 6: Development and Natural Disasters (Prof. Hiroshi Takagi, Institute of Science Tokyo)
- Group Work 6: Ripple Effects
- Lecture 7: Global Urban Climatology (Prof. Alvin C.G. Varquez, Institute of Science Tokyo)
- Group Work 7: Final Presentation 1
- Group Work 8: Final Presentation 2