65
Backgrounds of the two unit themes of urban environmental management are as
follows: Management of solid waste involves several direct and indirect issues. A
complex problem by nature, SWM takes priority in the agenda of programs on environmental education. While theories on SWM are taught at different levels, a course
offering a systemic view is uncommon [ 1 ]. The fi rst fi eld exercise “Sustainable Solid
Waste Management in Asian Developing Countries (2009)” was structured with the
aim of providing hands-on experience in solving real-world waste management problems. A fi eld case in Nonthaburi Province was the highlight of the program. Nonthaburi
Province is adjacent to Bangkok and its urban population has been growing accompanying the economic growth and expansion of transportation infrastructure in Bangkok.
Although the solid waste has not been collected from Bangkok, the amount of waste
has been increasing in the province and there are several environmental problems such
as an ineffi cient system of waste collection, leachate from the landfi ll, etc.
The second fi eld exercise “Sustainable Urban Water Use and Management in
Bangkok (2011)” was structured within the context of a tropical region and the
multi-sector dimensions of the issues. Water resource management is a critical issue
under both regional and local conditions and especially in tropical regions, it is
vulnerable and access to safe water is limited. The focus was centered on Bangkok,
where several complex management problems and challenges exist, such as increasing demand of water, an ineffi cient supply system, and administrative as well as
social aspects including economic feasibility of expansion or upgrading of the infrastructure and management system. Both themes were approached by a blend of
components of theory, practice, fi eldwork and discussion, which is the unique style
of the APIEL fi eld exercise.
4.2.2 Concepts and Group Work Task of the Unit
To develop the unit (program), faculty members shared ideas about educational
approaches and possible contents and agreed on the following concept in 2009: To
develop leadership in students, the most important is for the students to “fi nd” or
“identify” issues and problems in the fi eld through discussion among themselves.
Namely, we took a “project fi nding” approach from a real-world experience. Thus,
we decided to fi rst bring students to fi eld sites after introductory lectures on basic
aspects of the theme, and then lead them in group discussions on the issues actually
witnessed in the fi eld. Then there were more lectures and related fi eldwork that
helped students set and analyze specifi c tasks of their group work projects, followed
by intensive group work to prepare the fi nal presentations.
In 2011, emphasis was made on proposal development for sustainable urban
water use and management as well as sustainability indicator analysis to help develop
the proposal plan using a scientifi c approach. Suffi cient information on the current
important issues of urban water use and management were provided through lectures
and fi eld activities. Based on that, students set a future vision and are required to
search an effective approach to realize the vision. Namely, we took an “approach
4 Leadership Development for Sustainable Urban Environmental Management
Backgrounds of the two unit themes of urban environmental management are as
follows: Management of solid waste involves several direct and indirect issues. A
complex problem by nature, SWM takes priority in the agenda of programs on environmental education. While theories on SWM are taught at different levels, a course
offering a systemic view is uncommon [ 1 ]. The fi rst fi eld exercise “Sustainable Solid
Waste Management in Asian Developing Countries (2009)” was structured with the
aim of providing hands-on experience in solving real-world waste management problems. A fi eld case in Nonthaburi Province was the highlight of the program. Nonthaburi
Province is adjacent to Bangkok and its urban population has been growing accompanying the economic growth and expansion of transportation infrastructure in Bangkok.
Although the solid waste has not been collected from Bangkok, the amount of waste
has been increasing in the province and there are several environmental problems such
as an ineffi cient system of waste collection, leachate from the landfi ll, etc.
The second fi eld exercise “Sustainable Urban Water Use and Management in
Bangkok (2011)” was structured within the context of a tropical region and the
multi-sector dimensions of the issues. Water resource management is a critical issue
under both regional and local conditions and especially in tropical regions, it is
vulnerable and access to safe water is limited. The focus was centered on Bangkok,
where several complex management problems and challenges exist, such as increasing demand of water, an ineffi cient supply system, and administrative as well as
social aspects including economic feasibility of expansion or upgrading of the infrastructure and management system. Both themes were approached by a blend of
components of theory, practice, fi eldwork and discussion, which is the unique style
of the APIEL fi eld exercise.
4.2.2 Concepts and Group Work Task of the Unit
To develop the unit (program), faculty members shared ideas about educational
approaches and possible contents and agreed on the following concept in 2009: To
develop leadership in students, the most important is for the students to “fi nd” or
“identify” issues and problems in the fi eld through discussion among themselves.
Namely, we took a “project fi nding” approach from a real-world experience. Thus,
we decided to fi rst bring students to fi eld sites after introductory lectures on basic
aspects of the theme, and then lead them in group discussions on the issues actually
witnessed in the fi eld. Then there were more lectures and related fi eldwork that
helped students set and analyze specifi c tasks of their group work projects, followed
by intensive group work to prepare the fi nal presentations.
In 2011, emphasis was made on proposal development for sustainable urban
water use and management as well as sustainability indicator analysis to help develop
the proposal plan using a scientifi c approach. Suffi cient information on the current
important issues of urban water use and management were provided through lectures
and fi eld activities. Based on that, students set a future vision and are required to
search an effective approach to realize the vision. Namely, we took an “approach
4 Leadership Development for Sustainable Urban Environmental Management