81
T. Mino and K. Hanaki (eds.), Environmental Leadership Capacity
Building in Higher Education, DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-54340-4_5,
© The Author(s) 2013
Abstract This chapter introduces one of the APIEL fi eld exercises, the Oasis Unit,
which is conducted in northwestern China. To equip the students with a wide knowledge base and practical skills, this unit is strongly fi eld-oriented and applies in its
course design the Integral Approach proposed by Ken Wilber. The approach provides a trans-/cross-disciplinary framework for identifying environmental problems
of complexity, as well as bringing together methodologies from different fi elds and
leadership qualities. After four years of implementation, the approach is considered
successful in educational program design for environmental leadership and for promoting the leadership development of participants.
Keywords Environmental leadership education • Field exercise • Integral Approach
• The Heihe River basin
5.1 Introduction
The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, initiated
in 2005, aims to develop and implement educational programs that focus on the
three pillars of sustainability, i.e., environment, economy, and society. APIEL
Chapter 5
Environmental Leadership Education
for Tackling Water Environmental Issues
in Arid Regions
Tomohiro Akiyama and Jia Li
This chapter is an updated version of Akiyama et al. [ 25 ].
T. Akiyama (*)
Graduate Program in Sustainability Science, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences ,
The University of Tokyo , Environmental Studies Building 334,
5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa , Chiba 277-8563 , Japan
e-mail: akiyama@k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
J. Li
Faculty of International Studies and Regional Development , University of Niigata Prefecture ,
Ebigase 471, Higashi-ku, Niigata, Niigata 950-8680 , Japan
e-mail: lijia@unii.ac.jp
T. Mino and K. Hanaki (eds.), Environmental Leadership Capacity
Building in Higher Education, DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-54340-4_5,
© The Author(s) 2013
Abstract This chapter introduces one of the APIEL fi eld exercises, the Oasis Unit,
which is conducted in northwestern China. To equip the students with a wide knowledge base and practical skills, this unit is strongly fi eld-oriented and applies in its
course design the Integral Approach proposed by Ken Wilber. The approach provides a trans-/cross-disciplinary framework for identifying environmental problems
of complexity, as well as bringing together methodologies from different fi elds and
leadership qualities. After four years of implementation, the approach is considered
successful in educational program design for environmental leadership and for promoting the leadership development of participants.
Keywords Environmental leadership education • Field exercise • Integral Approach
• The Heihe River basin
5.1 Introduction
The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, initiated
in 2005, aims to develop and implement educational programs that focus on the
three pillars of sustainability, i.e., environment, economy, and society. APIEL
Chapter 5
Environmental Leadership Education
for Tackling Water Environmental Issues
in Arid Regions
Tomohiro Akiyama and Jia Li
This chapter is an updated version of Akiyama et al. [ 25 ].
T. Akiyama (*)
Graduate Program in Sustainability Science, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences ,
The University of Tokyo , Environmental Studies Building 334,
5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa , Chiba 277-8563 , Japan
e-mail: akiyama@k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
J. Li
Faculty of International Studies and Regional Development , University of Niigata Prefecture ,
Ebigase 471, Higashi-ku, Niigata, Niigata 950-8680 , Japan
e-mail: lijia@unii.ac.jp