Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
of toxic substances and hazardous waste, environmental legislation, air quality,
ambient standards and control of emissions in both urban and industrial areas.
Aspects of the ELTP were effective in providing practical knowledge and insights,
particularly in the field of sustainable environmental planning and management.
In Japan, many organizations work on advancing solutions to global problems
for water and energy shortage. Personal experience included long-term operation
for an integrated seawater desalination and sewage recycling system, which is of
potential value not only for Japan but also for arid and semi-arid regions such as
the graduate's own country (Egypt). Another important experience gained from
the ELTP was in the area of recycling and energy production from wastewater/
waste management, where links with one Japanese company provided a continu-
ous system from collection and transportation to intermediate treatment and final
treatment. This process combines applicable disposal management with ensured
traceability that enables customers to avoid the risk of improper treatment.
Thanks to the ELTP, this graduate commented that it was possible to meet many
ambitious and motivated people from whom different tactics and strategies in
environmental protection and management could be learnt. The integration between
sciences and the new interdisciplinary scientific branches covered in the ELTP is im-
portant in finding creative and cost effective solutions for environmental problems.
Moreover, integration between natural sciences and human and social sciences is
needed to apply solutions to some well-known environmental problem in different
regions The experience from the ELTP is also expected to assist this graduate in
working creatively and for a challenging future career. It will help its participants
to become 'great leaders' and to make a difference in today's work environment.
The above case studies are qualitative evidence that the ELTP has succeeded in
achieving some of its core objectives, although at this early stage it is not possible
to foresee whether any individual will, in their later career development, assume the
mantle of case study E's 'Great Leader'. The business world has many examples of
such individuals who became personally highly motivated and steered their com-
panies to a more sustainable model. Examples mentioned in the ELTP 'sustainable
business' course include such names as Interface carpets, Nike and its 'North Star'
vision, Puma, Unilever, Ricoh, Panasonic and many others.
15.5
Extending Environmental Leadership beyond Japan
As described in Chapter 1, the Japanese initiatives on environmental leadership
are focused not just in Japan but other countries, especially Asia and Africa. One
mechanism through which this can be achieved is through overseas students who
have graduated in the ELTP returning to their own countries to apply their new
skills, and we presented some examples of this in the previous section. In parallel
however, the Tohoku University ELTP includes specific initiatives to support the
development of environmental leader initiatives in other universities in other coun-
tries. Joint international symposia on environmental leadership have been held in
