International Symposium, “Globalization and Local Community; Placed-Based Education for the Sustainable Future” will be held in Tokyo.

You may send the application from here  >>>Application form

Date and Venues;

Saturday, 21 January 2017, Room 8101, Ikebukuro Campus, Rikkyo University
Sunday, 22 January 2017, International Conference Centre, Waseda University

This symposium offers an arena to discuss the topics from learning to democracy– how do we see the relationship between the expansion of globalism and the local community where people have lives, and how can we truly recognize essence from abundant information due to the digital society under which people sometimes feel as if we know everything, and how do we build up local community and society under these circumstances.

We have three keynote speakers; a political scientist from New Zealand whose research falls in children, environment and democracy under this changing world; a German architect who is working for re-birthing Japanese traditional wooden housings; and a Japanese photographer who has done many journeys including world conflicts areas.

Other participants involved in various fields are expected to attend, including “Forest Kindergarten” (a kindergarten raising children in nature), self-sufficiency life with small-scale agriculture, revitalization of the community, etc. We are looking forward to welcoming you to this event.

Special guests;

Dr. HAYWARD Bronwyn, Head of Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Mr. BENGS Karl, architectural designer, Germany (currently living in Japan)
Mr. MOMOI Kazuma, photographer, nonfiction writer, Japan

Programme
The simultaneous translation (Jap – Eng) available for keynote speeches and panel discussion, and other form of translation may be arranged for break-up sessions

Overarching theme: Globalisation and Place-based education

Sub themes: virtual experiences, local area and school, livelihood, community and child rearing

Keynote 1: Prof. HAYWARD Bronwyn, political scientist, New Zealand
“Children and Citizenship: the global challenge in an urban century”

Keynote 2: Mr. BENGS Karl, architectural designer, Germany (resides in Japan)
“Revival of old Japanese houses – Why Japanese throw away ‘gems’ and take up gravel”

Keynote 3: Mr. MOMOI Kazuma, photographer, nonfiction writer, Japan
“Ladakh, India – traditional societies protected or vanished”

Break-up sessions (Themed seminars)

• Session 1: What do you mean by “I understand” – in the time of virtual experiences
• Session 2: Community and School – folding school down
• Session 3: Economy of live and living
• Session 4: Community and child rearing – experiences of forest kindergarten

Schedule: The timing may change on the day.

Day 1 (Jan 21) at Rikkyo University
10:00 Opening
10:10 Keynote 1
11:10 Keynote 2
12:05 – 13:15 Lunch break
13:15 Keynote 3
14:00 Introduction of the break-up sessions, and move to respective rooms
16:00 Re-union; sharing and summary
17:30 Reception (with fees)

Day 2 (Jan 22) at Waseda University
10:00 Opening, Panel discussion 1 – based on questions and issues of Day 1
12:00 – 13:30 Talking lunch – discussion with guests and other attendees, over your own packed lunch.
13:30 Panel discussion 2 – gathering topics from the lunch discussion
15:30 Summary and closure

Committee members;
Prof. ABE Osamu, Rikkyo University
Prof. ANDO Toshihiko, Saitama University
Dr. ITAGAKI Jumpei, Kobe University
Dr. KIMATA Mikio, Fellow, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Dr. SASAKI Toyoshi, Kurikoma Kogen Nature School
Mr. SAKUMA Norio, Nature Conservation Society for Dewa Mountains
Dr. TOYODA Mitsuyo, Niigata University
Mr. YOKOYAMA Ryuichi, Nature Conservation Society Japan
Prof. TAKANO Takako, Waseda University, Executive Director, Ecoplus

Supported by Japan Fund for Global Environment

Co-organizer;
Research Center for Education for Sustainable Development, Rikkyo University.
Center for International Education, Waseda University

Organizer;
Ecoplus, a registered NPO in Japan