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Dean’s Message

Welcome to GENV
Dean, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies
Guangwei Huang
黄 光偉
The Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies was established in 2005. As the name suggests, It is a place for conducting education and research activities to investigate the causes of various environmental problems, understand the actual situation, elucidate the mechanisms of change, and find solutions for problems. Environmental problems may be defined in various ways, but to put it simply, negative environmental changes that occur mainly due to human activities. Especially from the middle of the 20th century, the rapid expansion of the scale of human activities has caused severe disturbances in the natural material cycle and ecosystems. One characteristic of current environmental problems is that people who cause environmental problems may suffer from the consequences of environmental degradation. Another feature is that various environmental issues are intricately intertwined. Against this background, it is impossible to find genuine solutions to complex environmental problems within conventional stovepipe academic fields. Knowledge fusion from various academic disciplines is indispensable for solving environmental issues. The discipline of environmental studies was based on existing academic fields such as natural sciences and engineering, economics, social sciences, and humanities. Environmental studies aim to provide new and universal scientific knowledge regarding the interaction between nature and human society. Furthermore, it should provide support to our communities for sustainable development. Since its establishment, we have presented many achievements to society regarding various environmental problems. At the same time, we nurtured many graduate students and sent them out to different workplaces. However, environmental issues on regional and global scales are becoming increasingly severe, and the societal demand for environmental studies is further increasing. How many people predicted that the pandemic would have affected social activities to such an extent three years ago? In the future, there will be many unpredictable happenings. What is needed is human resources who have the adaptability to respond flexibly and the ability to pursue the truth in any environment for the development of a sustainable society. The Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies of Sophia University is committed to high level research and related educational activities to tackle issues that conventional academic fields cannot solve. We welcome students who are eager to solve global environmental problems.

Start Your Journey to be a part of the Solutions to Environmental Degradation: Become an Expert and Driver of Global Environmental Change

Turning Thoughts into Action
Many people are aware of the severity and urgency of the environmental challenges facing global society. How to translate awareness into concrete action however, can often be difficult for those wanting to become part of the solutions to environmental degradation and future sustainability. Our graduate school program aims to enable concerned global citizens to gain the skills, knowledge and tool sets to turn thoughts, theories and ideas into action.
Developing Human Capacity for the 21st Century
Complex and diverse global environmental issues require diverse experts and professionals. Our graduate school program has been designed to develop human capacity of people with diverse professional aspirations in the field of global environmental issues. We aim to educate future academics, professionals for industry, media, government and non-governmental organizations, community leaders among others and provide them with an in-depth comprehensive understanding, theoretical and practical knowledge of global environmental problems and develop each individual’s ability to solve these issues as working professionals.
Welcoming People from Diverse Academic Backgrounds and Experiences
We are not a conventional graduate school consisting of one single department with an undergraduate program, but an independent graduate school founded on inter-disciplinary approaches to academia and research. Thus, we open our doors to a wide range of people from across the globe with different knowledge sets and worldviews who have diverse educational, work and life experiences. What ties us all together is our shared commitment to solving global environmental problems. Our graduate school is a place where people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds can learn together and inspire each other to make future aspirations a reality.
Inter-disciplinary Approach: Integrated Humanities and Sciences Curriculum
Environmental problems are complex issues influenced not only by human behavioral patterns and social systems but also by a range of other scientific, technological and chemical factors. We believe that a holistic approach to exploring the roots of environmental problems is necessary and fundamental for all our graduates. We have thus designed a curriculum that offers a broad range of academic disciplines that transcend the conventional boundaries of the humanities and sciences. To facilitate this, our graduate school is built on a framework of cooperation with other faculties and departments at Sophia University as well as with external institutions that we have agreements of academic exchanges with.
Practice and Theory: Towards Concrete and Effective Solutions
In order to solve global environmental problems, it is imperative to apply knowledge gained from research to reality, and to then formulate policies that are both feasible and effective. In our graduate school, we provide a diverse range of subjects that balance both theory and practice. Furthermore, education and research is supplemented by various symposiums and seminars that reflect the many voices of domestic and international efforts to tackle environmental problems.
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