AY2023 Center for Inclusive Leadership（CIL）
Research Project Grant
研究代表者

ResearchRepresentative
研究課題名
Research Title
研究メンバー
Research GroupMembers

所属・職位
Affiliation/Position

氏名APS/ Associate Prof

Name

Faezeh MAHICHI

Towards Developing a Pedagogy for Inclusive Environmental Citizenship
Education
氏名所属

職位

Name

Affiliation

Position

Petrus Willem ROUXAssociate Professor

EDLSC, APU

Lailani Laynesa ALCANTARA

Professor

APM, APU

Donald HUISINGH

Daisuke TAKEKAWA

Ranahansa DASANAYAKE

Professor

Professor

Senior Lecturer/International Project Manager

Institute for a Secure andSustainable
Environment, The
University of Tennessee,
USA
Faculty of Humanities,University of
Kitakyushu, Japan
Institute for Applied
Material Flow
Management (IfaS),
Trier University ofApplied Sciences,
Germany2023 年度 研究成果（研究経過・到達点を明確にご記入ください。800～1,000 字）AY2023 Research Results (Please state clearly the research progress, results, approx. 400 words.)
The current project has a 2-year scope with the development of a pedagogy for inclusive
environmental citizenship education. The project draws upon several local community structures
adjacent to our university and centralizes three main pillars: (1) a pedagogy for higher education, (2)environmental citizenship education and (3) diversity management and inclusivity. We focus on
identifying research overlaps and gaps, collecting data, and utilizing and/or developing appropriate
research tools to explore, map and delimit the area. We utilize an action research model, withmixed-methods, and explorative research method. This approach aims to generate theory based on
forms of in-situ, observed and participatory education where data is generated through traditionaland experience-based learning. Based on the findings, we will attempt to construct a preliminary
framework to underpin the development of an inclusive environmental citizenship education that isrelevant to our institution, and appropriate for international education within a Japanese context.
The result of our research April 2023 to end of March 2024 is as follow:1) Testing the Designed research instrument
We have tested our designed a survey questionnaire as the research instrument consists of: (a)learning needs & expectations surveys; (b) Environmental Citizenship Questionnaire (ECQ); (c) CulturalIntelligence Questionnaire (CQFS); and (d) measures for inclusivity & diversity management. The
survey was approved by APU’s Research Compliance/Ethics Review Research (approval number2023-1).

12) Presenting in AP Conference 2023:
The title of our presentation as: “Developing an Inclusive Pedagogy for Environmental Citizenship
Education: Insights from research done within an undergraduate course at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific
University (APU).”We presented the result of our conducted survey questionnaire to 1) assess the development ofEnvironmental Citizenship in students, 2) Understand impact of the course content on thedevelopment of cultural intelligence (CQ), 3) survey the perceptions of inclusive practices and senseof inclusion & belonging among students at APU.
3) Inviting guest speakers to APU courses:
In order to contribute to inclusive teaching and learning in APU classrooms, we invited guest speakers
from the APU Alumni, local goverment, industry, environmentalist and APU environmental student clubmembers, and world class educator and researcher in Education for Sustainability (EfS). The talks
provided an opportunity for students to learn from the best practises from the speakers. Furthermore,
it welcomed the guests to be a part of learning design (please see the figure 1 for the details of theinvited guest spkeakers) (Fig 1).

2

3

4

Figure 1. Inviting guest speakers to APU courses

4) Advising and working closely with the APU students, local community & Leadership development:
Members of the research team have been working with the APU student club, ECOS (EnvironmentalCommunity for Sustainability) and Beppu local community, KEPC (Kamegawa Environmental ProtectionClub). We have participated in the cultural and environmental protection events conducted jointly by
KEPC and ECOS to observe the inclusivity amongst APU student bodies and local environmentalactivists’ communities. We have consistently worked to develop capacity, to create and sustain
connections between local organizations and APU students and have invested time and energy into
student leadership development.

As part of the inclusive collaboration, we have planned and successfully executed a safe environmental
education of importance of protecting the natural ecosystem of Hiya Rive in Beppu and firefly watching
event for citizens (Fig 2.)

5

Figure 2. Environmental Protection Event (Posters of the event & Volunteer Event Manage Team)

6

The event was featured in:1) APU Website https://en.apu.ac.jp/home/news/article/?storyid=3448
2) TBS https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/obs/532143?display=1&mwplay=1
3) CTB (https://community.ctb.ne.jp/natural/beppu/detail/7399
4) NHK WORLD-JAPAN RADIO「Living in Japan program」(https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/audio/livinginjapan-20230604-1/)

Figure 3. Environmental Protection
Event Featured in NHK
WORLD-JAPAN RADIO

6) Sharing the outcomes of our research and projects with the public
In the coming year, we will continue to collect data through the established research plan. In addition, wewill continue with data analysis and the writing-up of research findings achieved thus far, with a view topublication of at least two academic articles. Some of our members (at least two) will likely also
participate in training for Systems Thinking to enable the team to design a more comprehensive
pedagogical framework for sustainability.
We are planning to disseminate the research achievements to academic society and public through theusing the following methods:
 CIL Conferences AY2024
 Publications AY2024-25: 2 articles
 Sharing the outcomes of our research and grassroots community-based projects on the OrganiCal
website (https://organical.squarespace.com/research-projects).
 Public workshops in collaboration with local community organizations

7

2023 年度中の研究発表（予定を含めてご記入ください）
Research Publications in AY2023 (journal articles, conferences, etc.) (Please include future plans as well)
発表方法
詳細
Publication
Methods

Details
著書・論文名等
Title of Books or Articles

出版社／掲載誌・巻号等

刊行年月日

Name of Publisher /Name and Volume of Journal

Date ofPublication

著書・論文等
Books or Articles

タイトル
Title

学会等
Presentation at anAcademicConference

Developing an Inclusive
Pedagogy for Environmental
Citizenship Education: Insightsfrom research done within anundergraduate course at
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific
University (APU)
Fostering Partnerships for a
Sustainable Future: Bridging
Higher Education and BusinessCorporations

学会名
Name of an Academic Conference

発表年月日
Date ofPresentation

AP 2023 Conference

Dec 1st, 2023

Fostering Partnerships for a
Sustainable Future: Bridging HigherEducation and Business Corporations

June 1st, 2024

その他
Others2023 年度 開催イベント（予定を含めてご記入ください）
Events in AY2023 (Please include future plans as well)

イベント
Event

イベントタイトル

イベント詳細開催年月日

Title of Events

Event Description

Date of Event

Environmental Protection Event

The event was designed to develop
capacity, to create and sustain
connections between localorganizations and APU students andhave invested time and energy into
student leadership development.

June 7th, 2023

8