Abstract:

We are facing serious problems such as declining birthrate, aging population and depopulation in Japan. Additionally, local municipalities lose their vitality because of this situation and the extreme concentration of population and industry into the Tokyo metropolitan area. Related to this problem, it is difficult to sustain their own municipalities.

On the other hand, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which were included SDGs in 2015. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets were announced at that time. The aim of SDGs it to end poverty and to protect the earth in order to realize a peaceful and affluence society for all people. The Goals and targets will stimulate action over 15 years and they pledged that “no one will be left behind”.

In this situation, it is required to promote sustainable urban development in all regions. This is a new challenge because Japan has been facing serious problems related to rapid increase in aging population and a low birthrate which we have never experienced before all over the world. In addition, it is essential that diverse entities participate in an urban planning. Thus, construction of a way of independent participation in planning and human resources development is extremely important.

The aim of this study is to propose an educational method by considering of a sustainable urban development. Learners who acquire knowledge which they have not known and they never thought about. We give an opportunity to tackle a problem by obtained exploiting knowledge through learning, their background and experience. They realize that they did not know in a process of problem-solving by using this framework. They can propose a deliberate and effective plan by reflecting those things. They have a deeper understanding by repeating the above processing. In addition, they become human resource that people who can realize a sustainable society to the next generation.

“Output” and “Outcome” are defined as follows. Output is a result through a project execution. On the other hand, Outcome is a consequence and achievements made on a project and they are also aware of something from a process of a project and output. Output of this study is a plan of sustainable urban development. Outcome is learners’ realization and becoming a human resource which person that people who can contribute to society.

In this study, learners are special students who are working adults and they attended university lectures as part-time students. We proposed a plan of sustainable urban development to the subject local municipality. Learners learned a lot of things related the circumstances surrounding the region, plan formulation method and the contents and practical example concerning SDGs. They said that they wanted to apply SDGs as well as planning method to their companies and their behavior in the future. The educational system framework is quite useful because it can apply to other fields.

Keywords:

SDGs, urban development, social learning, tourism.