Mission & Concept

The Sustainability Science, Technology, and Policy (SUSTEP) certificate program is designed to foster global leaders with both specific scientific expertise and broader knowledge/insights in natural science, social science, humanity, and diplomacy/leadership. This program is collaboratively managed by the Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences and the Doctoral Program in Sustainable Environmental Studies of the University of Tsukuba. Students in this certificate program are encouraged to place expert knowledge within multidisciplinary and global/local contexts in pursuing research and education courses. The SUSTEP program also offers a series of annual international seminars for students to discuss with guest experts from renowned research institutions and universities around the world.

It welcomes all graduate students and offers them a unique set of expert training courses in English with concentration areas called “majors.” A SUSTEP certificate will be conferred upon the completion of required credits and theses. The latter should be conducive to the SUSTEP concept.

Available Enrollment Options

1. A Special Program for JDS Fellows (2 years):
   Under agreements with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the SUSTEP program offers a special education program for young government employees from several different countries (e.g., Bangladesh, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam). Once admitted as JDS fellows, courses and academic activities are offered for them to refine their skills of global leadership and expand their capacity in dealing with specific developmental problems each delegating country faces. These fellows receive SUSTEP certificate upon the completion of their master’s degree. For more information, please visit our website for the JDS Program.
2. ABE Initiative (2 to 2.5 years):
   In response to the growing needs for fostering human resources in Africa, the SUSTEP accepts those young promising students from 54 African countries. For this option, students must obtain JICA’s ABE fellowship. For more information about this fellowship, please check ABE Initiative web site here.

Past Multi-year Education Programs for Fostering Global Leadership

1. Environmental Diplomatic Leadership Education Program (2009-2013)
2. Waste Management Expert Course (2009-2013)

Past International Seminars/Workshops and Training Programs

1. Annual JDS International Seminars on Environmental Policy and Practice
   Since the first seminar in 2010, speakers have been invited from the following institutions: Australian National University (Australia), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (Australia), Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands), EMBRAPA East Amazon (Brazil), Federal University of Para (Brazil), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (Vietnam), Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich (Germany), National Taiwan University (Taiwan), United Nations University-Institute for Advanced Study of Sustainability (Japan), University of California at Berkeley (U.S.), University of California at Irvine (U.S.), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (U.S.), University of Melbourne (Australia), University of the Philippines (the Philippines).
2. Environmental Diplomatic Leader Annual Symposium and Seminars
3. Annual Waste Management Seminars
4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Special Lectures In the past four years, guest speakers were invited from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Environment regarding biodiversity conservation and climate change negotiations.
5. Special Lecture on Environmental Sciences
6. Special Lecture on Global Environmental Issues and Japanese Diplomacy
7. Project Cycle Management Workshop

People

• Faculty
• Staff

Services

• Office Support
  The Program office for Master’s students in environmental sciences and doctoral students in sustainable environmental studies include those who specialize in the SUSTEP Program. Students come here to submit a number of official documents. The SUSTEP office personnel also assist document submissions. For more information, please contact the SUSTEP office by email.>
• IT Support
  Dr Masami Takekawa is our full-time IT specialist and technician, who manages our on-line service environment. Dr Takekawa also maintains and develops the infrastructure of our education environment in close working relationship with our faculty members and office personnel.
• Weekly Academic Writing Seminar in English
  For a limited number of students (mostly for JDS fellows), this seminar offers weekly academic writing workshops for those who want to write successful theses in English. This seminar also provides instruction for writing other types of documents, including consulting reports. For more information, please contact the SUSTEP office by email.
• Student Study Rooms
  Once admitted as full-time students or research students, you will be studying in student study rooms. Each one is assigned with desk, chair, and free WiFi access. After spring 2015, students have free access to their lounge with kitchen facility.

Career Paths

Bangladesh

• Bangladesh Bank
• Ministry of Forest and Environment
• Ministry of Public Administration
• Bangladesh University of Agriculture

China

• Beijing Foreign Enterprise Human Resources Service Co., Ltd.
• Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Chinese University of Geosciences
• Chongqing Municipal Administration Commission
• Highchem Co., Ltd.
• Lidyarich Financial Group
• Qsinghua University
• Tianjin University
• Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Indonesia

• Bogor Agricultural University

Japan

• IC Net Ltd.
• Hitachi Systems Ltd.
• SystemEXE, Inc.
• Swing Corporation
• Chevron Japan Ltd.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Environment
• National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences
• National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology
• Riken
• Japan Atomic Energy Agency
• University of Tsukuba
• Gifu University
• Kita Kyushu City
• Forest Research Institute of Hokkaido
• Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute

Mongolia

• Mongolian Agency for Standardization and Metrology
• Adventist Development and Relief Agency
• Mongolian Academy Sciences
• Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology
• Ministry of Nature, Environment, and Green Development

Tunisia

• Water Researches and Technologies Center, Borj Cedria Technopark

Vietnam

• Cityneon Vietnam Company Ltd.
• Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Hanoi University of Agriculture
• Vietnamese Academy of Agriculture Sciences
• Institute of Meteorology Hydrology and Environment
• Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Planning and Designation
• Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry

Awards

• 2020.03.19 Receiving a president Award