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aging indication in support of the ultimate goal of the
programme. It is positive evidence that the majority of
the fellows recognized that contributions were made to
the development of their country.
Establishment of ATTUNE
In December 2009, the Tokyo Tech-UNESCO Fellows
Symposium took place in Tokyo, Japan. It provided
an opportunity for global partnerships between insti-
tutions and Tokyo Tech-UNESCO fellows. A total of
104 fellows gathered from 28 countries. During the
symposium, 12 fellows representing seven regions
gave presentations, sharing their most recent research
and development experiences and contributions to the
development of their countries and professional fields.
Ninety-seven poster presentations received attention
and triggered active discussion on the global issues of
the 21st century, and on how science and technology
can promote sustainable development. Also in attend-
ance were Ambassador Tadamichi Yamamoto from
the Permanent Delegation of Japan to UNESCO, and
Professor Hubert Gijzen, director of the UNESCO
Office, Jakarta. In his keynote speech, Mr. Yamamoto
shared his belief in the importance of cooperation
between UNESCO and external agencies such as Tokyo
Tech for creating collaborative efforts to realize their
shared visions. Professor Gijzen highlighted the specific
need for international collaboration through regional
programmes and flagship projects such as SWITCH
(Sustainable Water Management Improves Tomorrow’s
Cities’ Health), and COMPETENCE (Comprehensive
Program to Enhance Technology, Engineering and
Science Education) in Asia. A panel discussion on
‘Enhancing the global human resources network in
science and technology’ and active discussion from the
floor produced concrete and important recommenda-
tions.
1. Promote needs-based creative collaboration. Needs-
based collaboration is necessary to identify and
produce solutions applicable to locality. Depending
on the level of advancement of basic research
and laboratory infrastructure, different types of
cooperation should be innovated to enhance the
researchers’ expertise from developing countries.
This is the key to ESD in science
2. Find the right partners. With limited resources,
institutions need to share the same concerns and
thus, finding partners, individuals, and business
communities is the key. UNESCO provides
information and brings partners together.
The ‘driving person’ in an institution plays an
important role in making effective and action-
oriented collaboration possible. As key players,
participating researchers and institutions need to
find programmes with strong areas of contributions
on the right topics.
3. Mobilize innovation through a professional
platform. To realize sustainable development, it
is necessary to mobilize science and technology
researchers from developing countries selected topics that would
be applicable to their field of specialization. Further, in the 1960s it
was already expected that the programme would promote interna-
tional exchange, contributing to social and economic development
in the countries of the fellows. During this programme, 150 faculty
members of Tokyo Tech, not limited to chemistry and chemical
engineering, but also covering the fields of material science, bioen-
gineering, energy and environment, were ready to collaborate in
their research to meet the demands of fellows. It aimed to fortify
research partnerships, building networks for research cooperation in
the region. This one-year programme was characterized by its inte-
grated approach of combining specific research and laboratory work
with Japanese language and culture courses, and technical visits to
prominent industries and factories of Japan. Through a wide range
of activities, human networks among participating researchers were
cultivated across four continents. In 2004, the programme evolved
to meet the needs of researchers, particularly in the field of water
resources management and the environment, along with the mid-
term strategy of UNESCO, and thus focused on problem-solving
approaches through specific project-oriented research topics. The
Tokyo Tech-UNESCO International Course created alumni of over
500 professionals in 60 countries and regions, of which the majority
have been engaged in research and educational activities in science
and technology in their own nations.
In 2009, these networks flourished into the Alumni Association
of Tokyo Tech UNESCO Course (ATTUNE) as a platform to share
research information and to promote human resources exchanges,
with a focus on finding applied solutions catering to local needs.
During the Tokyo Tech-UNESCO symposium, more than 100
fellows of the programme gathered in Tokyo, actively exchang-
ing current research topics and activities, and providing assistance
in promoting sustainable development throughout the different
countries.
Impact of Tokyo Tech-UNESCO International Course For
Advanced Research
Although a human resource development programme that addresses
local needs is considered important, it is not an easy task to measure
the impact of such research-oriented training programmes. In an
effort to argue the degree of impact, Tokyo Tech conducted exten-
sive written evaluations with the fellows of the programme in 2002.
Questions covering the level of satisfaction with the programme
and the degree of fellows’ contribution to their home nations were
compiled and sent to 500 fellows. A total of 171 responses were
received and evaluated. In this analysis, there are three particularly
significant aspects that illustrate the impact of the Tokyo Tech-
UNESCO International Course: individual career; contribution to
own country; and relationship between Japan and own country.
Firstly, 95 per cent of the fellows who responded believe that what
they learned from the programme was very valuable or valuable for
developing their career. Secondly, 94 per cent of the respondents
believe that they had contributed to the development of their own
country since the programme. Thirdly, 85 per cent think that they
have contributed to the development of the relationship between
Japan and their home country. Further, 92 per cent responded that
their own research interest matched that of the host professor. This
is significant feedback from the fellows, suggesting a strong motiva-
tion to continue research and development activities, and utilize
research outcomes in their own professional fields. It was an encour-