Practical long-term internship program in local public authority
Kenji Sadamoto1.a, Emi Morimoto1, Kazuhiro Kametani2, Hideo Yamanaka1
1The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan 2Tokushima City, Tokushima, Japan
Abstract A student who is learning urban planning at the University of Tokushima hopes to become a
public worker. He participated in a long-term internship program offered by the university to gain
the legal knowledge of urban planning at a city office. Recently the decentralization of authority
has been prompted in Japan. It is not too much to say that the time of local government has
come. However local cities such as Tokushima, where we live, have various problems like
environmental problems, the decrease in population, and the aging of the society. Tokushima is
trying to adapt itself to such a shift of the environment. The city has a project called “Tokushima
city master-plan of urban planning” which defines what the city should be like in the future. This
plan is being revised in 2011. It is revised once every ten years, and it affects the cityscape and
traffic in ten years. Through the internship, the student began to reflect not only on the legal
knowledge of urban planning but also on the importance of public roles. Although he understood
the difficulty of the work, he desires to make a career of the work. This paper describes the
results obtained from the internship program.
1. Introduction 1.1. Scope of internship Tokushima city is the capital of Tokushima and in the northeastern part of Shikoku. It has a
population of Two hundred sixty thousand people, and population aging rate is 26%. People
have lived in the plain spreads over the lower Yoshino River since ancient times. Mt. Bizan is
located in the center of the city, and it is a symbol of Tokushima.
Master-plan is formulated in line with broader plans such as the Tokushima city comprehensive
plan. With the understanding of the citizens, master-plan systematically and concretely drew up
a desirable future image of the city and more detailed images of the areas. The plan will serve as
a base policy for future urban planning as well as a guideline for town creation understood and
participated by the citizens.
PS - 25 ACEE 2011
2nd Asian Conference on Engineering Education (ACEE 2011) The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan October, 7-9, 2011
PS - 25 : 1
Tokushima prefecture is a long way from
government has more problems like th
larger cities. Furthermore, in the center of Tokushima
twenty years ago. Most of the
for example, too many people live
through its center. Therefore, it is less utilizable land
automobile-dependent society.
plans to adapt itself to such a shift of the environment. The project name is “Tokushima city
master-plan”. The following is
The internship period is from August, 2010 to March, 2011. During the
not only on the legal knowledge of urban planning but also on the importance of public roles.
Figure
g way from Kansai area, Nagoya, and Tokyo. As a result, the local
ms like the decrease in population, and the aging of society than the
the center of Tokushima the economy has been stagnant
e local governments in Japan have similar problems. In Tokushima,
e live on a narrow amount of land, where a large Yoshino river run
re, it is less utilizable land. As Tokushima city
y. The city is trying to improve the current situation
a shift of the environment. The project name is “Tokushima city
the schedule of the plan in my training.
August, 2010 to March, 2011. During the period, I
ge of urban planning but also on the importance of public roles.
Mt. Bizan
Yoshino River
Figure 1: The location of Tokushima
gure 2: Process of revision Master-plan
s a result, the local
of society than the
en stagnant since
ms. In Tokushima,
Yoshino river runs
city is getting an
ion and has made
s “Tokushima city
, I began to reflect
of public roles.
ver
PS - 25 ACEE 2011
2nd Asian Conference on Engineering Education (ACEE 2011) The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan October, 7-9, 2011
PS - 25 : 2
1.2. Content of the internship① Regional skull practice” i
The survey is conducted focused on students,
are studying urban planning. T
the workshop, I receive a useful comment from the local public about “city’s boast”. The
problems at that workshop is young people didn’t participate in it. Therefore, I should have
some research to encourage
①
Figure
F
ernshipin FIG.3 was implemented to receive lots of opinions.
used on students, and my role is seeking advice from students who
The result from the questionnaire is reflected in “regional vision”. In
useful comment from the local public about “city’s boast”. The
young people didn’t participate in it. Therefore, I should have
the participation of them.
ure 3: Schedule of master-plan and internship
Figure 4: Content of internship program
ons.
from students who
regional vision”. In
city’s boast”. The
should have done
PS - 25 ACEE 2011
2nd Asian Conference on Engineering Education (ACEE 2011) The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan October, 7-9, 2011
PS - 25 : 3
2. Good Practice A. About government worker’s job
According to the drastic change in our society, citizens’ sense of values has also been changing
and demand or requests for government workers would become more increasingly complex and
diversified.
Consequently, government workers are required not only urban planning skills but also various
other knowledge on urban planning, and they may always need to have deep interest in their
society. Furthermore, accountability is very important. I think that they have enthusiasm and
spontaneity to deal with sharp questions or complaint from their citizens.
B. Future direction of urban planning
Thinking of the sluggish economy, people comes to attach importance to not the hard measure
that newly establishes facilities but a soft measure in the future. At this time, the major theme is
‘’citizens’ participation’’. It is the people themselves who should make their own decisions on how
they run the society and the local governments are only there to help them. It is vital that the
public and the city administration agree on common goals for development, collaborate efficiently
with each other, and advance the orderly and suitable orderly and suitably.
C. Promote the citizen participation
I think there are three important points when we consider ways to promote the citizens’
participation.
First, we need to develop human resources. If citizens are more focused and aware of the city
development, new ideas might come up. And then, we need leaders to launch diverse projects.
Also, we need to foster volunteer guides or other people who support the projects. Second, I
think about utilization of information. Local government should also use Internet and SNS other
than the public relations magazines the city publishes to transfer information to young people.
Finally, I find it necessary for the local government to promote citizens’ activities. For example,
government should conduct study sessions on town development, and hold events such as
cycling or walking to re-evaluate towns where we live in.
3. Conclusion I think my participation in this long-term internship helped me understand the importance of local
public authority. Furthermore, I think I developed a feeling of responsibility. But I regret a little that
have an absence of enterprising sprit. I should have been more outspoken. Through this
experience, I would like to strive hard to achieve my goal.
Lastly, I hope that the economy in Tokushima gets better soon and streets get much busier.
PS - 25 ACEE 2011
2nd Asian Conference on Engineering Education (ACEE 2011) The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan October, 7-9, 2011
PS - 25 : 4
Top Related