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

ake.14n382jgi007@aurora.ocn.ne.jp

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.

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2nd Asian Conference on Engineering Education (ACEE 2011) The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan October, 7-9, 2011

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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

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2nd Asian Conference on Engineering Education (ACEE 2011) The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan October, 7-9, 2011

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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

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2nd Asian Conference on Engineering Education (ACEE 2011) The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan October, 7-9, 2011

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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.

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2nd Asian Conference on Engineering Education (ACEE 2011) The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan October, 7-9, 2011

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