LOGO

Environmental Planning &

Assessment Centre, Yonsei University

Prof. Mu Choon Lee

Teaching Environment Assessment in Korean Universities:

The Case of Yonsei University

-Experiences and Challenges-

1 Dec. 2009

2

Outline

Introduction1

Changes in regulations related to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)2

EIA course in Yonsei University4

Challenges and Future Direction5

2009.12.01

Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Programs3

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1. Introduction

Occurrences of environmental problems from 1970s as a result of the national development project

(The first environmental accident in Korea which became a social issue was the onset of Onsan Disease in 1983)

Need for strategies to deal with environmental issues EIA system introduced in environmental conservation

law in 1977

Increase of demand on professional human resources

EA education in Universities

Purpose of the presentation: To analyze current EA edu-

cation system in Korea and provide implications for fu-

ture directions in EA education

2008.12.1

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2. Changes of regulations related to Environ-mental Impact Assessment

1980 - 1989

1990 - 1999

2000 -

1970 - 1979

• Environmental conservation law

(1977)

• Regulation on preparing environmental impact assessment reports (1981)

• Guideline of designation and management of acting agents of EIA(1997)

• Review handbook of EIA reports(1997)

• Standard of calculation of preparation cost of EIA reports (1994)

• Prior Environmental Review System(1993)

• Health Impact Assessment (2010)• Negotiation system of natural landscape (2006)• Enactment of guideline for deciding scope of items of EIA(2004)• Process regulation of SEA(2004)• Guideline of rules of EIA(2001)

• Comprehensive EIA law (1999)• EIA law (1993)• Basic law of environ- mental policy (1990)

• Laws on EIA and etc. (2009)

• EIA law (2008)

<Development of EA Low>

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5

1970 - 1979 1980 - 1989 1990 - 1999 2000 -

EIA SEAEMS

EP

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<Development of EIA, SEA, EMS and EP>

2. Changes of regulations related to Environ-mental Impact Assessment

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Environmental impact assessment laws & regulations be-come more refined, and projects associated with environ-mental impact assessment increased

Legislation and regulations provided means for controlling imprudent developments

In Europe, EIA is part of the field of geography or envi-ronmental planning; however in Korea, it is closer to the field of environmental technology. (Development of prepa-ration technique of environmental impact assessment per project, 1989)

The environmental plan or environmental management system is not well established in Korean legislation, and its power is very low.

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2. Changes of regulations related to Environ-mental Impact Assessment

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Perceived social value of the EIA system has been in-creased.

Solution of environmental problems generated during de-velopment is seen to be possible through EIA system.

However, on the other hand, there is disappointment as EIA system is used toward developer’s advantage.

It is very important to establish objectivity of assessments results under current system.

Importance of university education for EA has been in-creased in order to solve these problems and to assure the positive function of EIA

2009.12.1

2. Changes of regulations related to Environ-mental Impact Assessment

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3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools

Undergraduate programs 1) 4 year Universities with EIA courses

- 4 year Universities with EIA classes comprise 48 out of 161, which is 30%.

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70%

30%

EIA Classes in 4 year Universities

EIA Classes not OfferedEIA Classes Offered

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Undergraduate programs (Environmental Engineering)

2) Students taking EIA classes

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4%4%

90%

2%

Students Taking EIA Classes by Grade

sophomoreJuniorSeniorcommon

- Majority of students taking EIA classes are seniors.

3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools

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Undergraduate programs (Environmental Engineering)

3) Characteristic of the course - The course was mainly offered as an elective

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98%

2%

ElectivesRequirements

3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools

11

Undergraduate program (Environmental Engineering)

4) Professors in charge: full-time vs part-time instructors - 60% of the EIA lectures are done by full-time professors

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60%

40%

full timepart time

3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools

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Graduate Programs

1) General Graduate School

Yonsei University - Year of establishment

• In March 1991: Master course of department of environmental science at General Graduate School

• In March 1994: Ph.D course of the department of environmental science at General Graduate School

- Major field: Environmental engineering - Courses offered: High Water Purification Processing, Biological Water Processing, Water Quality Contamination (Membrane separation), Radiation Environment, Atmosphere Pollution, Soil and Underground Water Contamination, Analysis Chemistry. Noise and Vibration, Industrial Safety and Sanitation, Environment Planning and Policy, Wastes and Incineration, Environmental Impact Assessment

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3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools

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Graduate Programs

KyeMyung University

- Year of establishment: • In October 1995: Master course of the department of

environmental science at General Graduate School• In October 1997: Ph. D course of the department of envi-

ronmental science at General Graduate School- Major fields: Environmental science, environment planning,

energy environment science

- EIA opening: Special discussion of environmental impact assessment (A common course)

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3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools

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Graduate Programs

1) Special Graduate School

Kwangwoon University

- Environment Graduate School, established in 2002 - Fields of major: Environmental engineering Environment management major (In 2003) Environmental impact assessment major (In September 2006)

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3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools

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48 universities out of 161 (30%) have EIA courses as part of their program universities

Majority of students taking EIA classes are seniors Only 2% were offered as a major requirement EIA classes are mostly taught by full-time professors

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Summary

3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools

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Summary (cont’d)

Majority (80%) of the environmental impact assessment courses are part of the dept of envi-ronmental engineering.

Some environmental impact assessment courses are provided as part of the department of land-scape and urban planning

Most of the courses used an environmental engineering approach

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3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools

4. EIA course in Yonsei University

1) Course offered in Dept of Environmental Engineering

2) EIA courses comprise 6% of total graduation credits

3) Main contents of the course - EIA system - Role of EIA in sustainable development - EIA process - Limitation of EIA - Role as a coordinator - Broad overview than in-depth information

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182009.12.1

4. EIA course in Yonsei University

Weeks Contents

1 week Sustainable Development and EIA

2 week Strategic Environmental Assessment(SEA) SEA of Other countries Case study

3 week Prior Environmental Review System Case Study 

4 week Environmental Impact Assessment System Development of Environmental Impact Assessment

5 week Similar system of EIA Case Study

6 week Social Impact Assessment(SIA) Health Impact Assessment(HIA)

7 week Principles of EIA

8 week Midterm Exam

3) Curriculum of the EIA course

4. EIA course in Yonsei University

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Weeks Contents

9 Week

3D of EIA - Organizational aspect - Procedural aspect - Aspect of contents

10 Week

Environment information data (GIS, environmental map and etc) - screening - scoping  - PEIA : Post Enviromental Impact Assessment)

11 Week Field Trip

12 Week Environment information data (GIS, environmental map and etc)

13 Week Environment information data (GIS, environmental map and etc)

14 Week Comprehensive assessment technique

15 Week Cast Study of EIA

16 Week Final Exam

※ Main textbook and reference literatures: - Self-developed class materials and other text books

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5. Challenges and Future Direction

Need for professional education that highlights the role as a coordinator to organize and integrate environmental areas (less focus on environmental technology)

Need for education on strategic environmental assess-ment which is critical to adjust social conflicts

Need for including fieldwork hours in the curriculum

Increased international collaboration and interaction to improve the quality of university education on EIA

Collaboration among EIA universities in Korea

Establishment of a standard to assure the quality of EIA courses

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212009.12.1

References

- Im-Soon Kim, Won-Wuk Choi, Sang-Uk Han, 2005, A study on building competence and plans to introduce professional qualification system for efficient implementation of EIA

- Jong-Sung Park, August 2009, A study on developing classes of qualification of environmental impact assessors 』 Korean Educational Development Institute

- Mu-Choon Lee, 2000, A study on development courses and improvement plans of environment impact assessment system of Korea.

- Mu-Choon Lee, 2003, Grand discussion conference on plans to cultivate and to create demand for environmental technical manpower, April 21, 2003, Korea environment technicians association

- Sang-Wook Han, 1998, Looking forward to internal substantiation of EIA, No. 1 Vol. 7 EIA

- Sang-Wook Han, November 16, 2007, Accomplishments of EIAsystem for 30 years, Fall academic conference in the 30th commemoration of environmental impact assessment, and Joint civilian and the government assessment forum

LOGO

Environmental Planning &

Assessment Centre Yonsei University

Prof. Mu Choon Lee muchoon@yonsei.ac.kr