Environmental Planning & Assessment Centre, Yonsei University

1. Teaching Environment Assessment in Korean Universities: The Case of Yonsei University-Experiences and Challenges- 1 Dec. 2009 Environmental Planning & Assessment Centre, Yonsei University Prof. Mu Choon Lee

2. Outline Introduction 1 Changes in regulations related to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 2 3 • Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Programs 4 EIA course in Yonsei University 5 Challenges and Future Direction

3. 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 education system in Korea and provide implications for future directions in EA education

4. 2. Changes of regulations related to Environmental Impact Assessment • Comprehensive EIA • law (1999) • EIA law (1993) • Basic law of environ- • mental policy (1990) • Laws on EIA and etc. (2009) • EIA law (2008) 2000 - 1990 - 1999 • Environmental conservation law (1977) • 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) • 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) 1980 - 1989 1970 - 1979 • Regulation on • preparing • environmental • impact • assessment • reports (1981) <Development of EA Low>

5. 2. Changes of regulations related to Environmental Impact Assessment EP EIA SEA EMS 1970 - 1979 1980 - 1989 1990 - 1999 2000 - <Development of EIA, SEA, EMS and EP>

6. 2. Changes of regulations related to Environmental Impact Assessment • Environmental impact assessment laws & regulations become more refined, and projects associated with environmental impact assessment increased • Legislation and regulations provided means for controlling imprudent developments • In Europe, EIA is part of the field of geography or environmental planning; however in Korea, it is closer to the field of environmental technology. (Development of preparation 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.

7. 2. Changes of regulations related to Environmental Impact Assessment • Perceived social value of the EIA system has been increased. • Solution of environmental problems generated during development 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 increased in order to solve these problems and to assure the positive function of EIA

8. 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%.

9. 3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools • Undergraduate programs (Environmental Engineering) • 2) Students taking EIA classes • - Majority of students taking EIA classes are seniors.

10. 3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools • Undergraduate programs (Environmental Engineering) • 3) Characteristic of the course • - The course was mainly offered as an elective

11. 3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools • 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

12. 3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools • 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

13. 3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools • 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 environmental 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)

14. 3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools • 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)

15. 3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools • Summary • 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

16. 3. Status of Undergraduate and Graduate Schools Summary (cont’d) • Majority (80%) of the environmental impact assessment courses are part of the dept of environmental engineering. • Some environmental impact assessment courses are provided as part of the department of landscape and urban planning • Most of the courses used an environmental engineering approach

17. 4. EIA course in Yonsei University • Course offered in Dept of Environmental Engineering • EIA courses comprise 6% of total graduation credits • 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

18. 4. EIA course in Yonsei University • 3) Curriculum of the EIA course

19. 4. EIA course in Yonsei University ※ Main textbook and reference literatures: - Self-developed class materials and other text books

20. 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 assessment 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

21. References - Im-Soon Kim, Won-WukChoi, 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

22. Thank You For Your Attention! Environmental Planning & Assessment Centre Yonsei University Prof. Mu Choon Lee muchoon@yonsei.ac.kr