 |
 |
As an associate professor of Environmental Education, I am currently teaching for the Departments of Agriculture and Engineering. Also, I am responsible for the teacher-training program. Students can enroll in this program to acquire a teaching credential. But few students in my university actually become a teacher. For example, out of the 200 graduates this spring, 20 students acquired their teaching credentials, but only one of them has decided to become a teacher. Now the university may discontinue this program. Some faculty members have been trying to find out a solution to save it. As one of the possible solutions, we are considering to redefine this program so that those who decide not to become teachers still can find it useful for their careers. For example, we add a new goal to the teacher-training course: creating leaders for research institutes, companies, or non-profit organizations. We may even grant a special credential to be a human resource specialist. We are wondering if you have heard about such a program or a similar course in your institution or other schools. Any information is appreciated. Shinichi Furihata, Ph.D. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT)