Environmental Impact Assessment
Education in Nankai University
Prof. He XU
Research Center for Strategic Environmental Assessment
Nankai University, China
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Outline
1
The needs for EA education in China
2
Introduction to the EIA course in Nankai
3
Course content and methods of instruction
4
Teaching experiences
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Background: EIA in China
EIA in China is well established
 many experienced practitioners and administrators
New EIA Law provides stimulus to improve
project level EIA
Everyone, but especially developers, need to
understand real value of EIA…
 save money, gain public support, design better
projects, be seen as environmentally credible….
 the path to true sustainable development
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Characteristics of EIA in China
Many years of experience
Well supported by:
 legislation, official guidance, administrative structure,
licensing system for practitioners
 Professional EA practitioners, registered
organization/company, including universities
• technical reviews, training and research
Strong emphasis on pollution control
Concerns about enforcement and effectiveness
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PartⅠ: The needs for EA education
 N1: Subject “Environmental assessment &
management” has an important position in
Environmental Science Education System
Environmental
Ecology
Environmental
Toxicology
Environmental
Engineering
Environmental
Assessment &
Management
Environmental
Geography
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PartⅠ: The needs for EA education
 N4: The EA-related laws demand universities in
China integrating the EA course.
Environmental Protection Law of
the People's Republic of China
The EIA Law;
Relevant Regulations in other Environmental Protection Law
Relevant Local
Regulations on
EIA
Administrative Measures for a database of Experts o
f Reviewing on Environment Impact Assessment
(2003)
Measures for Reviewing Written Reports on Environ
mental Impact of Special Planning (2003)
The specific scope of plans that need to compile Pla
nning EIA statement (on trial) (2004)
The specific scope of plans that need to compile Pla
nning EIA chapters or explanations (on trial) (2004)
All the department rules are promulgated by SEAP
Local Government
Rules on EIA
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PartⅠ: The needs for EA education
 N2: Environmental assessment, as a tool to deal with
the environmental pollution, has played a key role in
environmental management practice in China.
 N3: The high education EA-related
trainings/seminars within the context of China are
lack, and skilled EA technicians are also required.
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PartⅡ: Introduction to EIA course(nankai uni. case)
 EA education in Nankai has been involved into both
M.Sc. and B.Sc. Programme
 Degree courses open to those in third year of
bachelor degree
 About 40 Junior students
 More than 52 class hours
 Graduate EA-related program open to those in first
year of master degree
 about 60 Graduate students
 about 32 class hours
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PartⅡ: Introduction to EIA course
 Textbook & Reference:
 Environmental Impact Assessment, Textbook Series for
21st Century, Higher Education Press.
 Reference Textbook for National Professional
Qualification Examination of EIA Engineer in China
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PartⅢ: Course content & methods
 Degree Course
 Teaching forms: lectures and seminars
 Most priorities are given to the project EIA framework and
evaluation technologies
 Lectures: based on the EIA law and the Technical
Guidelines of project environmental impact assessment
in China
 Seminars: More attentions are paid to the EIA case
related class discussions
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PartⅢ: Course content & methods
 Outline of Degree Course
Issue
Introduction to
Environmental
Assessment
Assessment
Regulations
Special topics
Environmental
Planning
Class
discussion
Detail subject
Intro. (what/where/when/why/how) / Development / Environmental Policy
Environmental Law / Environmental Assessment Regulations / Environmental
relations system
Project analysis / Atmospheric environment / Water environment / Natural
ecological environment / Noise environment / Plan EIA & SEA
General Plan / Environmental and land use / Ecological Plan
Integrated into the lectures related to special topics
Based on several case studies and project EIA reports
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PartⅢ: Course content & methods
 Special topics in Degree Course :
 Technical guideline (framework for conducting EA practice in China)
 Project analysis and investigation of pollution sources
 Atmospheric environment (Weather, Air Quality, Assessment Model,
such as ADMS)
 Water environment (Quality of surface water, Hydrology, Quantitative
models )
 Natural ecological environment (flora and fauna , Natural Assets )
 Noise environment (Quality of living environment, Noise mapping
and monitoring)
 Introduction to Plan EIA
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PartⅢ: Course content & methods
 Teaching method in Degree Course
 Lectures
 Case studies
• Suitable means for explaining and demonstrating EA
in practice
 Class discussion
• Encouraging students to be
curious to know more and
detailed EA issues
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PartⅢ: Course content & methods
 Teaching method in Degree Course
 Visualisation
• Making easier to understand complex issues
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PartⅢ: Course content & methods
 Graduate Program:
 Teaching forms: special topic-related lectures
 Most priorities are given to the international development
of EA research
 The main content consists of :
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
EIA Law and relevant regulations
EA-related technology development
Region EIA
Plan EIA and SEA
Risk Assessment
Industrial Ecology and Circular Economy
……
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PartⅣ: Teaching Experience
 Focus on the integration with the practical
EIA processes
 Focus on the integration with the National
Professional Qualification Requirement
 How to improve the class discussion
pattern and effectiveness?
 How to keep up with the international
development?
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Thinking about EA in China
Not just about pollution control...
 need wider perspectives: health, social, ecological...
 new SEA provisions may help
Education is of critical importance
 of practitioners, administrators, decision-makers,
stakeholders….about EIA, its role, value, practice
Public involvement has real benefits
 need to include the wider community, not just
representatives?
 developers could do more than the minimum?
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LOGO
E-mail: seacenter@nankai.edu.cn