Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/56828

JaLCDOI : 10.14943/J.HighEdu.21.1

The StraSS Alliance was inaugurated in 2009 at the Center for Sustainability Science(CENSUS), Hokkaido University. This coalition of Asian and African universities was founded to create a global classroom for the teaching of sustainability science. Although many such initiatives exist, the StraSS Alliance differs in that it is truly a shared initiative. All partners are accorded equal status within the alliance, which encourages educational content to flow both ways across the North-South divide. Each member institution in the alliance brings a unique set of values (both knowledge and cultural-based) to the StraSS global classroom. In real-time interactions, students from up to 7 campuses around the world gain a much deeper understanding of how common problems can affect different countries in different ways. This paper outlines the origins of the alliance, its content and procedures, the reasons behind its inception and the process of making it operational. Finally, we consider possible future directions for the StraSS Alliance.