The Bandung-Kawasaki Gesuido (BKG) Project as Soft Power in Environmental Education in Bandung’s Elementary Schools
Proyek Bandung-Kawasaki Gesuido (BKG) sebagai Kekuatan Lunak dalam Pendidikan Lingkungan di Sekolah Dasar di Kota Bandung
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36982/jpp.v11i4.6988Keywords:
Sister City, Elementary School, Primary Education, Soft Power, Environmental EducationAbstract
Purpose: This study aims to examine how the Bandung-Kawasaki Gesuido (BKG) Project functions as a form of soft power in promoting environmental awareness and understanding of waste and wastewater management among teachers and students in Bandung’s elementary schools.
Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a mixed-method approach, using interviews, literature review, observations, and questionnaires. The qualitative data are examined using thematic analysis, while the quantitative data are analyzed using a Likert scale.
Findings: The findings indicate that the BKG Project operates as soft power through agenda-setting and framing. Agenda-setting determines the environmental issues and target audiences prioritized by the project, while framing shapes how environmental knowledge and practices are communicated. In this framing stage, the project localizes Kawasaki’s environmental education approaches through culturally relevant educational materials, including the Petualangan Si Jalu animated video.
Practical Implication: This study provides practical insights for city governments on implementing sister city partnerships in concrete and attractive ways to address urban challenges.
Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature by examining the BKG Project as a form of subnational soft power and by showing how agenda-setting and framing shape the communication of environmental knowledge in elementary-school education.
Paper type: Research Paper
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