Monday, June 29th, 2009

Asia Pacific GDLN Regional Knowledge-sharing Discussions Start in Ulaanbaatar

June 29, 2009, Tokyo—Tokyo Development Learning Center representatives are attending a Global Development Learning Network general meeting which opened today in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to discuss how the region could boost its knowledge exchange and capacity building through the Global Development Learning Network.

The five-day meeting ( June 29-July 3), hosted by the World Bank Mongolia Office and Mongolia Distance Learning Center, brings together over 40 representatives from across South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, to exchange the latest information on knowledge-sharing strategy and updates on ongoing programs.

Mongolia’s Education, Culture and Science Minister Yo. Otgonbayar opened the meeting, citing this as a great opportunity to boost Mongolia’s distance learning and interaction with the GDLN. The ministry is a major partner of GDLN in Mongolia.

The TDLC will be providing reports as the meeting progresses on the GDLN Asia Pacific website general meeting page.

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

World Bank Senior Official Sarah Cliffe in Tokyo

Sarah Cliffe, Director of Strategy and Operations, East Asia and Pacific Region, flew into Tokyo May 19, 2009 on a three-day visit to take part in an international conference “The Future of Asia,” and to meet with Japanese government officials for discussions on East Asia partnerships.

Sarah Cliffe, Director of Strategy and Operations, East Asia and Pacific Region of World Bank Group, walks onto stage to participate in a panel discussion during a Future of Asia conference at a Tokyo hotel May 21, 2009. TDLC/Eriko Sugita

Sarah Cliffe (L) smiles at the start of a panel discussion on the Asian economy within the global economic crisis, held with fellow speakers from China, India, and Japan at an international conference in Tokyo May 21, 2009. On right is Toshiro Mutoh, former Bank of Japan Deputy Governor. TDLC/Eriko Sugita

Sarah Cliffe makes a point as she answers questions during a panel discussion at an international conference on the future of Asia in Tokyo May 21, 2009. TDLC/Eriko Sugita

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Announcing the Orphan Meets Artist Blog

A weblog (Japanese Only) has been released in support of activity 1 of Orphan Meets Artist/Artist Meets Orphan program. The TDLC will upload stories in cooperation with Tohoku University of Art and Design and Kyoto University of Art and Design. The weblog began on Dec. 3, but there are already 3 videos recorded in 3 videoconference sessions in November. We will continue to actively upload stories, pictures, video, and audio so please visit often.

The Orphan Meets Artist/Artist Meets Orphan is a program to offer opportunities for orphans in developing counties to collaborate with artists and create artwork. Activity in the program started in November following a pre-session on Art and Development in June. Mr. Miyajima Tatsuo renowned in contemporary art is working as a director collaborating with art students to tailor an art workshop for HIV/AIDS orphans in Uganda. The Ugandan orphans are under the care of NGO ASHINAGA UGANDA and NPO MUKWANO

Schedule

Dec. 10 Final selection for a workshop tailored for HIV/AIDS orphans in Uganda @Tohoku University of Art and Design
Dec. 23-24 Pre-workshop and last confirmation @Tohoku University of Art and Design
Jan. 20, 2009 Workshop in Uganda (Miyajima Tatsuo will conduct)
Jan. 22, 2009 Small exhibition in Uganda
Feb.-Mar., 2009 Report sessions and exhibitions @(Planned sites) Yamagata, Kyoto and Tokyo

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

TDLC E-Newsletter Issue No. 11

To read the current issue or subscribe to the TDLC e-newsletter, please see the subscription page.

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007

APO Secretary General Visits TDLC

From right to left: Mr. Song Hyun Choi, Director, APO Agriculture Department; Mr. Shigeo Takenaka, Secretary-General, APO; Mr.Shigeru Yoshida, Kamaichi Co.; Dr. Muhammad Saeed, Program Officer, APO Agriculture Department.

Mr. Shigeo Takenaka, Secretary General of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), visited the TDLC on October 2, 2007 to observe the final session of the organization's course on ISO 22000. The APO, one of the TDLC's earliest partners, has been working through the TDLC to expand their distance learning training programs. A total of three courses - Green Productivity and Integrated Management Systems, Toyota Production System, and ISO22000 - were conducted over 9 phases this summer, connecting to sites in 15, 15 and 14 countries respectively to train more than 900 participants.

The final session of the ISO 22000 course connected the TDLC with India, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Mr. Shigeru Yoshida of Kamaichi Co. Ltd., guest speaker for the session, shared his experience on acquiring ISO 22000 certification.

"I am very encouraged by the enthusiastic response from the audience to this excellent presentation" said Mr.Takenaka, expressing his gratitude. "I am one who advocates increasing projects in the area of food safety, so my view has been vindicated by what I have seen today"

Wednesday, August 8th, 2007

World Bank President Robert Zoellick Visits Tokyo

On his first official visit to Japan since assuming his role on July 1, 2007, World Bank President Robert Zoellick visited the Tokyo Development Learning Center on August 8, 2007 for a Brown Bag Lunch session with Bank and TDLC staff. East Asia Pacific Regional Vice President Jim Adams, who accompanied Mr. Zoellick, briefed the group on his visit to Australia, Vietnam and Cambodia prior to arriving in Tokyo.

After a round of handshakes, Mr. Zoellick gave his views on issues such as the significance of Middle Income Countries, as well as Governance, integrated as an important part of the Bank's agenda. Mr. Zoellick's visit comes at an important time in the Bank's partnership with Japan, with events such as TICAD, to be co-hosted by the Government of Japan, the Bank and UNDP as well as the G8 Summit due to take place in Japan next year. Japan is the Bank's second largest shareholder.

See the World Bank site for full coverage of President Robert Zoellick's first visit to Japan and the East Asia Pacific region.

Wednesday, August 1st, 2007

TDLC E-Newsletter Issue No.9

To read the current issue or subscribe to the TDLC e-newsletter, please see the subscription page.

Tuesday, May 8th, 2007

TDLC Instructional Designer Visits USQ

Opportunities for Collaboration Discussed with E-Learning Experts

Jiping Zhang, TDLC Senior Distance Learning Specialist, completed a 2-week visit to the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Toowoomba Campus, where she worked with experts on campus to explore collaboration opportunities on e-Learning for the GDLN.

“USQ has a lot of learning courses in various topics, and is strong in distance and e-Learning. Through collaboration, we can learn and take advantage of their expertise, and benefit from their learning programs” said Jiping.

The visit follows a historic partnership agreement signed between the USQ and GDLN Asia Pacific through the TDLC to enhance education, learning and development efforts in the region. The TDLC promotes blended learning for development, while USQ has expertise in the development and delivery of study materials and programs around the globe. Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Global Learning Services at USQ Professor Jim Taylor, an internationally renowned expert in e-learning, has expressed high hopes for the agreement, saying that it offers the University a direct opportunity to contribute positively to developing nations.

While at USQ, Jiping spoke to many specialists in fields with experience directly relevant to the GDLN. Dr. Shirley Reushle, an online teaching and pedagogy expert, showed Jiping her online courses “Online Pedagogy in Practice” using Elluminate, which supports synchronized online teaching and collaboration. They also discussed the USQ Graduate Certificate program on “Further Educational Training”, which Jiping found particularly useful to the GDLN’s capacity building efforts on e-Learning.

Also, Dr. Birgit Loch, demonstrated how she used “Camtasia” to record her lectures live and put them online for students in distance. A lecturer of Maths & Computing, Dr. Loch pioneered the employment of new technologies to better serve her students both on campus and in distance

Based on the Agreement, one of the benefits that the GDLN looks forward to is USQ’s Integrated Content Environment (ICE) – a free open source content management system and authoring tool that USQ developed which is now used extensively within the University. The USQ and TDLC are making download arrangements so that the TDLC and GDLN can utilize the system. While at USQ, Jiping received training on ICE from Ms. Pamela Glossop with follow-up to become proficient in its use.

Jiping also worked with USQ faculty members to explore collaboration possibilities on learning programs, including an “Into for Business” course, USQ’s “ Open Courseware” initiative. She also received advice from Senior e-Learning Advisor, Mr. Toren Marcussen on the draft Microfinance course that TDLC will be facilitating through Moodle.

University of Southern Queensland

Friday, April 27th, 2007

World Bank CSR Initiative Seminars: Video Interview with Speakers from Session 1

A video interview (Japanese only)with speakers from the "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative" Seminar Series Session 1: "Business, Development and CSR", held at the TDLC on March 8, 2007, is available for view now.

Please visit the World Bank Tokyo Office Website

Thursday, April 5th, 2007

World Bank “East Asia and Pacific Regional Update” Available Now

Half-yearly Report Launched at TDLC

-A decade after the financial crisis which devastated East Asia in mid-1997, the region now has more money, fewer poor people and a larger global role than ever before. Driven largely by the continued strong growth of China, the developing countries of East Asia today have a combined output of US$4 trillion a year – more than three times the pre-crisis volume.

-But even as the region celebrates the recovery, a new challenge looms which could slow or even derail growth if not properly handled: countries of East Asia could find themselves caught in a “middle-income trap” and struggle to climb steadily to higher income levels.

These are some of the findings from the latest "East Asia and Pacific Reigonal Update", launched globally on April 5, 2007 for the first time from Tokyo at a Public Seminar held at the TDLC.

Hosted by the World Bank Tokyo Office and the Japan Center for International Finance (JCIF), report authors Mr. Milan Brahmbhatt, Lead Economist, East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank and Mr. Bert Hofman, Lead Economist, World Bank Beijing Office, gave presentations followed by commentary by Mr. Kunio Matsuda, Managing Director, JCIF; Mr. Masahiro Kawai, Dean, Asian Development Bank Institute; and Mr. Shigeki Kimura, Director of Development Institutions Division, International Bureau, Ministry of Finance.

This issue also marks "10 Years After the Crisis" with a special focus on "Sustainable Development in East Asia's Urban Fringe".

For more information and to download the full report, see the World Bank website http://go.worldbank.org/NH9CGZNXA0

Thursday, February 1st, 2007

Introducing Lester Dally, World Bank Acting Special Representative in Japan

Photo Lester Dally

"I am very excited about our work here and the challenges ahead.” Lester Dally, the World Bank’s Acting Special Representative in Japan, spoke enthusiastically of raising the Japan-World Bank partnership to new heights upon his arrival in Tokyo in January 2007.

Having served as Deputy Director of the Bank Tokyo office from 1997 to 2000, Mr.Dally is well versed in Japanese affairs. "I look forward to collaborating with many colleagues and friends in the Japanese development community". Mr. Dally takes over from Yukio Yoshimura, who retired from the Bank earlier in the month.

As the Bank’s second largest shareholder after the U.S., Japan is an important Bank partner in many fields, including initiatives such as the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). Mr.Dally will lead efforts to deepen the relationship with the Japanese government as well as the development community at large. Mr Dally is a New Zealander and graduate of Auckland and Harvard Universities.

Prior to his arrival in Tokyo, Mr. Dally worked closely with the Tokyo Office as Senior External Affairs Counsellor based in Washington D.C. A strong supporter of the TDLC who played a key role in its inception, one of Mr.Dally’s goals here is to ensure closer cooperation between the Bank and the TDLC. The Bank’s Governance and Anticorruption (GAC) Strategy consultations,for example, were conducted collaboratively, with the TDLC connecting participants from government and civil society in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia,New Zealand Australia and Japan.

"I am convinced from our work together on recent initiatives that teamwork and collaboration with our partners produces better outcomes and enables us to reach a broader set of audiences and partners within Japan", emphasized Mr. Dally.

"Using the TDLC, one of the most sophisticated global communications systems, enables us to achieve greater reach and impact for our government relations, communications and constituency outreach in Japan, the Asia region and beyond."

Monday, December 11th, 2006

New World Bank EAP Vice President Jim Adams Visits TDLC

Stresses Importance of World Bank Partnership with Japanese Counterparts

picture of jim_adams

The new World Bank East Asia Pacific (EAP) Regional Vice President, Mr. Jim Adams toured the TDLC on December 11, 2006, on his first visit to Japan since assuming his position. Mr. Adams arrived via China, the first leg of his trip, highlighting the significance of the 2 countries in the region.

During a 4-day visit, Mr. Adams met with Japanese senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as counterparts in development agencies including JBIC and JICA. He also had an opportunity to hold lively discussions with opinion leaders from NGOs, media, academia etc. Mr. Adams expressed his desire to listen and learn, reaffirming the importance of the World Bank’s partnerships in working to tackle regional challenges together.

At the TDLC, Mr. Adams shared his views on the region in a relaxed atmosphere with Bank and TDLC staff members, surprising the group with “quizzes” on the Bank’s history.

With more than 30 years experience in Bank operations, particularly in Africa where he served as Country Director for Tanzania and Uganda, Mr. Adams brings a wealth of knowledge to Asia at a time when greater emphasis is being placed on cross-regional exchange.

“Asia is an enormous development success story, and we must make it relevant to Africa” noted Mr. Adams, while also pointing out that there are lessons in Africa for East Asia as well, especially with respect to smaller island nations.

Plans to convene a high level dialogue with Japanese counterparts in early 2007 was discussed and supported by both the Bank and the Japanese government.

Friday, February 10th, 2006

The TDLC Issues E-newsletter No.2

Feature Article on World Bank GDLN and JICA-Net Cooperation

The TDLC has issued its second e-newsletter featuring GDLN and JICA-Net Cooperation. The two networks combined forces in November 2004 to create the largest development learning network in the world. The newsletter also brings you highlights from the WB's Africa mission to Tokyo and other recent events at the TDLC.

Read the latest edition

Click here to subscribe

Wednesday, November 30th, 2005

TDLC Launches E-newsletter

The TDLC is pleased to announce the launch of bimonthly e-newsletter. The newsletter will feature GDLN business proposals as well as case studies of our partner's programs that have been developed with the TDLC. You will also be updated with the latest on technical improvements at our Center and enhancements of our services. We can show you the full range of possibilities that the GDLN can offer to change the way you pursue your development agenda and communicate with your beneficiaries.

Visit the subscription page to sign up.

Those preferring to receive updates via RSS can subscribe to our e-news feed here.

Wednesday, October 12th, 2005

East Asia Country Office and Partners Dialogue with President Wolfowitz

14 Sites Connect with TDLC for discussions with President Wolfowitz during his trip to Japan

President Wolfowitz and EAP Vice President Jamil Kassum

President Paul Wolfowitz, on his first visit to Japan as president, held an interactive dialogue with staff from 4 East Asia country offices and guests on October 12 before leaving for China, the next leg of his 2 week trip. Speaking from the Tokyo Development Learning Center, Mr.Wolfowitz connected to Manila, Bangkok, Jakarta and Hanoi via the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) and was observed widely by 9 World Bank offices and GDLN distance learning centers in the East Asia Pacific and South Asia regions.

President Wolfowitz began by expressing his appreciation for Mr. Jamil Kassum, EAP Vice President and moderator of the dialogue, who will be leaving the Bank after over 30 years of distinguished service.

Speaking about Asia, Mr. Wolfowitz pointed out that while there is still a lot of poverty, the last 20 years have seen the creation of more wealth in the region for more people on a larger scale than at any time in human history.

"What is terrific about the World Bank relationship in East Asia is that we're not only able to provide advice and knowledge and assistance, we're also able to learn a lot from the successful experience of Asian countries. Increasingly, I hope we can transfer some of that successful learning, particularly to Sub-Saharan Africa."

A key development partner in Asia, ASEAN Secretary General Mr.Ong Keng Yong joined the video conference as Guest of Honor from Manila. Mr.Ong identified trade and services, technology, and engaging civil society as areas where he hoped to work with the World Bank and learn from its expertise.

"Harnessing technology is critical for us, as member countries are still grappling with how to use IT and take advantage of the internet. We hope to do more with the World Bank, especially the GDLN and the videoconferencing arrangement that we now see. We have benefited quite a lot from this" said Mr.Ong.

Staff members and guests assembled at the 4 sites had questions and comments on a wide range of subjects for the President. On community driven development, Mr.Wolfowitz touted it as an important part of strengthening civil society and the private sector, and expressed hopes that it would help achieve transparency and accountability on how funds are expended. Mr.Wolfowitz noted that while such programs may cost more, it was important to look at what had been achieved as well.

Mr.Wolfowitz stressed the importance of World Bank engagement with middle income countries focusing on exchanging knowledge. The challenge here, he said, is to help these countries tackle the significant poverty problems that still exist, and the World Bank's expertise needed to help move growth more rapidly to poor elements of the population.

•••

The World Bank

GDLN

World Bank President Wolfowitz meets with JICA President Ogata

Discussions focus on Africa, decentralization, aid coordination and greater institutional collaboration

During his first official visit to Japan, President Wolfowitz met with JICA President Mrs. Sadako Ogata on October 12, 2005, to discuss areas where the World Bank could increase collaboration with JICA. Africa was at the top of the agenda, as Wolfowitz has indicated that the region is his primary priority for the World Bank. Ogata stressed that JICA had been paying special attention to Africa following the Japanese government's announcement that it would double ODA to Africa over the next 3 years. JICA is now developing its own assistance plan and Mrs. Ogata welcomed close collaboration with the World Bank as joint priorities for assistance are established. Wolfowitz introduced the World Bank's new Action Plan for Africa and proposed JICA to collaborate with the World Bank in its implementation. Wolfowitz has instructed his African regional management team to follow up directly with JICA in the months ahead to discuss joint opportunities for scaling up operational collaboration.

Discussions also focused on joint World Bank and JICA knowledge-sharing and research activities, especially the collaboration between JICA-Net and the Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC). Ogata expressed considerable satisfaction about progress and underlined the value of this satellite-linked regional and global communication tool which had the potential to transform ways of doing business.

Wolfowitz and Ogata also exchanged experiences on coordinating activities between international and regional organizations, as well as the decentralization experience of JICA and the World Bank. They agreed that further decentralization and a higher level of coordination on the ground will be critical to development success, not only in Africa, but across the developing world.

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The World Bank
JICA

Friday, July 8th, 2005

Mayor of Kitakyushu City Visits TDLC

Reconfirms Kitakyushu City's commitment to GDLN

Mayor Koichi Sueyoshi of Kitakyushu City visited the TDLC on July 8 where he reconfirmed the city's commitment to contributing to solutions for environmental issues through the TDLC.

Mayor Sueyoshi spoke with the TDLC's Partnership and Programs management about how the 2005 Guidelines for Economic and Fiscal Management and Structural Reform from Japan's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy is highlighting the importance of developing Japan's core regions.

These regions are rapidly coming online in terms of videoconferencing capacity and can connect to global development networks like the GDLN. This creates terrific opportunities to unlock the combined eco-knowledge of Japan's municipalities and to develop knowledge sharing programs that leverage their tremendous expertise to the benefit of developing communities in the region and around the world.

The TDLC looks forward to continued collaboration with Kitakyushu City and to assisting it in its mission of highly effective environmental knowledge transfer.

•••

Kitakyushu City's official English website

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2005

World Bank Vice President and Special Representative for Japan on Global Information Infrastructure

Yukio Yoshimura introduces one of the major ICT initiatives the Bank has been supporting over the last five years

The GIIC meeting, March 2, Washington D.C. (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu)

The Global Information Infrastructure Commission held a conference in Washington D.C. on March 2. The conference was hosted by GIIC co-chairs Naoyuki Akikusa, the chairman of Fujitsu, and Brian Thompson, chairman of Comcast, and attended by executives from GIIC's member companies in their roles as GIIC commissioners.

Mr. Yoshimura delivered a presentation to the conference in which he introduced the Bank's Global Development Learning Network and spoke on the Bank's commitment to the development of information communication technologies world-wide. Expanding on the role of the GDLN, he noted that "any organization, including the private sector, is welcome to use the facility for capacity building, training, policy dialogue, and other purposes designed to provide value and assistance to the poorer countries."

Mr. Yoshimura emphasized the role of disaster mitigation in recent uses of the GDLN, and provided some specific examples drawn from recent activities of the Tokyo Development Learning Center.

In Tokyo, disaster management has become a major priority for our regional GDLN network and Tokyo Development Learning Center. As you know, Japan has a wealth of knowledge about natural disaster mitigation and management, and in particular, experience in coping with earthquakes and tsunami - both warning systems and handling the aftermath.

In my keynote address [to the United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in Kobe, Japan, in February] I emphasized the role of learning in improved disaster management.

He also cited examples of how the network was used during the recent SARS crisis in Asia and noted that a potential avian flu epidemic now looms over the region and that the network stands ready to serve health and agricultural authorities in the event of another crisis.

The full text of Mr. Yoshimura's speech is available on the World Bank Japan's website.

...

JoinTokyo.org: World Conference on Disaster Reduction Begins in Kobe

Tuesday, November 16th, 2004

TDLC and JICA-Net Sign Cooperation Agreement

The agreement cements a broad plan by the organizations to grow together in three key areas

Mr. Kassum (left) and Mr. Matsuoka at JICA's Shinjuku headquarters

The Tokyo Development Learning Center is extremely pleased to announce the signing of a Cooperation Agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The World Bank's East Asia and Pacific Region Vice President Mr. Jemal-ud-din Kassum and JICA Vice President Mr. Kazuhisa Matsuoka signed the agreement between the JICA-Net team and the TDLC at an informal ceremony at JICA's Shinjuku headquarters.

The agreement builds on ongoing conversations between JICA President Sadako Ogata and World Bank President James Wolfensohn about ways to increase collaboration between JICA-Net and the Bank's Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) given the organizations' common objectives and respective strengths.

The agreement aims to achieve this through the reaffirmation of these objectives, the creation of specific action plans for content sharing and development, and the delegation and secondment of staff to act as focal points for both organizations and to develop cooperative projects.

The TDLC and JICA-Net are taking immediate steps to put this memorandum of understanding into action. In addition to staff assignment currently being finalized, a complementary technical agreement will be signed in the near future between the two networks, and the organizations are already investigating possible projects for joint content development.

"This relationship brings two far-reaching global networks more closely together," said Mr. Kassum. "We're very much looking forward to the additional ways our combined strengths and reach can deliver benefits to the development community not only within Asia, but around the world."

The agreement cements a broad plan by the organizations to grow together in three key areas. The first is the establishment of better and more widespread connectivity between the networks themselves. This increased connectivity then enables a more beneficial and comprehensive dissemination of existing programs. As we subsequently build capacity in this area, we will then embark on a course of shared content development.

The World Bank and JICA are constantly exploring ways to further collaboration and this agreement is a strong signal of greater connectivity throughout both organizations as a whole. The TDLC looks forward to working closely with JICA-Net to develop programs and methods that enable our organizations to more fully realise the benefits of distance learning and knowledge sharing where they are most needed around the world.

...

JICA-Net - http://jica-net.jica.go.jp/en2/index.html

GDLN - http://www.gdln.org/

Monday, November 15th, 2004

TDLC Welcomes Vice President for EAP, Announces Client Support Teams

The teams focus on delivering a seamless and highly responsive client service

Jamil Kassum (center), Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific Region, with TDLC team members

The TDLC team was delighted to welcome Jamil Kassum, Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific Region, to Tokyo last week. During his visit, Jamil endorsed the reforms the GDLN Tokyo team is undertaking to ensure it fulfills the project's commitment to excellent client service.

As part of this committment to excellence, the TDLC is pleased to announce the introduction of client support teams to facilitate event coordination, planning, and execution between the center and its major clients.

Client support teams consist of a program leader, a studio technician, a service coordinator, and a distance learning expert as required. The teams focus on delivering a seamless and highly responsive client service in order to ultimately increase the impact and success of programs and events.

As part of this increased client orientation, clients can be allocated a single e-mail address which allows easy communication with all members of their team. This helps ensure that nothing slips between the cracks and that the TDLC can respond quickly to client requests and comments.

For more information on our client support teams, please contact Mr. Colin Lonergan, clonergan@worldbank.org, TDLC Operations Manager, or Mr. Ryu Fukui, , TDLC Partnership and Programs Manager, or call (03)-3597-1333.

...

Tuesday, October 12th, 2004

TDLC Welcomes New Senior Distance Learning Specialist

Jiping Zhang joins the TDLC from the World Bank Institute

The Tokyo Development Learning Center is delighted to welcome Jiping Zhang to the team as our Senior Distance Learning Specialist. Jiping has over 15 years' experience in various World Bank and UNDP training programs in China, and has developed and taught courses on a range of development issues including technology transformation, case writing, capacity building for the poverty reduction sector, and workshops on Chinese economic reform.

Since 1999 Jiping has been working at the World Bank Institute designing and organizing delivery of various distance learning courses to countries in Latin America, Africa, and China using interactive videoconferencing and distance learning methodologies.

She has worked in Beijing as the manager of the Global Development Learning Network's China Distance Learning Center, and was a key member of the GDLN expansion team to establish and build capacity of the Ningxia and Guizhou DLCs.

Jiping has been Visiting Scholar at the Richard Ivey School of Business, taught in the School of Economics and Business Management at Tsinghua University, and worked as senior operational officer at the China Investment Bank.

...

Friday, October 1st, 2004

TDLC Welcomes New Programs and Capacity Building Coordinator

Hiroichi Kawashima joins the TDLC from the World Bank, Washington

The TDLC is very pleased to announce that Hiroichi Kawashima has joined the team as Programs and Capacity Building Coordinator. Hiroichi, a Japanese national, is a specialist in urban management, strategic development, public-private partnerships, and regulatory issues,with special emphasis on the value of knowledge management. He brings to the TDLC extensive Bank and governmental experience.

Hiroichi was Senior Urban Specialist at the World Bank's East Asia Urban Development Sector Unit where, among other projects, he managed the City Networking and Investment Marketplace Development Initiative in Asia, a new networking approach for linking local capacity building and lending operations through municipal associations in China, India, Indonesia, and Philippines. He began working at the Bank as a coordinator of the City Development Strategies program in East Asia.

Prior to joining the Bank he was Deputy Director of MLIT's Building Disaster Prevention Division and coordinated Japan's bilateral technical assistance programs on building disaster prevention. His experience includes urban development management at Kitakyushu City Government, housing advisory services and lending project preparations for the Government of Indonesia through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

...

Tuesday, August 10th, 2004

Two Important Visitors to the Tokyo Development Learning Center

In early August the Tokyo-based TDLC team was delighted to welcome two of the key World Bank managers to the Center.

Mr. Jeffrey Gutman, Director of Strategy and Operations, East Asia and Pacific Region and Mr. Le Vu, Director of Global Communications visited the project after attending the very successful East Asia and Pacific Association meeting that was generously hosted by the Shanghai National Accounting Institute (see our story New Development Learning Center Launched in Shanghai).

Jeff Gutman is the TDLC Project Director and the two TDLC managers, Ryu Fukui and Colin Lonergan, report to Jeff.

Le Vu designed the technical facilities at the TDLC which are recognized as the most sophisticated and impressive in the world.

Jeff and Le joined with Mr. Yukio Yoshimura, Vice President and Special Representative to Japan, to hold management meetings with the TDLC staff that aimed to ensure the TDLC was appropriately structured to meet its output targets and in particular to ensure the project honors the commitments that were made at the Shanghai meeting.

With strong support and guidance from senior Bank management the TDLC team is confident it can meet the targets that have been set and realize the high-priority initiatives identified by DLC managers throughout the region. Immediate items on the work agenda include supporting DLC managers to develop new business plans and the establishment of Marketing and Technical Committees to consolidate the outreach and infrastructural progress that has already been made.

To maintain a high level of transparency the short- and medium-term TDLC work program developed at the Shanghai meeting will be posted on the web site as drafts are completed.

...

Tuesday, July 27th, 2004

New Development Learning Center Launched in Shanghai

Shanghai, China, July 27, 2004 — China and the World Bank today launched a new Distance learning center in Shanghai hosted and managed in partnership with the Shanghai National Accounting Institute (SNAI). This brings the number of distance learning centers in China to a total of seven — and there are 7 more underway. There are now 17 fully active centers in the East Asia and Pacific region and more than 70 centers worldwide.

The Global Development Learning Network is a global partnership of distance learning centers around the world that work together to use modern information and communication technology to build local capacity, share knowledge, and support a range of learning and development initiatives.

Most of the centers in China are located in the poorer western provinces and aim to help development and poverty reduction in those areas using information technology to promote distance education and training as well as information and knowledge dissemination. Such an initiative is particularly important as China is rapidly evolving to a position of leadership and influence as a knowledge provider.

SNAI is a Chinese government-sponsored institute, affiliated with the Ministry of Finance, and provides extensive training in accountancy, management and finance to CPAs and CFOs. SNAI trains 20,000 people annually and runs a pioneering on-line project supported by the Ministry of Finance to provide accountants and financial professionals with distance education. SNAI has reached over 100,000 people since June 2004 providing e-learning programs and learning support through its website — www.esnai.net.

The new Shanghai Distance Learning Center at SNAI provides real time satellite-linked two-way and multi-point videoconferencing with all the existing Distance Learning sites in China and the region, but also connects to the CICPA Distance Education Network with services provided by China Unicom, covering 31 provinces in China.

The new Shanghai Center was launched by Mr Guan Yimin, Vice President of SNAI and Mr Jeff Gutman Director of Strategy and Operations of the World Bank's East Asia and Pacific Region and Tokyo Development Learning Center Project Director. Gutman welcomed SNAI as the newest member to the regional and global network. Gutman said

Effective development requires continuous exchange of relevant information, knowledge and expertise on a timely basis and the regional distance learning network is a powerful tool for training and a practical way of finding solutions on the ground for some of our toughest problems. China is using the new information technology to find those solutions and with SNAI's leadership in distance education in China we can increase the impact of our work.

In his remarks, Guan Yimin said that "SNAI can now increase its efforts to train more specialists in China and develop and implement more interactive learning solutions with partners in China and across the region."

To coincide with the launch, from July 27 to 29, SNAI is hosting at its facility in Shanghai the 8th Meeting of the East Asia & Pacific Association of the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), the regional body which administers the regional network which meets at least once a year to review the progress achieved in the last eight month and discuss ways to move ahead.

The objectives of the meeting include:

Showcase the expansion of the China regional network, acknowledge the contribution of donors, and introduce EAPA members to the China Domestic Development Learning Network (CDDLN);
Present and review key issues on the business planning process for the regional network;
Review distance learning center business case studies for Australia, PNG and Vietnam and identify lessons learned and key issues for the next group of Distance learning centers which will work on revising their business plans;
Discuss key elements of a business model for the East Asian and Pacific network to improve efficiency; and
Reports from the various committees in the regional network--marketing, technology and quality

Significant achievements have been made in the development of the regional network in the last eight months. In the East Asia and Pacific region, the Tokyo Distance learning center was launched on June 1, by the World Bank President Mr. James D. Wolfensohn. By the end of 2004, four new Distance Learning Centers are expected to be launched in Indonesia, one in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and one in Cambodia.

The World Bank is encouraging greater efforts to scale up the use of the distance learning centers. At the recent Global Conference on Scaling Up Poverty Reduction in Shanghai and the nine-month Global Learning Process preceding the Conference, distance learning centers around the world were connected to participate in the discussions by development specialists across the world on "what works, what does not work, and why". Distance learning centers have been used to release major World Bank research studies, including regional studies such as Global Production Networking and Technological Change in East Asia, Global Change and East Asian Policy Initiatives, and the Half Yearly East Asia and Pacific Economic Update. They have also been considered a core component of the World Bank's outreach program and a key vehicle for the Bank's training programs and operational activities.

Over 70 participants from most East Asian and Pacific countries attended the Shanghai meeting, including representatives of the distance learning centers in China, as well as the Chinese Ministry of Finance and the Western Region Development Office of the State Council which have worked with the World Bank to establish the knowledge network in China.

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