Reflecting the dynamic character of the region, Asia Pacific GDLN Distance Learning Centers (DLCs) have continued to expand since 2000, adding new Centers, staff and activities. To maximize the effectiveness of this growing network, a training program was held by GDLN AP and the TDLC from December 5 – 8, 2006 at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Research institutions in Japan, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Turkey joined forces on November 22-23, 2006 connecting to each other from the TDLC for the “Tokyo International Workshop 2006 on Earthquake Disaster Mitigation for Safer Housing”.Organizers including the Building Research Institute of Japan have launched a new collaborative research project with Asian institutions, and are incorporating videoconferencing to share knowledge and strengthen the network.
Mr.Drew Stewart, World Bank Institute Multimedia Center Interactive Television Producer, conducted a Videoconferencing Seminar titled“Working in Front of the Camera: How to Moderate and Present in Formal Videoconference” on November 16, 2006. Connecting to JICA offices in Tokyo and Osaka from the TDLC studio, Mr.Stewart gave advice to moderators and presenters on conducting a more effective session, finishing with a mock videoconference.
A briefing on the Asia Pacific Water Forum, established in September, and the First Asia Pacific Water Summit scheduled to take place in Oita in December 2007 was conducted for Embassy officials in Tokyo at the TDLC on November 14, 2006.
The new President of the Japan Water Forum (JWF), APWF and Chair of the Summit, former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, called for a “one for all, all for one” approach to resolving water issues.
The World Bank’s second East Asia Update for this year, including a special section on “Investing in the Young”, was released on November 14, 2006 via the GDLN. Speakers at Bank Headquarters in Washington DC connected with regional sites in Dili, Port Moresby, Ulan Bator, Sydney, Beijing, Manila and the TDLC, allowing over 100 participants to join a question and answer session with the authors of the report.
The global launch of a new World Bank report “Facing the Challenges of African Growth: Opportunities, Constraints, and Strategic Directions” took place at the TDLC on November 10, 2006. Defining the four big “I”s needed to achieve growth in Africa – Infrastructure, Investment, Innovation, and Institutional Capacity—the author of the Report, Mr. Benno Ndulu, provided a review of the study before a distinguished panel of Japanese government and development agency officials and an audience of nearly 100.
World Bank Institute Vice President Frannie A. Leautier gave a presentation on “Cities in a Globalizing World: Governance, Performance and Sustainability” at the Korea Development Institute School of Public Policy and Management in Seoul on November 7, 2006. A distinguished audience at the TDLC from organizations such as JBIC, JICA and ADBI joined the seminar via videoconference and participated in a question and answer session.
Dr.Morihiko Hiramatsu, best known as the initiator of the “One Village, One Product (OVOP)” movement, visited the TDLC on October 25,2006 to speak at a distance learning session organized by the APO and GDLN. Ever the salesman, Dr.Hiramatsu came equipped with “village products” such as shochu and shiitake, for which Oita is famous, and gave an enthusiastic lecture on the merits of OVOP.
The Pacific Resource Exchange Center (PREX) held an Alumni Seminar via videoconference for its trainees on September 28, 2006, connecting the TDLC with three sites in China;Beijing, Chongqing and Xinjiang.
With Vietnam fast becoming a success story in poverty reduction, the TDLC is working with its counterpart in Hanoi, the Vietnam Development Information Center (VDIC), to enhance development activities in both the public and private sectors. A new GDLN Center will open in Ho Chi Minh City in December 2006, expected to focus on private sector programs. A new brochure highlighting TDLC and VDIC’s efforts to accelerate cooperation between Vietnam and Japan will be widely distributed.
The Nissan LPIE held its first global videoconference session on September 16, 2006, with World Bank Information Solutions Network Senior Telecommunications Engineer Svetoslav K. Tintchev speaking on “The Role of Engineers in International Organizations”. Kyoto University’s Information Media Center was connected to the TDLC and WB Headquarters in Washington via the GDLN.
The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) conducted a 4-day e-learning program on Green Productivity and ISO 14001 from August 21 to 24, 2006. This first phase was given to member countries Sri Lanka, Nepal, India and Mongolia, connected via the GDLN with speakers from India and the TDLC in Tokyo. The program was repeated from September 4 to 7, 2006 for Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines, reaching a total of 8 member countries.
Students in Sri Lanka and Japan connected via videoconference on August 29, 2006 to conduct a joint “Home Room” session, participating in an activity to identify the most important things in life and share their perspectives.Facilitated with the cooperation of Takushoku University, over a dozen students from Hoya Junior High School assembled at the TDLC to interact with their peers in Sri Lanka.
Japanese academics and development practitioners joined World Bank Chief Economist for Africa, Mr. John Page for a Round Table Discussion on Africa at the World Bank Tokyo Office on August 8, 2006. Held to exchange information on on-going research in Africa and explore opportunities for cooperation between academic circles in Japan and the Bank, participants agreed to follow up on discussions in the future.
A World Bank Public Seminar on “Challenges and New Opportunities in Africa” was held on August 7, 2006, connecting the TDLC, Osaka University Nakanoshima Center and South Africa via videoconference. In collaboration with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Kankeiren (Kansai Economic Federation), the seminar was organized by the World Bank Group as part of a continuing effort to stimulate private sector interest in Africa.
The third “Training of Trainers Course on Microfinance” (MFToT) began at the TDLC on August 3, 2006, incorporating new approaches to broaden its impact on building training capacity in Asia. Newcomers India, Pakistan and China joined Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan for the opening videoconference session connecting via the GDLN, with Beijing bridging to the China Development Bank’s national network to further expand the course’s reach. The session was also webcast live through the internet for the first time. See full story to access an archived version of the webcast.
Next door neighbors can benefit from a good discussion – as was proven at the TDLC on July 19, 2006, when World Bank South Asia Region Vice President Mr. Praful Patel, India Country Director Mr. Fayez Omar and Sri Lanka Country Director Ms. Naoko Ishii gave an overview of their region to an audience in East Asia Pacific. The cross-Asia dialogue was attended by over 100 journalists, students, development agency representatives and others connecting via the GDLN from Sydney, Manila and Singapore to learn about the Bank’s strategy and development issues in South Asia.
The World Bank launched a new series of inter-regional distance learning seminars on Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) on July 12, 2006, with its first session, “The Importance of Integrated Country Programs in the Fight Against Avian and Human Influenza (AHI)”. The series utilizes the GDLN as an effective platform, allowing institutions, governments, technical agencies, donors, NGOs and others around the world to hold regular discussions on topics that are of high priority when dealing with AHI preparedness. More information, including footage of the video discussion, presentations and all resource materials can be accessed on the web at http://www.worldbank.org/avianflu.
“Challenges and Future Perspectives of Water Resources Management: Cases from Middle East/North Africa and Asia”was the theme of a World Bank Public Seminar held on June 27, 2006, allowing Bank experts to present their findings to specialists in the field from government, development agencies, the private sector and NGOs. Organized by the World Bank Tokyo Office and Japan Water Forum, the seminar connected Tokyo, Cairo and Beijing via the GDLN to incorporate various perspectives, including comments from Dr.Mahmoud A. Abu-Zeid, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.
See full story for video of presentations.
In an effort to resolve the human trafficking issue in Asia, about 40 members of NGOs and government officials working in Japan and the Philippines connected via the GDLN on June 22, 2006 for a cross-border dialogue on victim protection and Japan’s role as a destination country. Organized by the Asia Foundation, the event was the first in a series of dialogues scheduled for this year to foster a better understanding of the mechanism of victim protection, repatriation and rehabilitation.
The winners have just been announced in the inaugural Web for Development Awards, and the TDLC is very pleased to congratulate our colleagues at the Asian Development Bank Institute whose site was awarded honorable mention and a $3,000 prize.
Mainstreaming gender into development activities was the focus of discussions at the first distance seminar for Japan’s ODA Task Force held this fiscal year, on June 21, 2006. Connecting the TDLC with Kenya, Thailand and Pakistan, members of each country’s Task Force, including Japanese Embassy, JICA and JETRO staff, participated to share their experiences and exchanged opinions with speakers in Tokyo. The series is organized by the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development (FASID).
Hitotsubashi University’s Asian Public Policy Program (APPP) held a virtual “reunion” on June 16, 2006 via the GDLN. The first of two sessions planned for this year, over 30 current master degree students, PhD candidates and faculty gathered at the TDLC to connect with alumni in Beijing, Manila, Jakarta and Hanoi for discussions on recent policy issues in Asia. Waving to each other across the screen, the event provided an enjoyable new opportunity to strengthen ties and exchange information within the region’s alumni network.
The TDLC received President Festus Gontebanye Mogae of the Republic of Botswana on June 7, 2006, on the occasion of the “Meeting on Infrastructure Development for Small Economies through Public Private Partnerships (PPP) - The Case of Botswana”. Jointly hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Botswana and the World Bank Group with support from the United Nations University (UNU), the TDLC connected speakers from Pretoria, Johannesburg and Helsinki in addition to over 50 participants in Tokyo who joined the President for a productive roundtable discussion moderated by Dr. Hans van Ginkel, UNU Rector.
In an event leading up to the G8 Summit to be held in Russia in July, Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) from 7 G8 countries participated in an information exchange session via videoconference on June 7, 2006.
The International Recovery Platform (IRP) held its second Steering Committee meeting at the TDLC on June 1, 2006, connecting International Labour Organization (ILO) Headquarters in Geneva, The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome to Tokyo via videoconference.
The World Bank’s annual 2006 Global Development Finance (GDF) report received special attention at the TDLC on May 31, 2006, as connecting sites Indonesia, Vietnam, Mongolia and Thailand enjoyed a presentation given by the report’s lead author, World Bank Lead Economist in Development Economics Mr.Mansoor Dailami and Manager of the Bank’s Global Trends team, Mr.Hans Timmer.
GDLN centers in Asia and beyond joined over 800 participants assembled in Tokyo for the Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE) held at Mita Conference Hall on May 29 and 30, 2006. Marking the first time that this global event, organized by the World Bank and Japan’s Ministry of Finance, was held in Asia, the TDLC facilitated videoconferencing connections by providing its technical know-how and coordination services on-site to make the event accessible to a diverse audience.
We’d like to know what you think about our infrastructure initiatives, and what we should be doing differently to reduce poverty”, said World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz at the Bank’s “Dialogue with Asian CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) on Lessons Learned on Infrastructure”. Held at the TDLC on May 29, 2006, connecting Hanoi, Bangkok, Canberra and Jakarta, President Wolfowitz and Bank Vice President for Infrastructure Kathy Sierra spoke to civil society members assembled in Tokyo and on-screen, asking them for real-time feedback.
A new global report on child labour launched by the International Labour Organization (ILO) was the topic of a videoconference held on May 23, 2006 connecting ILO Headquarters in Geneva and the TDLC. Organized by the ILO Office in Japan, over 20 participants including members of NGOs gathered at the TDLC to listen to new findings and discuss common issues.
“Mobilizing Rural Community and Stakeholders”, a workshop on Community Driven Development (CDD) organized by the World Bank Tokyo Office and JANARD was held at the TDLC on April 21,2006. The third session in the series brought together Japanese NGOs and representatives from the Asia Foundation to exchange views on their experience in community development projects.
As part of a continuing effort to promote the concept of Corporate Community Interface (CCI) in disaster risk reduction, a second videoconference organized by Kyoto University Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES) and the TDLC was held on April 20,2006 to discuss plans to develop a CCI program. Sites in Manila, Bangkok, Hanoi, New Delhi, Kobe and Tokyo connected to share experiences and expertise, and considered specific contents for a CCI Handbook which will serve as the basis for conversion into a distance learning program.
A new learning program titled “Post Disaster Reconstruction Learning of Indian Ocean Tsunami: Towards its Application to Pre Disaster Preparedness in Vulnerable Developing Countries” has begun at the TDLC, organized by the Kyoto University Graduate School of Global Environment Studies. In an inaugural videoconference held on April 20, 2006, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, New Delhi and Tokyo connected to discuss the two-year program.
The Second “Training of Trainers Course on Microfinance (MFToT) gave accreditation to 32 new microfinance trainers from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka at a ceremony moderated from the TDLC on April 12,2006. The course, a blended distance learning program which combines various technologies, aims to build microfinance capacity in Asia, and will be delivered for the third time later this year.
The TDLC is pleased to announce that it has become the official collaborator for an innovative new venture: The Nissan Leadership Program for Innovative Engineers (LPIE). Supported by the Nissan Science Foundation, established in 1974 by NISSAN to provide grants for research in the field of natural science, the LPIE is an initiative by 2 of Japan’s most prestigious universities -Tokyo University and Kyoto University -to nurture leaders on a global scale, capable of creating next-generation business models through a profound understanding of science and technology and its relationship to diverse social needs.
The World Bank’s latest East Asia Update was delivered on March 30, 2006 with Mr.Homi Kharas, Chief Economist for East Asia and Pacific speaking via video conference from Sydney. Connected to hear his report were the TDLC as well as sites in Canberra, Singapore and Phnom Penh, where economists, journalists and academics gathered for a lively question and answer session following the report.
Mr. John Hegarty, Manager of Financial Management for Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank spoke on “Institutional Foundations for Sound Finance in Developing Countries: The Importance of Financial Reporting” at a WB Public Seminar held on March 29, 2006. Over 50 participants gathered at the TDLC with Kobe University and Hiroshima University joining the session via videoconference.
Prospects for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in the Philippines became the focus of attention at a videoconference connecting Tokyo and Manila on March 27, 2006. The full spectrum of relevant government and private sector organizations in Japan including the Ministry of Environment, JICA, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) gathered at the TDLC for a rare opportunity to hold an interactive discussion among stakeholders on opportunities for cooperation in the Philippines.
“An International Accounting Seminar on Public Sector Issues” was held by the Japan Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA) on March 24,2006. Organized in conjunction with a meeting of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board held in Tokyo, JICPA incorporated videoconferencing for the first time, connecting 8 countries in Asia. The TDLC provided technical support for the seminar in recognition of the significance of accounting issues for developing countries, and hopes to continue to support such efforts by JICPA as a valuable opportunity for development learning.
The Asian Development Youth Forum, an organization of students based in Tokyo interested in development issues, held its third videoconference on March 24, 2006, facilitating exchanges between student counterparts in Japan and Vietnam.
An international symposium titled “E-Learning and Globalization--Current Issues and Future Possibilities” was held on March 18, 2006, co-sponsored by Hosei University Research Institute, the Japan e-Learning Association and the TDLC. About 70 participants from academia and the private sector with backgrounds in education and technology joined discussions at the TDLC, connecting to Hosei’s Research Institute in California.
Mr. John Wilson, the World Bank’s Lead Economist for the Development Research Group, gave a video presentation titled “APEC’s Role in Trade Liberalization” contributing to discussions at an APEC International Symposium on the “Catalytic Role of the APEC Process: Behind the Border, Beyond the Bogor Goals”.
The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) conducted a 3-day seminar on the Toyota Production System (TPS) from March 6-8, 2006. This program is a culmination of cooperative efforts between the APO and the TDLC since 2004 to incorporate GDLN videoconferencing services into its training programs, and is fully funded by the APO. The first of 3 phases, national productivity organizations in Mongolia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam connected via the GDLN. The APO will conduct the same course in May and August with different members participating, resulting in an Asia-wide program spanning 13 countries.
A JICA-Net Workshop “How to Moderate and Present in Videoconference” sponsored by JICA Tokyo International Center was held on March 2, 2006, connecting JICA Tokyo, JICA Headquarters and JICA Okinawa by videoconference. TDLC Instructional Designer Jiping Zhang facilitated the workshop as part of a program sharing effort envisioned in a cooperation agreement between the TDLC and JICA-Net.
The International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, part of Japan’s Building Research Institute (BRI), conducted a videoconference on technology for seismic resistant housing connecting Japan and Peru on February 24, 2006. The conference was the first such occasion after the Institute installed videoconferencing facilities in consultation with the TDLC.
The Japanese Cleft Palate Foundation (JCPF), a TDLC partner, will hold a photography exhibit titled “International Medical Cooperation in Asia - Bringing Smiles to Children” in collaboration with the World Bank’s Public Information Center (PIC) from February 13 - 24, 2006. In addition, JCPF will hold a coffee hour on February 17, from 18:30 to 20:00, to discuss the organization’s work. Director Nagato Natsume will give a presentation and Mr.Koichi Omori, Communications Officer, WB Tokyo Office will serve as commentator.
A JICA-Net Seminar sponsored by JICA Tokyo was held on January 30,2006 connecting JICA Tokyo with JICA Headquarters and the TDLC. The seminar, titled “Introducing the Active Learning Method for Better Training Programs - What is the key to learning for personal development?” is part of a program sharing effort between the GDLN and JICA-Net envisioned in the cooperation agreement signed between the two networks in November 2004.
Afghanistan is a country which is prone to disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, sandstorms and floods. But prolonged war has destroyed its capacity for damage control and management. Following the development of a National Disaster Management Plan, a video conference, organized by Kyoto University Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Afghanistan’s Department for Disaster Preparedness, and the Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS), was held among experts on January 16, 2006 to discuss the plan connecting the TDLC, Kabul and Delhi.
“New Prospects for Private Sector Development in Africa”, a public seminar organized by the World Bank Group and JETRO Institute of Developing Economies, was held at the TDLC on January 11,2006 with an audience of over 100 from development organizations, academia, government, media and the private sector. In addition to the panel in Tokyo, the JETRO Johannesburg Center was connected via video conference to bring local views into the discussion.
The World Bank Group’s Africa Mission to Japan, led by World Bank Regional
Vice President for Africa Gobind Nankani, and Japanese government officials engaged in high-level policy talks on January 10, 2006 for the first time regarding strategic collaboration in Africa.
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