As high and volatile oil prices cast a shadow of uncertainty over the world economy, analysis and information on oil-price dynamics as well as instruments for risk management are in high demand among policymakers.The TDLC and World Bank Institute (WBI), engaging the expertise of the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, collaborated to launch a timely new videoconference seminar “Oil Price Volatility, Economic Impacts and Risk Management in Asia”.
How can new technologies help build microfinance capacity in developing countries? The Microfinance Training of Trainers (MFToT) course has led the way with its unique blended learning approach. The fourth series which opened at the TDLC on August 16, 2007 takes advantage of webcasting to deliver videoconference lectures, vastly expanding accessibility. Moodle, an open-source learning management system, was incorporated for the first time – allowing 653 participants from 52 countries to register on-line.
The 3rd session in the World Bank Group Corporate Social Responsibility Seminar Series concluded on May 23, 2007 with a discussion on BOP case studies at the TDLC.
This session, focusing on “Overview of Lessons from Scaling Up Successful Efforts to Reduce Poverty” was facilitated by the World Bank Institute and delivered to JICA offices in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz. Based on a cooperation agreement between GDLN and JICA-Net, the TDLC is working with its counterpart to facilitate content exchange.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation’s Sector Strategy Development Department co-organized a videoconference with World Bank ESSD and the TDLC on learning from the World Bank’s approach to gender integration of investment projects, particularly infrastructure development.
The Asian Development Bank, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and the World Bank today released their first joint study on the infrastructure challenges facing developing nations in East Asia at a symposium held today at Keidanren Hall in Tokyo.
During a recent visit to Tokyo David Dollar, the World Bank’s Country Directory for China and Mongolia delivered a presentation via the GDLN on the investment climate and competitiveness in 23 Chinese cities.
The Asian Productivity Organization concluded a highly successful seminar on Total Quality Management (TQM) today as participants in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan wrapped up four days of lectures, discussions, site visits, and training.
The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) today launched a four-day distance-learning-based seminar on Total Quality Management (TQM) via the Global Distance Learning Network.
To enable discussion of the issues and challenges related to power industry privatization, the Asian Institute of Management organized a seminar via the GDLN.
The Asian Productivity Organization used the GDLN to enable its new Secretary-General Mr. Shigeo Takenaka to address participants from more than a dozen member countries at the Multi-Country Study Mission on Media and Productivity held in Bangkok.
The Asian Productivity Organization commenced their six-day seminar on Participatory Microcredit held September 20-26 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with a videoconferencing session connecting the Mongolian Distance Learning Center with the TDLC in Tokyo and the Asian Institute of Management in Manila.
The Tokyo Development Learning Center served as the launch pad today for two new publications on East Asian economics.
A discussion of the WDR04 and its implications.
For the second time, representatives of governments, central banks, the private sector, media, academia, civil society, and development agencies in East Asia used GDLN to discuss with World Bank counterparts the Bank’s half yearly economic review of the region.
Tokyo Development Learning Center
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