As part of an ongoing collaborative research project, a videoconference workshop on “Earthquake Risk Perception” was held March 5, 2008 to share the results of a survey conducted in 2007/2008 by the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) on the risk perception of residents, government officials, building contractors and masons.
Researchers from 5 countries connected via the GDLN on January 24, 2008 for the Tokyo International Workshop 2008 on Earthquake Disaster Mitigation for Safer Housing. Part of a collaborative research project initiated by 4 Japanese institutions including the Building Research Institute, the workshop was organized to share research and development output as well as to discuss activity programs among participating research institutes in Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Turkey.
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.
Research institutes in Japan, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Turkey connected via the GDLN on July 18, 2007 to take part in the “Thematic International Workshop 2007 on Feasible and Affordable Seismic Constructions in Developing Countries”. These 5 countries are participating in an ongoing collaborative research and development project to mitigate damage in earthquake prone areas in Asia, using videoconferencing as a way to share information and discuss future plans.