JSPS Core-to-Core Program Seminar #7 on “Basic Education Finance/Administration and Public Policy in Developing Countries”

On February 8th, 2016, the 7th JSPS Core-to-Core Program Seminar titled “Basic Education Finance/Administration and Public Policy in Developing Countries” was held at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. The Seminar was organized by Kobe University’s Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS) with Chiang Mai University, and it was supported by JSPS Core-to-Core Program (Asia-Africa Science Platforms).

JSPS Core-to-Core Program aims at disseminating knowledge on Education Finance and Administration to the Asian and African countries and nurturing young researchers in a continued manner. This symposium focused on “Basic Education Finance/Administration and Public Policy in Developing Countries.” Professor Keiichi Ogawa, who has coordinated this program since April 2014, as well as a great number of fellow researchers from many countries of the world participated in this gathering.

The participants who conducted this seminar presented their research findings on “Basic Education Finance/Administration and Public Policy in Developing Countries.” In the opening session, Dr. Avorn Opatphatanakit, Vice President of Research and Academic Services at Chiang Mai University introduced this symposium and mentioned that it is participated by more than 80 participants including the parties concerned, researchers and students in the Chiang Mai City.

The speakers of the seminar was from Peking University (China), Seoul National University (South Korea), Vietnam National University (Vietnam), Chiang Mai University (Thailand), National University of Laos (Lao, PDR), Yemeni Education Research Development Center (Yemen), Cairo University (Egypt), Makerere University (Uganda), University of Malawi (Malawi) and UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in Asia and the Pacific (UNESCO Bangkok), Tsukuba University (Japan), and Kobe University.

20160208-DSC_5738 This seminar contributed to “construction of the study system” and “nurturing of young researchers,” which are the main objectives of the JSPS Core-to-Core Program. The graduate students of GSICS, Kobe University presented their joint research findings in English and received valuable feedback from the participants.

At the end of the seminar, participants who are young researchers at Chiang Mai University, senior researchers and education finance specialists were given the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments in order to deepen their knowledge and understanding on “Basic Education Finance/Administration and Public Policy in Developing Countries. To date, multiple research teams have been established and numerous studies have been promoted as a result of this project. This symposium presented a venue for participants to share progress of their relevant studies and to exchange mutual advice.

Authored by Seonkyung Choi (Doctoral student)