Publications

Written by Mekong Institute

The training of Trainers in the Greater Mekong Subregion on Decentralized Educational Planning in the Context of Public Sector Management Reform is part os the Professional Development Series (PDS) of the Mekong Institute (MI) Foundation. The course was held at the MI Residential Training Facility in Khon Kaen. Thailand from 23 Feb to 6 Mar,2009.

This training course was delivered in partnership with the Education Policy and Reform Unit of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Bangkok. In September, 2008 the MI and UNESCO Bangkok signed a Letter of Agreement specifying the objectives and modalities for co-operation in the provision of this training of trainers course entitled "Decentralized Education Planning in the Context of Public Secor Management Reform n the GMS region."

The purpose of the course was (a) to enhance national capacity in education sector planning for public sector management reforms and (b) to promote best practices in international development aong the GMS countries. The course was designed for potential trainers of in-country learning programs on the abovementional subject.

The course focused two main modules: Decentralized Education Planning (shown an E modules) and Facilitation Skills (Shown as F modules).

Decentralized Educational Planning

Module E1: Trends in public sector management relevant to education

Module E2: Modern Approaches to Education Sector Management

Module E3: Concepts and Methods for Educational Planning in Decentralized Country Contexts

Module E4: Education Mangement information System (EMIS)

Module E5: Application of Education Planning Tools: the Analysis and Projection Model (ANPRO)

Facilitation Skills

Module F1: Modular training cycle planning a participatory learning program

Module F2: Communication and Facilitation skills

Module F3: Team work and competencies of failitator

Module F4: Presentation Methos

The feedback gathered from the participants confirmed that the facilitators were qualified, experienced and able to explain difficult content topics in clear and simple terms. Overall., the partcipants rated the resource persons as "good" and able to achieve the stated course objectives.

Written by Mekong Institute

Avaliable hard copy please contact library at Mekong Institute

Written by Mekong Institute

The three-week intensive workshop on "Regional Power Interconnection and Trade n the GMS" was held from 2nd_20th March 2009 at the GMS Electric PowerTechnology Exchange and Training Centre, Kunming City, Yunnan rovince, the People's Republic of China. The workshop was sponsored by the Yunnan Provincial Government of the People's Republic of China (YPG) and the yunnan Power Grid Corporation (YNPG). Twenty-nine government oficials and private sector personnel representing the six GMS countries (Cambodia, PR China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam) attended te worksho. Participant composition was of 41% females and 59% of males.

The workshop aimed to enhance the competencies of senior to middle level government officials and senior private sector personnel working in areas related to power/electric enginneering, power companies and energy ministries from te six GMS countries. Targe organizations included EGAT, EVN, EDL, EDC and other regional independent power producers. The workshop emphasized on the development of a regional perpective in electric power trading and interconnection, introducing the necessary skills in organizaing and evaluating subregional power sector projects, and developing an awareness of energy status and demand growth in the GMS countries. The workshop also provided and awareness for participants to establish contacts with their peers across the GMS and share experienes and best practices among the GMS countries on challenges and key success factors in terms of power interconnection and rade development at the regional level.

The worksop evaluation revealed that most of te participants expressed satisfaction over the duration of the worksho. Majority of the participants rated the workshop as useful and could be applied in their jobs. They expressed that the knowledge and newly acquired skills can technically be applied in their respective fields. THe participants also stated that they enjoyed the multi-country group work and the presentations made by invited experts. THey particularly emphasized the usefulness of the structural learning visits in China, Lao PDR and Thailand and expressed their satisfaction on the way it was organized and handles. The participants were also happy at te oportunity gven to interact with co-participants to be able to build professional contacts and friendship in the GMS. They also expressed that this workshop should be repeated for other professionals in the power sector.

Expected outcomes and workshop objectives were mostly attained. However, some of the participants expressed that the workshop should involve more case studies from the GMS and they would have wanted to hear from the experiences of resource persons who are involved in policies and laws on power interconnection and trade development at regional level.

Written by Mekong Institute

Written by Mekong Institute

The 4th Regional Research Development and Methodology Training Course was conducted at Mi Residential Training Center, MI, Khon Kaen, Thailand on 25-June 12,2009. This training course is the first phase of the 10-month MI Su-regional Research Cycle offered annually by MI.

The training course was designed and delivered using modular training approach where participants went through 3 progressive stages. a) "Learn to do", b) " Do to Learn" and c) "Share to learn".

Upon completion of the 3 week training course, all participants developed a research proposal that incorporates the knowledge and skills acquired on problem identification, defining research objectives, formulating research hypotheses and developing a conceptual/theoretical framework. A concrete research hypotheses and sub-regional research, with accompanying work plan and budgetary requirements, was also prepared.

Twenty-two government/non-government officers from 6 GMS countries attended the training course. Two external resource persons were invited to provide lectures and facilitate discussion,and guide the participants throughout the entire process of proposal development. One of the challenges was combining similar research ideas from different GMS countries to come up with a single research proposal. In the end, however, all the participants completed the training course successfully and came up wth 5 sub-regional research proposals.

The results of the overall evaluation for this learning program revealed that the participants were highly satisfied with the program contents, resource persons, recreational activities as well as training management and delivery. The sessions of the recreational activities as well as training management and delivery. The sessions of the program were rated as "useful" by the participated and that their acquired knowledge and skills could be applied in their work. Moreover, throughout the three-week intensive learning course, the participants developed friendships and established network among GMS researchers which is one of the objectives of MI in promoting regional cooperation.

Through the participants were highly satisfied with the learning program, several comments were provided by the participants for further program improvement. These include clear explanations on MI research thrusts and priorities, providing a good balance between course duration and class assignments, getting lecture handouts ready one day in advance, and providing adequate classroom size for the training course.

 

Written by Mekong Institute

Twenty two government officials from the 6 GMS countries attended the program. Participants came from junior to middle level positions from a wide variety of ministres. Forty five percent of the particpants were women which is in line with the Millennum Development Goal.

The program was designed and taught by a team of 4 trainers: two PPP's Participants came from junior to middle level positions from a wide variety of ministries. Forty five percent of the participants were women which is in line with the Millennum Development Goal.

The program was designed and taught by a team of four trainers: two PPP's commissioned project management experts and two MI faculty memebrs. In evaluation, the participants reported that the trainers were qualified, experienced and employed effective training delivery methods.

The learning program explored the fundamental nature of project and introduced a comprehensve project management framework. It also covered the definition and typologies of a project, the project cycle, components of project management and the nature and the role of the project team. The development context within which projet opreates and special issues in project design, implementationa nd monitoring were deliberated.

Based on the feedback received, theis report concludes that the learning program was successful. Finally, recommendations for further program improvement are provided in Part 4 of this report.

-Simplify the curriculum desgned to make it easier for the participants to understand the content

-There should be a balance between theory and practice and not too much focus on lecture.

-All participants should have engouh English proficiency to follow the program.

-Lecture handouts should be provided in advance.

-Extend the course duration but fewer hours a day.

Written by Mekong Institute

GMS-focused research and regional/sub-regional studies are critical to the sustainable development and cooperation among the GMS countries. Under he supervsion and guidance of MI Research Advisory Comittee, MI carries out field research and case studies on emerging and contentious issues under the four MI thematic areas. To ensure that the research and case studies are carried out professionally, MI conducts Regional Research Development and Reseach Methodology training for yougn GMS researchers/professionals as part of its capacity-building strategy for GMS researchers. The Regional Researc Development and Methodology Training Course was held frm 25 May to 12 June 2009. Each research team is expected to implement these researces upon return to their respective countries.

This midterm training is a follow-up on the progress of research implementation. All research teams are expected to have completed administering the survey and had their data sets ready in SPSS format as the focus of the midterm training is on data processing and analysis.

The 2 week training course was held at MI. The course activities included presentations from resource person, class discussions, and group work/assignments. Presentation skills of participants were also enhanced to present before their peers. All the training activities were geared towards preparing the participants for the Research Roundtable Meeting in March 2011.

This report conveys the process of the training course, the evaluaton from participants resource persons, the lessons learned from the training course, and some recommendation for improvement in terms of program design, organization and management. The report is divided into 8 sections as follows:

1. Introduction

2. Training Goals and Spcific Objectives

3. Course Participants

4. Course Activities

5. Course Evaluation

6. Lessons learned

7. Conclusion

8. Recommendation

The program schedule, directory of participants and resource persons and MI staff included in the appendix.
 



 

Written by Mekong Institute

The Mekong Institute (MI) was commissioned by Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency (TICA) to conduct a four-week annual international training course on Leadership in Competitive Enterprises from 22 June to 17 July 2009 for twenty-six government officials and private sector personnel from sixteen developing countries in Asia and Africa. The course aims to improve and increase participants knowledge and skills on leadership, enhance participants professional skills in proposal writing, project appraisal, and presentation of projects, and to promote communication, cooperation and trust among professionals across the GMS.

The training course was designed and delivered using modular training approach where participants went through three progressive stages : i) Learn to do training on concepts, techniques and tools to be employed; ii) Do to learn the participants are required to apply what they learn in their work assignments with proper coaching from assigned advisors; and iii) Share to learn the participants will have an opportunity to present their groups works / findings and share their learning experiences and lessons learned.

Five external resource persons and two in-house subject experts were invited to deliver lectures and facilitate discussions, and share experiences to the participants. Six field research visits in Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima and Bangkok were conducted to enhance the participants understanding of the program contents and to apply the principles, process, structure and stakeholders in planning and implementing business.

The training course is comprised of six inter-related modules. Program introduction allowed the facilitators and participants to introduce themselves and provided an overview of the learning program, methodology, and process. Module 1 Impact of Macro Environmental Factors in Leadership and Management introduced the participants to the broader context within which competitive enterprises operate and how the external environment influenced organizations. Module 2 Leadership versus Management presented concepts on leadership and management. Module 3 Performance Based Management covered the concepts of the Performance Management System (PMS). Module 4 Ethics, Social Responsibility and Governance in Leadership introduced the importance of ethics, social responsibility and governance in leadership. Module 5 Managing Competitive Enterprises included study visits to enhance the participants understanding of the program content through observation and interaction with enterprises management. Module 6 Business Proposal Development introduced structured hands-on training and practices in developing business proposal.

The results from a range of evaluation methods indicated high satisfaction, showing that the learning program is successful. However, recommendations for improvement were also suggested such as: providing feedback/comments for all assigned works, providing glossary and definitions commonly used in leadership and management field, more case studies from countries concerned, and organizing a discussion forum.

Written by Mekong Institute

The Mekong Institute was commissioned by the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) and Thailand International Development Agency (TICA) to conduct a three-week training course on Effective Project Management for Sustainable Development in the GMS for twenty four participants from public and private sectors in thesix GMS countries. The course, conducted on 17 August 4 September 2009, aimed to develop the participants capacity to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate national and transboundary development projects that address issues relevant to the GMS. It sought to provide knowledge and practical experience on the application of Project Cycle Management and Logical Framework in accordance with international project management standards.

Written by Mekong Institute

The Mekong Institute (MI) was commissioned by the InWEnt gGmbH Capacity Building International, Germany to co-designed, developed and delivered a series of capacity building program for InWEnt targeted groups of Cambodia and Lao PDR. One of the programs was Agriculture Value Chain (Coffee, Cassava, Silk and Rubber) in Lao PDR and Thailand, which was organized for fourteen government officials and 1 SME sector, 2 NGO staff and 2 villagers of Lao PDR. The course aimed for participants to study agriculture sector value chain in term of Coffee, Cassava Silk and Rubber.

The participants visited seven places namely, 1) Coffee and Cabbage in Ban Lak Khao, Paksong District, Champasak Province, Lao PDR, 2) Cassava villager group in Ban Sok, Thung Mon Sub-district, Kham Khuean Kaeo District, Yasothon Province, Thailand, 3) Queen Sirikit Sericulture Center, Muang District, Khon Kaen, Thailand, 4) Silk villager group in Ban Nong Hyar Plaong, Mancha Khiri District 5) Office of Rubber Plantation Aid Fund, Muang District, 6) Rubber Biding Market, Kranuan District, 7) The Learning Center of Rubber Plantation Aid Fund Office in Khao Suan KwangDistrict.

The evaluations conducted throughout the course confirmed that the objectives were achieved and the learning program was successful. Most of the participants were very satisfied with the program as shown in the total average rating on 1) satisfaction on structured learning visits and program design, 3) satisfaction on Mekong Institute Services and 3) impression of the program (4.4, 4.6 and 4.5 respectively, those ratings were almost Much Satisfies). However, there were suggestions for improvements, for example, more time for field visits and more interaction with villagers.