Written by Mekong Institute
The two-day Roundtable Meeting marks the end of the Phase 3 of the Mekong Institute New Zealand Ambassador Scholarship (MINZAS) Program. MINZAS is a collaborative program between the Mekong Institute and the New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok aiming to provide professional development opportunities for masters degree students from CLMT countries through a structured training program and research assignment under the guidance of experienced regional and international experts. An important part of the scholarship program is to provide the scholars a training course on Research Methodology.
The training course on Research Methodology was held from February 02 29, 2012 at the MI Residential Center in Khon Kaen Province, Northeast of Thailand. At the end of the four-week training course, the participants developed a research proposal that incorporated the knowledge and skills acquired during the training. The proposal was to be conducted upon their return to each of their respective countries based on the agreed methodology and timeframe. The twelve research proposals are (1) The Study of Cross border Myanmar Migrant Workers Labor Market: Policy Implications for Labor Management in Chiangrai City, Chiangrai Province, Thailand; (2) Response of Lao Government to Chinese Investments in Service Sector in Namtha District, Luang Namtha Province, Lao PDR; (3) Impacts of Chinese, Outward Investments on Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development: Evidence from Oudomxay, Northern Laos; (4) Factor Affecting Trade between Laos and Principal Trade Partners; (5) Impact of Increasing Trade on North-South Economic Corridor on Hmongs Ethnic Way of Life in Chiangkhong District, Chiangrai Province, Thailand; (6) Impact of Border Closure on Local Economic Border Communities: A Case Study of Chong Chom Checkpoint, Kap Choeng District, Surin Province; (7) Identification of Underutilized Crops in Mondulkiri Province with Emphasis on Socio-Economic Aspect (Case study in two communes, Mondulkiri Province); (8) Socio-economic Impacts of Community-Based Natural Resource Management in Siem Reap Province; (9) Peoples Participation in Community-Based Natural Resources Management in Prek Tnout Community Protected Area, Kampot Province, Cambodia; (10) The Economic Impact of Adopting Good Agricultural Practices in Mango Production on Farmers in Sagaing Region; (11) Does Microfinance Reduce Poverty in Lao PDR Case Study: Soukhoumar District Champassak Province, Lao PDR; and (12) Beliefs and Rituals of Khwan in Tai Khoen Community in Kyaing Tong, Shan State, The Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
The MINZAS Roundtable Meeting provided a platform for the scholars to present and share the research results. The meeting also created a platform for deliberation of the results and validated the findings among experts. Three subject matter experts were invited to present an overview on the research topics in the context of the GMS. Home advisors of the twelve students were also invited to provide comments and feedbacks for further improvement of the research reports.