Nagoya University GSID and JICA Research Institute Joint International Symposium″Asian Emerging Donors and Japan in Education Sector Development Cooperation: Exploring Asian Uniqueness and Diversity″

Hosted by: Nagoya University GSID and JICA Research Institute
Under the auspices of Japan Association for International Development

Date and Time: 13:00-17:30, October 25, 2012
Venue: International Conference Hall, JICA Research Institute, Tokyo

Conference Background and Objectives:
Some Asian countries which used to be recipients of aid are now increasing their influence as providers of aid. Korea joined the OECD-DAC donor community in 2010, and China and India are rapidly expanding their aid and business relationships in Africa and other parts of the world. The rules agreed among DAC members, such as the Paris Declaration to coordinate for effective aid provision, do not bind the non-DAC member countries. It is partly because of this loosening regulations that approaches and targets of aid programs have been diversifying in the recent years.
Although the donor countries which are increasing their presence are not only in Asia, it is a region that well illustrates the mixture of Western-oriented rationales of aid and unique justifications and motives rooted from the countries’ systems and their own development experiences. For example, China emphasizes, as the basis of its link with other countries in Asia and Africa, the historical solidarity which can be traced back to the Bandung Conference in 1955. On the other hand, Korea links its educational aid with its own experience of post-Korean war rehabilitation, which is somewhat similar to the Japanese philosophical approach to ODA.
The differences between “emerging” and “traditional” donors are often highlighted. However, across Asian donors – regardless of the length of their commitment to this field – there are also some hints of “Asian-ness” in their philosophies, systems, and the logic behind their aid practices.
Educational cooperation reflects respective societies’ value systems of education. For example, East Asian countries share the Confucian tradition which gives weight to higher-order learning. One can see the trait of such a tradition in the aid philosophies of the countries in this region, while the way in which such philosophies are translated into practice diverges.
This symposium aims to compare philosophies, systems, and the backgrounds of Asian donors in the field of educational cooperation and discuss their commonalities and differences. By doing so, it is hoped that mutual understanding among actors will be deepened and lead to further collaboration.

Agenda (tentative):

13:00-13:15
Opening remarks
Dr. Kiyoshi Fujikawa, Dean, Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University
Dr. Akio Hosono, Director, JICA Research Institute

13:15-13:30
Overview of the issue
Dr. YAMADA, Shoko, Associate Professor, Nagoya University
“Changing Environment of Education Sector Assistance: International Trends, Asian Donors, and Japan”

13:30-15:30
Presentations
（1） Dr. YUKI, Takako, Research Fellow, JICA Research Institute
“Japanese Educational Cooperation: Challenges to Develop the Mechanism to reflect Field-based Knowledge to the Policy Dialogue”
（2） Dr. CHUNG, Bong Gun, Professor, Seoul National University, Korea
“The Korean Model of ODA: A Critical Review of Its Concept and Practices Reflected in Educational ODA”
（3） Dr. NIU, Chang Song, Associate Professor, Zhejiang Normal University
“China’s Educational Cooperation: Aid Philosophies, History, and Decision-making Mechanism”
（4） Dr. TILAK, Jandhyala B. G., Professor and Head, National University of Educational Planning and Administration
“India’s Educational Cooperation: Aid Philosophies, History, and Decision-making Mechanism”
（5） Mr. AHMAD, Abdul Razak, Associate Professor, National Defense University Malaysia
“Malaysia for The World: Enhancing Malaysia’s Visibility Through ‘Smartaid’”

Discussant: Dr. MOK, Ka Ho, Chair Professor of Comparative Policy, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Hong Kong Institute of Education

15:30-15:45 Coffee Break

15:45-16:00 Q & A

16:00-16:50 Panel Discussion
“Prospect for Asian Model of Educational Cooperation: Beyond differences”

Panelists:
Dr. YUKI, Takako, Research Fellow, JICA Research Institute
Dr. CHUNG, Bong Gun, Professor, Seoul National University, Korea
Dr. NIU, Chang Song, Associate Professor, Zhejiang Normal University
Dr. TILAK, Jandhyala B. G., Professor and Head, National University of Educational Planning and Administration
Mr. AHMAD, Abdul Razak, Associate Professor, National Defense University Malaysia
Dr. MOK, Ka Ho, Chair Professor of Comparative Policy, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Hong Kong Institute of Education

Moderator:
Dr. YAMADA, Shoko, Associate Professor, Nagoya University

16:50-17:10 Q & A

17:10-17:30 Closing

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