November 30, 2016
YAU-JICA TCP Short-term Training Program "Geographical Information System" was conducted by Dr. WATANABE Kazuo, Senior Researcher of Research Institute for Humanity and Nature from 18th to 24th November. The training was practically organized with the participants who had taken the introductory training course organized by the project. The project had also procured drones and related accessories and software so that necessary and appropriate technical environment could be provided for the training program.
20 participants in total selected from academic staff and post-graduate students of YAU who joined the JICA-funded "Basic GIS Training Course" in June participated in the program and they were trained by dividing into 4 (four) groups. The training consisted of introduction to GIS, outline and instruction of the use of drone, hand-on excise in the field and class room for 3D mapping, data processing for analysis and mapping, operational practice of drone and others. All 4 (four) groups completed these all programs, individually.
As the project's Pilot Research Group B (RB), in which 5 sub-groups are formed, plans to make use of GIS technology to pursue their research activities such as revealing spatial distribution of crop cultivation, pests and diseases, and investigating geographical information on marketing of agricultural products, the members of RB extended discussion on the design and method of implementing research activities using drones with Dr. Watanabe.
No facilities and functions related to GIS had been installed and equipped in YAU. As it was the first trial for YAU staff and students to apply GIS technology to their research activities, Dr. Watanabe provided advice and suggestions for strengthening functions related to GIS and establishing a sustainable operation system in YAU.
Operational Practice
Group Work
Data processing
Sample outputs of group work
Sample outputs of group work
Sample outputs of group work
Each research group conducted field works as follows.
Laboratory and in-farm experiments were also conducted using the samples collected through previous surveys.
Interview on local variety rice
Wild variety of rice on the road-side of Dawei-Myiek
Education Task Force conducted questionnaire survey on internship program of YAU. The internship program is the compulsory subject for the final year students to be trained as intern mainly at local DOA and/or DAR branch offices in the hometowns of respective students. The students are obliged to study at outreach campuses in the first semester and sent to respective receiving agencies to take internship program. Consequently, the curriculum of YAU makes them to spend most of their time out of the main campus in Yezin.
As it is the first year for YAU to apply this curriculum and dispatch the final year students to internship program, Education TF took this opportunity to conduct questionnaire survey to the final year students. The survey was conducted as a part of monitoring surveys to understand current condition of YAU education. At this moment, answers obtained are processed and analyzed. The report of this survey is planned to be published after the analyses will be completed.
After 10 counterparts returned from Japan to YAU, the project and YAU jointly organized a series of reporting sessions on their achievement of study tour to learn about "Educational Reform and Faculty Development in Japanese universities" to share the information and knowledge they obtained during the trip. Firstly, the members shared the achievements and exchanged opinions among counterparts at TCP Regular Meeting held on November 10, and secondly, they delivered reports to YAU students and teachers at Monday Seminar on November 28. Thirdly, an intensive session was held for YAU teachers on November 30 to share detailed information about curriculum, credit accreditation system, exam and others in comparison with current situation of YAU. They are writing final report to be submitted to MOALI.
Discussion session on 30th Nov.