The 42nd Southeast Asia Seminar

“Health and Rural Development based on the concept of Gross National Happiness”

6-12 December 2018, Thimphu, Bhutan

 

Reports and Presentations

Organized by
the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University and
Royal University of Bhutan

6-12 December 2018
Thimphu, Bhutan

By 2020, the number of people in the world aged 60 and older is projected to outnumber people younger than 5. How to care for the elderly is one of the issues that will need to be addressed by the international community. According to the Annual Health Bulletin, the life expectancy at birth in Bhutan increased from 45.6 years in 1980-1985 to 68.9 years in 2010, and the percentage of people in the population aged 60 or over reached 7.3%.

In 2010, the Ministry of Health of Royal Government of Bhutan initiated a program of “community-based medical care for the elderly,” which attempts to empower communities to take care of their elderly. However, according to the 2017 Population & Housing Census of Bhutan, rural-urban migration is becoming increasingly common within the country. Most districts in the west of the country have experienced population gains from positive net migration, while districts in the east are losing population. As migration is mostly a young cohort phenomenon, a significant number of the elderly may be left behind in the rural districts.

This academic seminar looks at the challenges of health and rural development in the communities of Bhutan, and explores future possibilities for the region. The speakers in this seminar will share significant issues and concerns relating to health and rural development based on the concept of Gross National Happiness. The participants may have much to learn from the strategy and experiences of Bhutan. The seminar includes a field trip within Bhutan.

The Southeast Asia Seminar has been held annually by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University since 1977. Organized thematically around a variety of topics, the seminar offers a seven-day of study tour of Bhutan with group discussions and presentations by the participants. This year, the Southeast Asia Seminar will be an international seminar held in Bhutan. The organizers are currently calling for applications from young and up-and-coming scholars mainly in Southeast and East Asia.

東南アジアセミナー2018
報告 　東南アジアセミナー2018
プログラム

東南アジアセミナー2018 (2018年12月6日～12日ブータン)　報告

2018年12月6日～12日ブータンにて第42回東南アジアセミナー「国民総幸福の理念に基づく保健及び農村開発」をブータン王立大学の協力の下に開催した。セミナーには、ブータン、インド、スリランカ、タイ、フィリピン、カンボジア、ラオス、ベトナム、ミャンマ―、インドネシア、マレーシア、日本の計十二か国から研究者が集まった。12月7日に首都ティンプーで行われた会議には、ブータン王立大学前総長ペマ・ティンレイ氏、ブータン王立大学総長ニドゥップ・ドルジ氏、教育省事務次官カルマ・イェシ氏、保健省事務次官ウゲン・ドフ氏、JICAブータン事務所所長山田浩司氏、国民総幸福委員会上級企画官デチェン・ぺルモ氏に登壇いただいた。12月8日にはティンレガンを訪問し、Youth Development Fundが運営している幸福村（My Gakidh Village）を訪問し、9日にはサムテガンにテント泊し、診療所 (Basic Health Unit) 及び出張診療所 (Outreach Clinic)を訪問し、村人に直接話を聞いた。10日は二手に分かれ、一方はポプジカのオグロヅル保護区、他方はプナカのチミラカンを訪問した。11日にはブータン王立大学天然資源カレッジでワークショップを行い、参加者がフィールドツアーを振り返って発表を行った。

The tentative schedule: (updated at 15 November)

DAY 1 December 6 (Thu.), 2018 :
Arrival to Thimphu, Bhutan

DAY 2 December 7 (Fri.), 2018:
Seminar in Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) in Thimpu (9:30~16:45)

DAY 3 December 8 (Sat.), 2018:
Leave for Lobesa
Visit “My Gaki Village by Youth Development Fund”
Visit a Gup Office near College of Natural Resources(CNR), RUB

DAY 4 December 9 (Sun.), 2018:
Leave for Samtegang
Visit Samtegang Basic Health Unit (BHU)
Visit an Outreach Clinic (ORC) near Samtegang BHU.

DAY 5 December 10 (Mon.), 2018:
Visit Gup office in Samtegang
Participants will prepare for the workshop on the next day.
Leave for Lobesa

DAY 6 December 11 (Tue.), 2018:
Workshop at CNR in Lobesa
Leave for Thimphu

DAY 7 December 12 (Wed.), 2018:
Evaluation meeting
Leave for Paro Airport

Participants will arrive in Thimphu, Bhutan on December 6th and depart for their respective country of residence on December 12, 2018.

Participants:
Applicants who want to join the seminar must have a strong academic interest in the topic of this year’s seminar, and should be prepared to participate actively and constructively, and join in discussions for the full seven-day tour. We accept applications from young and up-and-coming scholars in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and other regions. Nationality balance will be taken into consideration while selecting participants.

Seminar fee:
Registration is free. Airfare of Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines, and accommodation will be covered by the organizers.

Application deadline:
August 31st, 2018

Selection:
The seminar committee will select on the basis of the application forms, and only accepted applicants will be informed by the end of October, 2018.

Organizers:
Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Kyoto University
Royal University of Bhutan