Local Wisdom and Thailand Agricultural Studies Center for Development 

Background Information of the Programme

Thailand is one of developing countries in a globalized world, where most of her local populace have required the accessibility of technology and innovation for improving their quality of life.

: Generally, the rural areas of Thailand is enriched with local wisdom and biological diversity accumulated from generations to generations. Nevertheless, it is the fact that an educational system always divides the people of young generation from social reality and a genuine atmosphere of their living particularly the importance of the local wisdom that is the origins of Thailand and its people. That the development was based on economic growth desperately destroyed the social and cultural structures of local community.

: His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been well aware of situations in rapidly changing world, His Majesty thus initiated the “Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy” not only for his subjects but people of all nations. This Philosophy encourages a sustainable development through moderation, reasonableness and self-immunity, together with knowledge and morality.

Agricultural Studies Center for Development is focused as a tool initiated by His Majesty on the basis of the living museum concept, to transfer knowledge and technology to all people for the great benefits of implementation. There are six centers covering all regions of Thailand and each one has its own features and characteristics appropriate to the socio-geographical contexts of each regions.

Moreover, the Royal Thai government has realized that Thailand is a friendly country in this global society, considering such conclusive evidence of a success over the economic crisis, widely know as “Tom Yum Kung Crisis” that Thailand and other countries in the Asian region was suffered from. Nonetheless, Thailand could quickly recover because of the “Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy” and Agricultural Studies Center for Development.

Duration:                                  9 - 27 September, 2013

Closing Date for Application: March 31, 2013

Number of Participants         17 persons

Invited Countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, China, CARICOM Member Countries, Egypt, Ethiopia, FEALAC Member Countries, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Lao PDR, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, OAS Member Countries, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, PIF Member Countries Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Cook Island, Solomon Island, Marshall Island, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu, Republic of Seychelles, Senegal, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Vietnam, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia and Thailand

Qualification:

This is an intermediate level programme on rural development project/programme management. The course is required for middle level government officials and managers of state-owned agencies who are involved in poverty alleviation and sustainable social and economic development. The participant should be/have:

• primary-level government official of state-owned agencies or academics, practitioners or those preparing for managerial jobs in the near future;

• an educational background in agriculture, economics, rural development, social, environment and public policy or other relevant disciplinary areas with three (3) years of related work experience;

• committed to the good of the general public in enhancing economics and social development;

• functional level of written and spoken English;

• in good health to be able to attend the whole course.

Objectives

This 19 days course aims to :

1. Transfer of knowledge and technology from Thai experiences relating to human resource development and professions in agriculture and other relevant fields to other countries
2. Exchange and Sharing of knowledge and experience among development sectors in agriculture, society and other related areas
3. Establishing cooperative networks of development in agriculture and other related areas among countries

Course Contents

1) Seminar
    Course outline:
    - The principle of Sustainable Development
    - The Model of Agricultural Study Center for Development
    - Life long learning Center
    - Group discussion and Presentation

2) Field Trip
Study visit at H.M. the King projects in Bangkok, Samut Prakan Province, Rayong Province and Chanthaburi Province, Farmer’s project in Chonburi Province, Samut Prakarn Province and Pathumthani Province

3) Advance assignment - Country report.
All participants are requested to prepare a 10 minute country report. The report should contain one study of small holder farmer development project. The detail should focus on background of the project and key success or negative factors. Participants are permitted to prepare power point slides, video tapes or other audio – visual aids to support their country report presentation. The report should be sent to the ETO two weeks prior to the beginning of the course.