This project provides support for joint research projects conducted in the Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Economics and Business Management at the National University of Laos in an effort to improve the research capabilities of participants and, consequently, help strengthen research capabilities in the field of agricultural economics in Laos.
This year, under the tutorship of Professor Masahiko Gemma of Waseda University and Professor Mya Than of Thailand's Chulalongkorn University, 16 young instructors at these two faculties conducted research on the cultivation of aromatics, cassava, sugarcane, and corn. In July 2006, 13 young instructors and four mid-level instructors visited Vietnam and Japan, respectively, to learn about the current status of research and education in agricultural economics in their host countries.
This series of activities gave instructors from both faculties access to new knowledge and research methods in their fields of expertise, and afforded them important opportunities to expand their views and gain experience in conducting autonomous joint research. In addition, this joint work strengthened the personal ties between the participants and their foreign hosts, and helped cultivate strong connections between the young researchers in both faculties.