The Center for Khmer Studies Mid-CareerProgram
Exploring Conflict in the ASEAN region
With the support of the Ford Foundation
Year 1/2015: Cross-Border Political Conflicts
Week 1 (9-16 August 2015), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Week 2 (15-22 November 2015), Siem Reap, Cambodia
Program Description
For more than ten years, the Center for Khmer Studies (CKS) has been successfully running academic programs to promote international scholarly exchange. Building on the strength of its experience in research, training and on its institutional network, the following four year programwill address current academic and professional needs among Cambodiansand other Southeast Asian from the Mekong region. Following specific requests formulated from our alumni and partners, this program is tailored to mid-career professionals who wish to develop their skillsin order to have a greater positive impact throughout their career and to become part of a dynamic network of researchers and decision-makers in the region.
Program objectives
With the opening of the ASEAN borders scheduled for 2015, as well as current political and social changes in Cambodia and the opening of Myanmar to the outside world, this program is timely in that it will assist scholars, researchers, civil servants anddevelopment professionals become critical thinkers, decision makers and future agents of change in the region by engaging in both theoretical and empirical analysis of cross-border issues as they relate explicitly to conflicts in the ASEAN region.
Program Format & Duration
The program will entail two weeks of intensive coursework, seminars, group exercises, applied skills training and individual research. In 2015, fifteen program participants will convene for two distinct one-week periods in August and in Novemberin Cambodia. In the interim, participants will work on their chosen research projectin their home countries under the online supervision and guidance of the Regional Program Instructor and with the input of program lecturers and facilitators.
Week 1 will take place in Phnom Penh in August and will be dedicated to participatory lecture/seminars, work assignments, group exercises and presentations. Participants will use assigned reading materials on a range of subjectsrelevant to cross-border and ASEAN security as preparation for active participation in lectures and seminars. At the end of Week 1, the participants will also have received training in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and quantitative and qualitativeresearch methodologies.
In the interim betweenWeek 1 and Week 2, participants will use their knowledge of analytical tools to conduct theirindividual research project focusing on a subject of ASEAN conflict in their home country. Participant research projects should be realistically framed, with clear and achievable goals so that the participants can use his/ her knowledge, contacts and skills gained from the program, to complete it successfully. In the course of these two and a half months, they will be in regular communication with the Regional Program Instructor, as well as with guest lecturers and fellow program participants.
Week 2will take place in Siem Reapin November, 2015. Participants will resume attending seminars on broad issues of security threats in the region and working in groups while expanding their knowledge of advanced research methods and monitoring and evaluation tools. A day-long fieldtrip along the border with Thailand will enable them to apply M&E skills. Week 2 will also provide the opportunity for presenting the results of individual research projects and culminate with discussion of continuing regional collaboration and intensification of cross-border research networks.
Program Outcomes
The Participants will have developed their ability to better formulate research projects, use data collection methods, develop their critical inquiry and analytical skills to undertake useful research. Research ultimately aimsto increase knowledge to better understand, document and initiate positive changes to current practices.
The Participants will have a better understanding of the process of monitoring and evaluation and a good grasp of key practical tools to determine how a research project or policy is successful in fulfilling its intended objectives. These skills will allow both scholars and development professionals to ask strategic questions, assess progress, identify problems and make necessary adjustments that will help improve strategic decision-making, accountability and the impact of their work.
The two weeks of intensive engagement will result in the production of preliminary white papers based on both individual research conducted during the three month interim period and discussions and critiques that will take place in the course of week 2. The white papers produced will be authoritative reports or advisory documents, which seek to help scholars, professionals and civil servants better understand an issue, solve a problem or take an informed decision.
In the course of Year 4 (capstone year of the program) a conference will gather all participants and instructors from the three preceding years to present their research findings and initiate peer reviews. CKS will publish the conference proceedings in order to make them available to scholars, policy makers and development professionals.
Who Should Apply
This course is especially designed for fifteen mid-career professionals at academic and government institutions and the development community from the five selected countries. We encourage scholars, development professionals and civil servants, particularly those involved in the development of social and economic policy to apply.
Year 1
In the first year of the project, the CKSMid-Career ProgramExploring Conflict in the ASEAN Regionwill focus oncross-border issues. With the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) preparing for regional integration under the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, this intensive two week program will enable participants from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar,Thailand and Vietnam to research, analyze, and critically assess the political, economic, human rights and environmental challenges that the five countrieswill face.
Given that these countries exhibit numerous social and economic inequalities and differ significantly in terms of population size, ethnic and cultural constitution, rates of economic growth, natural resource endowments, among other socio-economic variables, their integration into the AEC will become a critical issue for both legal and illegal cross-border tradeinvolvingpeople, goods and services. To this end, the analysis of cross-border themeswill enable participants to gain theoretical knowledge of issues that will inform their current professional work as well as, provide them with applied-research, practical monitoring and evaluation skills to enhance their capacity as critical thinkers and decision makers.
Year 1 forms an integral part of a comprehensive five year program, which ultimately aims at building regional knowledge and capacity as well as promoting regional cooperation. To this end, the first year (2015) will focus on cross-border issues and political sources of conflict. Year 2 (2016) will center on Environmental challenges. Year 3 (2017) will be dedicated to Economics problems. Year 4 (2018) will examine sectarian violence and cultural disputes. In the course of Year 5, a conference will gather all participants and instructors from the four preceding years to present their research findings and initiate peer reviews. CKS will publish the conference proceedings in order to make them available to scholars, policy makers and development professionals.
Provisional schedule of daily activities
Week 1(9-16 August 2015)
8 Aug, Saturday: Participants arrive in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
9 Aug, Sunday: ‘Borders’ concept and definitions. Their role in building national identity
8:00-8:45 Program participants introduce themselves. Overview of the program.
8:45-10:00 Analysis of the five countries social, economic and political border dynamics and how they pose a threat to the security of the entire region?
10:00-10:20 Coffee Break
10:20-11:20 Colonial maps and borders and their role in shaping national identity
Case study: PreahVihear temple, Cambodian and Thai border dispute
11:20-12:00 Discussion
12:00-01:30 Lunch Break
01:30-2:30 Borders and issues of national security
2:30-3:40 Group discussion and group work
3:40-4:00 Coffee Break
4:00-5:30 Individual group presentations and discussion
7.00 Cambodian welcome dinner
10 Aug, Monday: Development economics of the region, the ASEAN trade
8:00-9:40 ASEAN Economic Community
Case study: ASEAN preferential trading tariffs
9:40-10:00 Coffee Break
10:00-12:00 Seminar on Regional trade and smuggling of migrants
12:00-01:30 Lunch Break
01:30-3.00 Group work
3:00-3:20 Coffee Break
3.20-4.20 Group Presentation
4.20 – 5.30 Research Methods: basic research vs applied research
11 Aug, Tuesday: Trafficking and the informal economy
8:00-9:40 Legal definition. Types of trafficking and their routes
Case study: UNODC transnational organized crimes in East Asia and the Pacific
9:40-10:00 Coffee Break
10:00-12:00 Seminar on Human andSex trafficking
12:00-1:30 Lunch Break
01:30-3.00 Group work
3:00-3:20 Coffee Break
3.20-4.20 Group Presentation
4.20 – 5.30 Research Methods: data analysis, writing and dissemination
12 Aug, Wednesday: Training in Research, Monitoring and Evaluation
8.00am – 5.00pm Full-day training in M&E using a case-study project focusing on an ASEAN conflict topic
1. Framing the problem and context
2. Developing objectives and strategies
3. Establishing expected results
4. Introducing monitoring andevaluationand impacts
5. The relevance of M&E in different contexts
13 Aug, Thursday: Training in Monitoring and Evaluation
8.00am – 5.00pm Full-day training in M&E using a case-study project focusing on an ASEAN conflict topic
1. Definition of: ‘Relevancy, Efficiency,Effectiveness, Indicator, Sustainability’
2. Developing Indicators
3. Data collection
4. Data management and analysis
5. Providing feedback and recommendations
6. Improving the impact
14 Aug, Friday: Research Methodology based on a specificcase study: China’s foreign policy
and security in the region
8:00-9:40 Research Methods: the use of quantitative data (to quantify a problem by generating numerical data or statistics on attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and other defined variables on a large sample. Quantitative Research methods include various forms of surveys, interviews, online polls etc.)
9:40-10:00 Coffee Break
10:00-12:00 Group discussion
12:00-1:30 Lunch Break
01:30-3.00Research Methods: the use of qualitative data (to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations and dive deeper into a problem. Qualitative data collection methods include unstructured or semi-structured techniques, group discussions, individual interviews, participation and observations. Sample size is typically small.)
3:00-3:20 Coffee Break
3.20-4.20 Group Discussion
15 Aug, Saturday: Individual research project
8.00 – 10.00 Brief presentation of individual research project.
10.00 – 10.30 Coffee Break
10.30 – 12.00 Discussions as to how to conduct research assignment and collaborate over the next three months in preparation of week 2
12.00 Farewell Lunch
16 Aug, Sunday: Participants depart from Phnom Penh.
Week 2 (15-22November 2015)
15 Nov, Sunday: Participants arrive in Siem Reap, Cambodia
16 Nov, Monday: Individual research projects: presentations and discussions
8.00-10.00 Research project presentations and discussions
10.00-10:30 Coffee Break
10:30-12:00 Research project presentations and discussions
12:00-1:30 Lunch Break
1:30-3:30 Research project presentations and discussions
3:30-4:00 Coffee Break
4:00-5:30 Discussion: How to improve individual research? How to better use M&E and Research tools?
7.00 Thai welcome dinner
17 Nov, Tuesday: Natural resources and conflict
8:00-9:40 Companies and communities on the frontline
Case study: Deforestation in Cambodia
9:40-10:00 Coffee Break
10:00-11:30 The “resource curse”
Case study: Oil, gas and mining in Myanmar
11:30-12:00 Discussion
12:00-1:30 Lunch Break
01:30-2.30The Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative
Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam: case studies’ comparison
2:30-4:00 Group work and presentation
4.00-4.20 Coffee Break
4.20 – 5.30 Research Methods: a combined qualitative and quantitative approach
18 Nov, Wednesday: Environmental change and regional cooperation
8:00-9:40 Food security, access to land and water
Case study: tbd.
9:40-10:00 Coffee Break
10:00-11:30 Mekong River Commission
Case study: sustainability of the Mekong riparian areas
11:30-12:00 Discussion
12:00-1:30 Lunch Break
01:30-2.30 China’s energy demand and its regional impact
Case study: the building of hydro-electric dams in Lao PDR to supply the Chinese demand
2:30-4:00 Group work and presentation
4.00-4.20 Coffee Break
4.20 – 5.30 Research Methods: a combined qualitative and quantitative approach
19 Nov, Thursday: Southeast Asia’s future and the great economic powers
8.00-10.00 Ensuring regional security amidst the shadow of the great powers
Case study: Political alliance, economic cooperation and aid dependency
10.00-10:20 Coffee Break
10:20-12:00 Discussion:Competing powers in Asia
12:00-1:30 Lunch Break
1:30-3:30 Group work and presentation
3:30-4:00 Coffee Break
4:00-5:30 Research methods: Sharing and updating the information
19 Nov, Friday: Fieldtrip to Poipet
6.00 – 7.30 Travel to fieldwork site
8.00 – 3.00 Meeting with an organization. Participants will apply their M&E skills
3.00 – 4.30 Return to Siem Reap
20 Nov, Saturday:
8.00 – 10.00 Group discussion of research findings.
10.00 –10.30 Coffee Break
10.30 – 12.00 The participants will discuss how they can stay touch with each other, accessing and creating a regional network: blog, conference, lecture series, publication
12.00 Farewell lunch
21 Nov, Sunday: Participants depart from Siem Reap.
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