The Second 2004 Workshop

AUICK held the Second 2004 Workshop under the themes of “AUICK Associate Cities Research: STELLA Modelling” in Khon Kaen, Thailand, from 21 to 25 November 2004, with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Kobe City Government. It was the second time for AUICK to organize a training course in a city outside of Japan since AUICK held a training course on ICPD and Health Care in Singapore from 21 to 24 October 1998. This was also the first workshop held in an associate city outside of Japan under the new strategic project for 2004-2007. The workshop was hosted by the Khon Kaen Municipality and Khon Kaen University.

BACKGROUND

Before moving into high gear with the new strategy for the years 2004-2007, AUICK conducted a baseline study in each of the AUICK Associate cities (AACs) with the cooperation of academic partners and associate city officials. The objectives of the baseline study was: (a) to collect baseline levels of various Millennium Development Goal (MDG) indicators so that they could be used as a platform for assessing the impact of the project; (b) to determine various problems and issues, and the priorities assigned to them; and (c) to identify successful practices so that case studies of these experiences can be developed for use in training courses and sharing them with other cities through AUICK Newsletter and the website.

In August 2004, each academic collaborator organized an advisory group in each AAC.  The advisory group was composed of four representatives: two from the City (AAC Liaison Officer plus another) and two from local academic institutions (one social scientist and one natural scientist or engineer). The academic collaborator was appointed as a director for the MDG study. This was done to develop lasting collaborative relationship. From September to October 2004, each advisory group conducted data collection, and submitted the outcomes to AUICK by 1 November.  From 21 to 25 November, AAC senior officials, academic collaborators, and IAC members attended the Second 2004 Workshop in Khon Kaen, and shared the information on the collected data in terms of outcomes and experiences.  Research and work plans and report writing were also discussed.

By 15 December, each advisory group submitted a draft of their baseline study report to AUICK. From December 2004 to February 2005, policy analysis was made for review of data for policy implications through the advisory group dialogues and/or public hearings. The final report on the baseline study was submitted to the UNFPA by the end of March 2005.

Note: The findings of the baseline study in each associate city will be reported in subsequent publication.

AIM

The workshop was designed on a three-tier platform:

1. To share data and experiences from the baseline research conducted in each city from September to November, and discuss analysis and report writing format of the baseline survey report;
2. To examine STELLA simulation modelling methods to be utilized in more effective urban planning; and
3. To provide information on Japanese Official Development Aid that may become available through a joint project supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Kobe International Center for Cooperation and Communication (KIC).

PARTICIPANTS

The workshop was attended by 27 participants, including 9 AAC officials, 14 academic collaborators, and 4 IAC members.

(Participants listed alphabetically according to country)

A. AAC Officials 9 persons

Mr. A.K.M. Rezaul Karim

City Planner and Head, Department of Architecture and City Planning, Chittagong City Corporation, Bangladesh

Mr. Sun Chenggong

Chief of International Relations Section, Foreign Affairs Office, Weihai Municipal Government, China

Mr. Shiv Das Meena

Joint Commissioner (Education), Education, Revenue & Finance, Corporation of Chennai, India

Mr. Togar Arifin Silaban

Chief of Urban Infrastructures Division, Urban Development Planning Agency, Surabaya City Government, Indonesia

Mr. Abd Rahim Bin Abd Manaf

Head of Health Division, Health and Cleanliness Control, Kuantan Municipal Council, Malaysia

Mr. Rai Muhammad Amin Khan

Tehsil Municipal Officer, Tehsil Municipal Administration Faisalabad, Pakistan

Ms. Thelma Tongson Rivera

Special Operations Officer III, Urban Basic Services Programme, Olongapo City, Philippines

Ms. Woraphan Thuleechan

General Services, Office of the Municipal Clerk, Khon Kaen Municipality, Thailand

Ms. Anh Thuy Nguyen

Head of Protocol and International Relations Division, Foreign Affairs Department, Danang People's Committee, Vietnam

B. Academic Collaborators  14 persons

Dr. Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury

Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh

Dr. Du Yang

Associate Professor, Institute of Population and Labour Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), China

Dr. Tyagarajan Swaminathan

Professor, Chemical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology (Madras), India

Mr. Dharmendra Pratap Yadav

AUICK Honorary Consultant for Chennai Activities, India

Dr. Puruhito

Rector, Airlangga University, Indonesia

Dr. Sunarjo

Deputy Director, Post Graduate Program, Airlangga University, Indonesia

Dr. Kuntoro

Secretary, Research Center for Population and Development Research Institute, Indonesia

Mr. Made Are Subrata

Assistant of Administrator, Damandiri Foundation, Indonesia

Dr. Alias Bin Abdullah

Associate Professor/Director, Bureau of Consultancy and Entrepreneurship, International Islamic University Malaysia

Mr. Muhammad Nur Azraei Shahbudin

Project Officer, International Islamic University Malaysia

Dr. M. Asghar Cheema

Chairman, Department of Rural Sociology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

Dr. Joel V. Mangahas

College Secretary and Director of Studies, University of the Philippines, Philippines

Dr. Peerasit Kamnuansilpa

Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Dr. Trinh Duy Luan

Associate Professor/Director, Institute of Sociology, Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam

C. AUICK IAC Members 4 persons

Dr. Prem P. Talwar

Adjunct Professor, University of North Carolina

Dr. Haryono Suyono

Former Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Indonesia

Dr. Kareem Iqbal

Former Federal Secretary and Member of Sindh Local Government Commission, Pakistan

Dr. Gayl D. Ness

Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan, USA

D. AUICK Secretariat  4 persons

Mr. Masayuki Ishitsubo

Executive Director

Mr. Nobuyuki Morimoto

Manager

Ms. Chika Kodama

Manager, Project II Division of KIC

Ms. Britt Barry

Special Assistant for English Document

SCHEDULE

1st Day: Sunday, 21 November

The workshop participants arrived in Khon Kaen and were welcomed by the Deputy Mayor and other officials of the Khon Kaen Municipality.

2nd Day: Monday, 22 November

The workshop programs started with the Opening Ceremony from 8:30 am in a conference room at Khon Kaen University. Mr. Peerapon Pattanapeeradej, Mayor of Khon Kaen, and Dr. Sumon Sakolchai, President of Khon Kaen University, each made a welcome speech as hosts. Mr. Masayuki Ishitsubo, Executive Director of AUICK, provided the background and rationale for the workshop and wished the participants a pleasant and productive stay. Dr. Jintana Bunbongkarn, Vice Chairman of the College of Asian Scholars, then declared the workshop officially open on behalf of Dr. Krasae Chanawongse, the Thai member of AUICK’s IAC.

From left: Mr. Peerapon Pattanapeerade, Dr. Sumon Sakolchai, Mr. Masayuki Ishitsubo, Dr. Jintana Bunbongkarn

STELLA Modelling Method

Following the opening ceremony, Dr. Gayl D. Ness, AUICK IAC Member and Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan, introduced the STELLA Modelling Method.

In the afternoon session, Dr. Ness led the participants to the computer labs of Khon Kaen University, and started training sessions on the use of the STELLA software.  Each participating city was provided with a package of the software and a copy of the STELLA Software Reference Guide Technical Manual so as to facilitate continued usage of the software.

Following the self-introduction by the workshop participants, Dr. Ness begun his first session on the STELLA software by describing the four main icons which STELLA uses to construct a model: Stocks; Flows; Converters; and Connectors.  “Stocks” represents a reservoir for a quantity at a specified time such as population, cars, and water. “Flows” represents the processes by which the stock is increased or depleted. For example, population is a stock, which is increased by the flow of births and in-migration, and decreased by the flow of deaths and out-migration. “Converters” represents quantitative information about the connection between “Stocks” and “Flows” such as birth and death rates. “Connectors” are mechanisms by which converters are specifically linked to flows or converters. For example, a flow of population is connected to the flow of births to allows for a calculation of how population will increase or decrease over time with specific rates of births and deaths.

Then Dr. Ness prepared a framework of the key stocks and associated flows of a simple population model affected by births and deaths and in- and out-migration.

After formulating the basic framework, the next task is to outfit the diagram with statistical assumptions. In this case, to model a city’s population, a stock is generated by designating the value of the population at the starting time. Then flows of births, deaths and migration are entered. In each case rates are created as converters. With these elements and data, the STELLA software can determine a number for the total population at some future time. It can also show the numbers of birth, deaths and migrants that would have produced that specific population.  One useful way to incorporate assumptions is to use the STELLA software’s graphical functions.

After the framework is fully outfitted with the assumptions, the next step is to simulate the patterns of population transition by those assumptions. With the STELLA software, simulation output can be viewed as a plot (time series or scatter), a table of numbers, and animation of the diagram. Dr. Ness began an extensive set of simulation tests with these graphical functions.

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Chennai Presentation

In the morning session, the Chennai team composed of Mr. Shiv Das Meena, Dr. Tyagarajan Swaminathan, and Mr. Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, made a presentation on their experiences of data collection, and on some of their findings.

They also made a presentation on two successful practices adopted by the City: (a) Rain water harvesting; and (b) Collection and segregation of garbage. The best practice of rainwater harvesting particularly attracted the attention of the other workshop participants. (See the detailed information on rainwater harvesting)

Such success stories will be made into case studies to be used for future training courses as well as for dissemination to other city planners through AUICK Newsletter and the website.

JICA’s Partnership Program

Following the Chennai presentation, Ms. Chika Kodama, Manager of KIC, made a presentation on the JICA’s strategic partnership program that is funded through Japan’s Official Development Program (ODA), and which may be applicable to AACs.

JICA is the ODA agency responsible for bilateral grants and technical cooperation, and is active in dozens of countries worldwide. The list of the top ten recipients of Japanese ODA includes all nine countries represented by the AACs (the tenth country being Sri Lanka). JICA’s role in technical assistance to South nations is well respected. Each year the agency receives countless applications for grants or technical assistance and the selection process is often lengthy and very competitive, and criteria for approval are stringent. Yet through KIC, Ms. Kodama explained how a JICA technical cooperation project could be possible in one of the AACs, if implemented through KIC acting as a partner agency of JICA.

After explaining the kind of technical training and assistance offered under this program, as well as the application process, Ms. Kodama invited AACs to submit one proposal each by the end of January for a grassroots-level project that requires technical assistance from Japan.  KIC will then select the most suitable proposal and submit it to JICA and ODA for approval under the conditions of this particular JICA program. The maximum length of time for a project to be implemented is three years.

Visit to College of Asian Scholars

In the afternoon, the workshop participants visited the College of Asian Scholars (CAS), which was established by Dr. Krasae Chanawongse on 26 February 2001.

Dr. Kasom Chanawongse, President of CAS and the son of Dr. Krasae Chanawongse, offered words of welcome and gave an outline of the college.  Then Dr. Krasae Chanawongse made a short speech on why he established his college and what philosophy of education he has.

From left: Dr. Kasom Chanawongse and Dr. Krasae Chanawongse

It is to provide beneficial education to Thai youth to create opportunities and special support for those with limited opportunities. He believes people whose opportunities are limited because of social and family background should receive more from society and the nation.  The philosophy is educating rural youth; who are the future of Thailand.  With this in mind he founded CAS in Khon Kaen City.

CAS opened at the beginning of the academic year of 2002 with a program at the Bachelor level in the faculty of Business Administration with business computing, general management, marketing, accounting, and international business management departments. In the academic year 2003, 2 new faculties, liberal arts and law were opened. CAS is responsible for teaching business administration, expanding the technical level of business competence, and moral excellence. It is also committed to producing graduates who are skilled professionals, able to solve problems, intellectuals of good moral character, disciplineed, self-sacrificing, and willing to work for the common good.

Closing

To formally bring the workshop to a close, Mr. Masayuki Ishitsubo thanked the participants and IAC members respectively for their attendance at the workshop and for their valuable contribution to AUICK. He also thanked the Khon Kaen Municipality and Khon Kaen University for their arrangements.

He concluded his remarks as follows: “Many new friendships were made and old ones renewed during the Khon Kaen workshop, which has strengthened the ties between the ten cities, including Japan, and will ensure that information, technical knowledge and expertise are shared throughout Asia through these close links. With the closing of the workshop we could all feel assured that the goal of creating critical masses of expertly trained personnel in each of the nine cities is well underway."

5th Day: Thursday, 25 November

The workshop participants departed for their respective countries.

REVIEW

The workshop strengthened commitment among AACs and their academic collaborators to work together to solve the urban population issues that each city is facing, and to continue sharing information, ideas and data. The STELLA modelling training gave participants basic technical skills in the use of the software and with further practical application, better understanding of how to use population statistics to ensure more effective urban development planning.

Finding great usefulness of the STELLA model for urban planning, Dr. Haryono Suyono, IAC Member of Indonesia, organized a two-day seminar on STELLA in Surabaya, Indonesia, for the city administrators and researchers from 27 to 28 November. It was a spin-off from AUICK’s workshop in Khon Kaen. The seminar was attended by 225 participants from five Indonesia cities. He commented that the STELLA software could help them to analyse and solve many issues which the five cities in Indonesia have to tackle.

The post-workshop monitoring indicated that the workshop was highly appreciated by the participants and concerned city adiministrators. The workshop was also a concrete example fo South-South cooperation generated by the AUICK project.

On 26 November 2004, two participants from China, on their way back home, visited UNFPA China Office, and met with Mr. Ronny Lindstrom, Deputy Representative.

Dr. Du Yang, first briefed on the workshop of STELLA software. He said that through this training, AUICK offered a useful and intuitive tool for forecasting various aspects in urban development which are relevant to the UN Millennium Goals. Khon Kaen University offered great help in organizing his workshop and made it success.

Then, Mr. Sun Chenggong briefly introduced Weihai City and its relations with AUICK. He said, “Although Weihai has made tremendous achievement in improving human living conditions, it still faces new challenges brought by globalization and economic development, such as environmental sustainability and the unexpected increase of aging population. We hope that we can solve the problems in urban development by sharing information with other AACs through the AUICK 2004-2007 Program and set a good model for other China’s small and medium cities.”

Mr. Ronny said, “I am impressed by AUICK’ s continuous commitment in helping Asian countries to obtain the UN Millennium Goals, and as an official of UNFPA, I am ready for any consultation and help to facilitate the successful cooperation between Weihai and AUICK during the 2004-2007 program.” He suggested that the workshop programs focus on specific project on what the city really needs, and the communication system be easily to be accessed.”