Bounlouane Douangngeune

 

Director

Laos-Japan Human Resource Development Institute, Vientiane

International Development Studies Program (MA ’02; Ph.D. ’05)

 

 

 

 

 

Please tell us about your career path so far. What is your area of specialization and how did you come to work in this area?

After receiving my Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in horticultural technology (with first class honor) from the University of Queensland, Australia, I started my career in 1999 as an external relation officer promoting technical cooperation in crop production at the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry located in the Vientiane Capital of Laos. I was working at that department for almost two years before I was awarded a JICA long-term training scholarship for undertaking a master’s and doctorate degree in International Development Studies at GRIPS, from September 2000 through March 2005. Upon my return to Laos, I was fortunate to get a job transfer from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to the Laos-Japan Human Resource Development Institute, National University of Laos, where I worked as a Deputy Director from August 2005. I am happy to have become the Director of the Institute, since February 2016. This allows me to take full leadership in further strengthening the cooperation between Japan and Laos in the area of industrial human resource development with a view to supporting Lao private sector development as well as supporting Japanese investment in Laos. Another focal area is promoting intellectual/cultural exchanges among peoples of the two nations, Laos and Japan.

 

You have just been appointed Director of the Laos-Japan Human Resource Development Institute. Please tell us about the Institute, its goals and mission.

Laos-Japan Human Resource Development Institute (LJI) was first established as Lao-Japan Human Resource Cooperation Center on May 4, 2001. It was upgraded to Laos-Japan Human Resource Development Institute in May 2010 to become a technical cooperation project between the government of Laos and the government of Japan. The Institute is managed jointly by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National University of Laos (NUOL), pursuing the following vision:

LJI strives to become the center of excellence in building friendly relationships and cooperation between Laos and Japan in developing human resources in the areas of business management and Japanese language for use in private sector development in Laos as well as promoting Japanese investments in Laos.  It will also serve as a platform for cultural exchange activities between Lao and Japanese people as well as among the peoples of the ASEAN nations.

 

LJI’s mission is to continuously improve human resource development and organize high-quality intellectual/cultural exchange activities, in line with the demands of society. Among others, LJI conducts the following programs: Master of Business Management Program, a practical business management training and consultation program, a research and case development program, and an academic/cultural exchange program. LJI thus promotes cooperation in a wide range of areas in Laos, the ASEAN region and Japan in carrying out its mission.

 

What are your main responsibilities and duties?

As Director of the institute, I have to take full responsibility in keeping the institute on a sustainable and dynamic growth path, providing services which fit our societal needs at all times. To provide good services, I have to make sure all LJI members maintain enabling mindsets consisting of strong teamwork, showing an aptitude for cooperation, self-learning and responsibility with a great sense of enthusiasm, responsibility, respect and fairness. That is the way for LJI to become the center of excellence in building friendly relationships and cooperation between Laos and Japan. Leaders of the National University of Laos always refer to LJI as a symbol of friendships between Laos and Japan, and a common asset of the two nations. I will also do my best to make sure LJI continues to live up to our leaders’ expectations.

 

In your current capacity, what do you see as the main opportunities and challenges for the relationship between Laos and Japan over the course of the next five to ten years?

Although Laos and Japan are at two very different stages of economic development, the two countries have maintained close and friendly relationships for 61 years since diplomatic relations were established in March 1955. Especially since the early 1990s, when Laos became more open and started accepting more international cooperation, Japan has been the top donor to Laos. In the recent years, Japan is not only the top ODA provider to Laos, investments by Japanese private companies in Laos have also increased. In addition, Laos has also become a well-known sight-seeing destination among many Japanese tourists. This means that the relationship between Laos and Japan has grown both in width and depth. I believe that such positive trends in the relationship between Laos and Japan will continue to grow in next five to ten years. I believe Laos will continue to maintain an enabling investment environment and I expect Japanese and other foreign investments to Laos to increase. In that way, the relation between Laos and Japan will gradually shift from a mere recipient – donor relationship towards a full economic partnership.

     

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your work? And what have been the most interesting or rewarding aspects of your career thus far?

As I mentioned earlier, I have been working at LJI for more than ten years since August 2005. I have been very grateful to be able to work here as it has given me an opportunity to play a role in promoting friendly relationships and mutual cooperation between Laos and Japan. Making activities at LJI dynamic and responding to changing needs in society and attracting more support and cooperation from Japanese organizations and Japanese people at large have all contributed to this goal.

 

During my four years and a half of studying in Japan, I learnt that Japan’s success in initiating modern economic growth was based on its ability to transform and incorporate imported technologies, which in turn contributed to improving productivity. High quality human capital accumulated through education was one necessary condition for such technological adoption success. Through my work at LJI, I could continue learning about Japan’s experiences and promote the transfer of Japanese’s good management practices to Lao people. That is also what I feel as a very rewarding aspect of my work.

 

Along with the rewarding aspects, I also face some challenges related to staff capacity. As mentioned earlier, activities at LJI are quite dynamic requiring LJI members to adjust to changes all the time. However, many staff of LJI do not have sufficient skills to adjust to these changes. Self-learning by each staff is not sufficient. LJI will somehow have to overcome this challenge.

 

What led you to GRIPS? What was the most important thing you learned while here, and how has your experience at GRIPS prepared you for future endeavours?

After I started working at the Department of Agriculture in Vientiane Capital, I became interested in seeking reasons why only a limited part of the world could achieve sustainable economic growth and development while so many countries remained poor. I was particularly interested in economic development history of Japan. I knew that Japan had suffered huge damage during the Second World War, but I did not understand why Japan could overcome such huge damage and become the first nation in the East to achieve economic catch-up with the advanced nations in the West. I expressed my interest to the JICA personnel who interviewed me for the scholarship in Vientiane Capital. As I got my first degree in horticultural technology, I did not really see how my interest then was related with development economics, so I was not very confident that I would be granted a JICA long-term training scholarship for studying at GRIPS. I also knew that more than 10 persons were interviewed, competing for only one scholarship. You can imagine I was overjoyed when the news came that I was selected for this scholarship. I really felt so fortunate to get a chance to study at GRIPS, the place where I could learn development economics, which helped me answer my question. Apart from gaining knowledge in development economics, I was able to gain a sufficient understanding of Japanese culture and society. I could also develop good human networks with Japanese people and foreign students in the same program. GRIPS has really prepared me for who I am today.

 

How do you maintain a balance between your work and the rest of your life? And what is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?

I believe I cannot make much contribution to the nation’s development without support from people surrounding me. My happiness really depends on the happiness of the people surrounding me including family, social and professional networks. So, when I do not work, I enjoy time with family and as much as possible I spend time with my social and professional connections.

 

What are some of your fondest memories of your time spent at GRIPS? And what do you miss about Japan?

I miss many things about Japan and I regard Japan as my second home. But, I really miss the changes in natural scenery in Japan particularly snow in winter, sakura blossoms in spring, the hot and humid “mushi-atsui” summer (with “hanabi taikai” fireworks), and the red leaves in fall. During my studies at GRIPS, I really enjoyed every moment living in a multi-cultural environment, having friends from many countries around the world. GRIPS is the very place where I could acquire a lot of knowledge because all professors are very knowledgeable and experienced teachers, doing high-quality research. GRIPS staff were also very kind to me.   

 

If you could give one piece of advice to anyone considering studying at GRIPS what would it be?

I really believe that GRIPS is a perfect place to study and a perfect place for developing international networks. I am proud to have been part of GRIPS. I am sure you will feel the same if you come to study at GRIPS.

 

How would you like to maintain involved with the School? What do you expect from GRIPS as an alumnus and o you have any suggestions on how to further utilize the GRIPS alumni network?

I am very happy to be a member of the GRIPS family. Through the online alumni community and the Alumni Office I receive updates about GRIPS on a regular basis. Such regular contacts are very useful and informative for all alumni. Thanks to all GRIPS personnel for maintaining this good network and I am looking forward to future updates. I also hope to welcome many GRIPS professors, staff and fellow alumni in Laos.