GRIPS conducted the Thai Senior Executive Development Program (SEDP) from July 1 to July 15, 2012 in response to a request from the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) in Thailand. In this eighth year of the program, GRIPS welcomed as participants one security advisor from the Ministry of the Interior and nine provincial vice-governors of Thailand.

During the program, which was coordinated by SEDP Program Director Professor Yokomichi (Advisor to the President, GRIPS), the participants attended lectures about the Japanese economy and politics, local administration and its reform, and disaster management in Japan. Lectures were given by GRIPS’ faculty members including Prof. Horie (Vice President), Prof. Masuyama (Advisor to the President), Prof. Hara (Senior Professor), Prof. Morichi (Senior Professor) and Prof. Ikawa, Prof. Ota, Prof. Okazaki, and Assoc. Prof. Hatakeyama. Professor Nagai from Osaka City University also gave a lecture.

The participants visited the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the National Governors’ Association. They also took a trip to Nara and Kyoto, Miyagi, Sendai and Ishinomaki to visit the local government office in each prefecture and city. They learned about tourism promotion and disaster management by the local governments. Trainees had high interest in measures taken after the Great East Japan Earthquake of last year and actively asked questions.

After the local trip, all the participants divided into two groups and presented action plans entitled “Local Government” and “Flood Management” describing what steps they will take after returning to their respective provinces. The action plans reflect what they learned, thought and gained through this training program.