Country: Laos

According to my graduate research and the current economic situation occurring in Laos, I am academically keen on conducting the research on the macroeconomic issues, including how to address the budget deficit, trade deficit, instable foreign reserves and other solutions leading to macroeconomic resilience. As a matter of fact, my significant research interest aims to bring and/or slow down any ongoing or possible impacts towards the economy of Laos amidst the global trade war.

My academic life began from the BA of general economics from the National University of Laos from 2000-2006; whereas I got a chance to be a student under the ASEAN and South Korea Student Exchange Program in 2001-2002. Later on in 2007-2009, I was awarded the Japanese Development Scholarship (JDS) to undertake the master degree of International Development Program, Graduate School of International Relations, International University of Japan, Niigata prefecture. After a long lasting study, I decided to serve the Office of Party Central Committee (OPCC) of Laos from 2011 until the middle of August 2019. As a result of the long working experience as a Head of Economic Division, Department of General Research (Think Tank) under OPCC supervision, I need to upgrade my new knowledge and other up to date skills, then I was granted the permission to apply for the PhD study within 2 years starting from 2018 to 2019. Due to that reason, I chose the G-cube program offered by GRIPS as my last episode of the academic journey.

I believe that by selecting the G-cube program in GRIPS, it does not only provide me the knowledge, but also the effective approaches to succeed in leadership.

Email: houmlack2017@gmail.com/phd19601@grips.ac.jp

Country: Thailand

My current research interest is on the development of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific and the interactions between the two especially in transport infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia.

Under MEXT scholarship, I graduated from Yamagata University in (international) policy studies in 2007. My Master’s thesis was to compare the George W Bush’s policy toward China before and after the 9/11 incident by employing the Constructivist Approach as a tool of analysis. After my return to Thailand, I worked in two Japanese companies based in Bangkok before joining JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Thailand Office in 2010. At JICA Thailand, I had been assigned to a variety of sectors to formulate, monitor, and evaluate technical cooperation and ODA loan projects in the country. The sectors ranged from disaster management, anti-human trafficking, urban development, governance, customs, and human resources development.

With the G-cube program, I expect that I could capacitate myself with advanced analytical and leadership skills needed for my organization, JICA, in the time when the global and political environment rapidly changes.

Email:phd19602@grips.ac.jp

Country: Thailand

My current research interest is the construction of citizenship in the experience of Asian context, particularly Thailand. I am a lecturer in Political Science; my field is politics and government. The current research topics are comparative politics, democratization, civil society, citizenship and politics in Southeast Asia. (Particularly, Thai politics)

I began my PhD studies at GRIPS in October of 2019. Before that I worked for four years in the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration in Chiang Mai University, Thailand. I received B.A. in political science at Chulalongkorn University in 2009. From 2009 to 2010, I worked as a research assistant and a coordinator for peace and conflict resolution of southern Thailand project at King Prajadhipok Institute (KPI). After that I received M.A. in conflict resolution at the University of Bradford, UK in 2011. My thesis topic was the dynamics of conflict and violence in southern Thailand. From 2012 to 2013, I worked as a project manager for the People’s Empowerment Foundation in Bangkok focusing on empowerment of Thai local leaders and the promotion of democracy.

I believe that studying in the G-Cube program will strengthen and expand my knowledge base of political science and give me an opportunity to study related fields, such as politics, history and economics. It will also be a great opportunity to develop my leadership and policy analysis skills, which are all essential for integrating my theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Email: phd19603@grips.ac.jp