F. Networking for Training and Research in EAGA:

COMBINATION OF STRENGTHS FOR HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE SUBREGIONS

Dr. Boonsom Siribumrungsukha,
Assistant Professor and Vice President for International Relations,
Prince of Songkla University,
Thailand

INTRODUCTION

In January 1993, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of Thailand called on Malaysian Prime Minister, Mohammad Mahathir. The two heads of state then announced the idea of establishing subregions among three countries to accelerate economic development. The thought was welcomed by President Soharto of Indonesia during H.E. Mr. Chuan’s visit to Jakarta in April, 1993.

Since then, a Growth Triangle Business Council (GTBC) of each country has been established and a series of dialogues and meetings have taken place. The principal meeting included the IMT-GTBC meeting which aimed to serve as a venue for discussions among private sectors of the three countries. It was then followed by the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) which discussed the agreements reached during the IMT-GTBC meeting, as well as, the agenda of the government sector. The meeting was concluded by a Ministerial Meeting, which is normally concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. Each country then brought the results and conclusions of the meeting back to their respective Cabinet for final approval.

“The overall goal of the IMT-GT is to accelerate private sector-led economic growth and facilitate the economic development of the subregions by exploiting underlying economic complementarities and comparative advantages; enhancing subregional competitiveness for investment and exports; lowering transport and transaction costs arising from geographical proximity; and reducing production and distributing costs through greater economies of scale.”^1
1 Asian Development Bank. 1995. Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Development Project. Volume I. Over All Report.

The IMT-GT area consists of two Indonesian provinces of northern Sumatra (Medan and Aceh) with a population of 13.6 million; the four northern Malaysian states (Kedah, Penang, Perak, and Peris) with a population of 4.6 million; and five provinces of southern Thailand (Narathiwat, Pattani, Satun, Songkhla, and Yala) with a population of 2.9 million. (Note: West Sumatra joined the IMT-GT in December 1995).

Growth triangle activities are divided into six working groups, namely: tourism, investment, trade and industry, agriculture and fisheries, services, infrastructure, and human resources development.

Closer cooperation among universities in the three subregions was recommended by the IMT-GTBC, SOM, and Ministerial Meetings on 18-20 January, 1994, and the Sectoral Meeting (government authority) at Langkawi, Malaysia held on 3-4 August, 1995.

JUSTIFICATION

“To develop a nation, its real wealth -- its people -- must be developed. The purpose of the development is to create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy, and creative lives.”²

(² United Nations Development Program, 1995. Human Development Report.)

The mission and commitments of universities in the subregions may now be extended to their neighboring subregions besides their own national development. It is believed that human resources of the participating countries, when the subeconomic zone is formalized, will help contribute to their economic developments.

In fact, a considerable cooperation is going on among universities in the subregions including the conduct of research, seminars, and workshops; and student, staff, cultural, and sports exchanges. Some universities have already signed memoranda of understanding to support such activities. In other words, informal and formal networking already exists.

The IMTGT-UNINET is proposed to be officially established for the following reasons:

UNIVERSITIES

There are eight universities in the subregions to be invited to the IMTGT-UNINET. These are: Universitas Andalas, Universitas Sumatra Utara, Universitas Syiah Kuala, all in Indonesia; MARA Institute of Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Utara Malaysia, all in Malaysia; Srinakharinwirot, Songkhla Campus, and Prince of Songkla University, both in Thailand.

ACTIVITIES

A) Sharing of expertise and strengths for research, seminars, workshop, and other pursuits.

Conducting a joint research conference that draws researchers from member universities to share research results will avoid research duplication and save research funds. The conference will bring together researchers to get to know each other and to develop their joint research projects. Seminars and workshops that share resource persons and has participation from members will accelerate staff development. The conference will be organized annually or biannually, depending on the members’ agreement. A few conferences may be organized, if a conference of specialization is recommended. Member universities will take turns in playing host organization.

Budget commitment: Each participating university or individual participants will be responsible for travel costs, accommodation, and meals. However, the host university will assist in arranging accommodations at a minimum charge. Each host university will provide conference materials, lunches and coffee breaks without charging a registration fee.

B) Co-supervision of graduate students

Researches carried on by graduate students will be co-supervised if outside expertise and laboratories are needed. The co-supervision will also be a mechanism for each university to achieve an international standard and at the same time, ensure high quality of research. It is recommended that every invited professor be officially appointed by the host university as co-sponsor of the graduate students. Students may have to travel to see their co-supervisor or to be trained at the host university laboratory.

Budget commitment: When travel by a co-supervisor is necessary, the host university will pay for travel costs, accommodation, and meals. When students go to a host university, the host university will provide accommodation free of charge. Students have to cover travel costs and meals.

C) Joint research

Faculty staff will be encouraged to develop joint research by sharing work experiences, laboratories, advice, and publications. Member universities agree to give priority to joint research under the IMTGT-UNINET cooperation scheme. If opportunity exists, they will jointly submit research projects for outside funding. A joint research project must be approved and cleared by participating universities in order to be accessible to financial support as described below.

Budget commitment: A university has no direct commitment rather than priority to support proposed joint research projects. Funding will be considered as per the normal process of each university. However, when a researcher has to visit and the research is declared jointly, the host university will provide accommodation and meals, while the sending university will provide travelling expense.

D) Staff exchange

Each university will encourage staff exchanges of at least three persons to each of the other outside-the-country universities for teaching, research, and training. This will assure expansion of individual contacts that may lead to activities A, B, and C.

Budget commitment: Each host university will provide accommodation and meals for visiting scholars. Each sending university will support travelling expenses.

E) Student exchanges/study abroad

Each member university will encourage 10 students to study at least one semester at each of the other universities outside the home university. Credits and grades will be transferred to be part of the degree of the home university. Recognizing the barrier of teaching language, students of language programmes should be first encouraged. A university may design special programmes that use English as a medium language for the purpose of the student exchanges. Student exchanges could be in the form of field trips or industrial attachments.

Budget commitment: Each host university will waive tuition fees while students will pay tuition fees to their own university. Each host university will provide accommodation free of charge. Students will cover their travel costs and meals.

F) Establishment of IMT-GT Studies Center

One university in each subregion will consider establishing an Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Studies Center. The center’s mission will be (1) to collect information on the Growth Triangle; (2) to analyze policies, planning, strategies, and projects,; (3) to conduct researches; and (4) to establish linkages with both the private and public sectors. The three centers, if established, will closely cooperate.

Budget commitment: Each center will seek financial support from its own government and other sources.

G) Promotion of Sports Carnivals

Universities will promote and participate in sports carnivals that will aim to develop friendship rather than competition. The carnival will be a forum for uniting staff and students among universities in the subregions.

H) Promotion of Cultural Exchanges

Universities will promote and participate in cultural performances, exhibitions, demonstrations, training, and research to stimulate mutual understanding among people in the subregions.

NETWORK ADMINISTRATION

A simple structure for the network is suggested, as follows:

MEMBERS OF THE NETWORK

There will be two categories of membership to the network, namely: founding members, and members.

The founding members are those universities that joined the network on or before the deadline which was set on 27 July 1996. Members are those universities that will join the network after the deadline for joining.

Note: University means state, semi-state, or private institutes of higher education in the subregions that offer bachelor’s and graduate degrees.

NETWORK FORMATION

The proposed network formation process and time frame are as follows:

DATE

OPERATIONS