Transborder Issues in Greater Mekong Sub-region
From: "Kevin Yuk-shing Li" <kevinysli@graduate.hku.hk
To: "devel-vn" <devel-vn@cairo.anu.edu.au; "enviro-vlc"
<enviro-vlc@cairo.anu.edu.au
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 5:39 AM
Subject: [devel-vn] Transborder Issues in Greater Mekong Sub-region
2nd Announcement: Call for Papers and Registration
International Conference
"Transborder Issues in Greater Mekong Sub-region"
June 30-July 2, 2005 Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
Venue and Accommodation: Nevada Grand Hotel, Ubon Ratchathani
Organizer: Mekong Sub-region Social Research Center (MSSRC),
Faculty of Liberal Arts, Ubon Ratchathani University
Supporter: The Rockefeller Foundation
Language: English
Conference date: June 30-July 2, 2005
Deadline for abstracts: April 20, 2005
Notification of Acceptance of Abstracts and Scholarships: April 30, 2005
Deadline for papers: May 31, 2005
Deadline for Conference & Hotel pre-registration: May 31, 2005
Correspondence: Surasom Krisnachuta
Mekong Sub-region Social Research Center (MSSRC)
Faculty of Liberal Arts, Ubon Ratchathani University
Warinchamrap, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
Tel: +66-45-288387 or +66-45-288870-2
Fax: +66-45-288387
E-mail: mssrc@la.ubu.ac.th, mssrc_ubu@yahoo.com
Homepage: http://www.ubu.ac.th/~mssrc/html/
Rationale
Given their ramifications, present-day GMS transborder issues have been the main focus of attention of a number of scholars both from within and outside the sub-region for many years. Since numerous studies have been undertaken recently, knowledge on these transborder issues has, in actuality, been obtained to a certain extent. Nonetheless, there have been few theoretical discussions and debates on emerging knowledge related to GMS transborder issues. There are limited opportunities for knowledge sharing among scholars who have conducted research in this field that would allow for a comparative perspective. Consequently, our knowledge about transborder issues in the GMS is still narrow, incomplete and unpublicised and as such has limited influence at the policy level. In order to encourage the sharing of knowledge and experiences that promotes learning across boundaries, there is a pressing need for obtained knowledge to be reviewed and shared among interested scholars and organizations in the sub-region. The Faculty of Liberal Arts at Ubon Ratchathani University, in collaboration with the Rockefeller Foundation, is organizing an international conference on "Transborder Issues in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region". This conference will bring together scholars and researchers who have carried out or are currently conducting research on trans-boundary issues in the GMS to review and share theoretical frameworks as well as research results. More importantly, this conference will serve as a venue for scholars and researchers to identify knowledge gaps and enrich their knowledge on transborder issues including their trends, causes and consequences. In addition to discussions carried out in the conference rooms, a one-day fieldtrip to the Thai-Lao border town of Chong Mek will be arranged for interested participants to learn more about transborder issues and enrich their discussions through comparative analysis.
Objectives
1. To understand the causes, consequences, and trends of the transborder phenomena in the Mekong Sub-region.
2. To identify and bring together researchers and scholars who are interested in GMS transborder issues.
3. To highlight issues that need further exploration.
4. To discuss new areas of work which are of interest to researchers and policy makers.
5. To facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences in order to
promote and enhance learning across boundaries.
Themes of Papers
The conference invites papers for panels dealing with 9 sub-themes
including:
Theme A Sex Trade, Gender and Sexuality
Theme B Labor Migration
Theme C Health and HIV/AIDS
Theme D Natural Resources, Environmental Management and Challenges
Theme E Regional Market Economy
Theme F Regional Relation and Cooperation
Theme G Tourism Development and Consequences
Theme H Human Rights Issues regarding Ethnic Groups and Trafficking in
Women
and Children
Theme I Cultural Studies (Diaspora, Ethnicity, Media and Identity)
Guidelines for Submission of Abstracts:
An abstract must not exceed 300 words and must include a separate title
page
as outlined below:
1) Title of paper
2) Theme of submission
3) Two or three key words that describe the submission
4) Name (s) of the author (s)
5) Mailing address (es)
6) Phone number (s)
7) Fax number(s)
8) Corresponding author if different than lead author
Guidelines for Submission of Abstracts:
An abstract must not exceed 300 words and must include a separate title
page
as outlined below:
1) Title of paper
2) Theme of submission
3) Two or three key words that describe the submission
4) Name(s) of the author(s)
5) Mailing address(es)
6) Phone number(s)
7) Fax number(s)
8) Corresponding author if different from lead author
Guidelines for Submission of Papers:
Abstracts will be reviewed according to the originality of the subject
matter, its relevance to the conference theme and sub-themes. Notification
of acceptance will be given on April 30, 2005. If your abstract is
accepted, electronic copies of full papers should be submitted on May 31, 2005. A full paper should be 20 pages long (size A4).
Abstracts and full papers should be sent electronically to:
mssrc@la.ubu.ac.th AND mssrc_ubu@yahoo.com
Or posted to:
Surasom Krisnachuta
Transborder Issues Conference
Faculty of Liberal Arts, Ubon Ratchathani University,
Warinchamrap, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
Conference Proceedings:
A draft conference itinerary will be emailed to you on April 30, 2005. All
accepted papers will appear in the conference proceedings in CD format
together with a printed collection of all abstracts.
Scholarships:
A total of 15 scholarships will be available to presenters from Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and China's Yunnan province. Scholarships include accommodation, transportation, and Perdiem. Notification of acceptance of scholarships will be given on April 30, 2005.
Conference Registration Fee:
Includes conference documentation, lunches, and welcoming ceremony.
Registration before May 31, 2005
30 US $ or 1,200 Baht
15 US $ or 600 Baht (for Thai students who are studying in Thai
Universities)
On-site registration
40 US $ or 1,600 Baht
Fieldtrip (9 US$ or 350 Baht/person)
July 2, 2005
Visit to Thai-Lao border (Chong Mek Checkpoint) to look at border trade
issues
Payment Information:
If you are paying outside Thailand, the payment MUST be in US Dollars.
Please Do Not send personal checks from any country other than Thailand.
Checks and bank drafts should be made payable to the Mekong Sub-region
Social Research Center (MSSRC), Faculty of Liberal Arts, Ubon Ratchathani University, Warinchamrap, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190. Payment can also be made by Money transfer to:
Name of Account: The Resource Center on the Greater Mekong Sub-region
Bank Name: Krung Thai Bank Public Company Limited
Account No: 314-1-91354-4
Swift Code: K R T H T H B K
Beneficiary: Transborder Issues in Greater Mekong Sub-region Project
Venue and Accommodation
The Conference will be held at Nevada Grand Hotel in Ubon Ratchathani. A special conference rate of 800 - 1,200 Baht/Night (net) (20-30 $US)
applies to conference participants. If you wish to stay at the conference venue hotel, please send a completed Reservation Form to the Conference Secretariat by May 31, 2005.
Participants who do not wish to stay at the Nevada Grand Hotel have a wide range of other hotels to choose from which are located near the vicinity of the conference. These can be viewed on page 8.
Spotlight on Ubon Ratchathani University
Situated on the Mekong River Basin, Ubon Ratchathani University (UBU) is a state-run university that has been enhancing it studies programs to serve the need for critical reflection and action in the wake of rapid regional development.
Over the years, the Faculty of Liberal Arts of UBU has grown stronger,
paying special attention to the trends and patterns of transformation in Thailand. Similarly, the Mekong Sub-regional Social Research Center
(MSSRC) was established as a venue to facilitate research and collaboration with other institutions involved in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. The MSSRC aims to bring about better understanding on the changing social, economic, ecological, and political landscape.
In an attempt to build a stronger 'Mekong spirit' and awareness, UBU also offers undergraduate language courses in Lao, Khmer, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
In 2004, UBU opened a Master Degree Program in Social Sciences, with
majors in: Mekong Regional Studies, Health Social Sciences, Resources and Environmental Social Sciences, and Social Development. Through this
program, it is hoped that UBU students and teachers will continue to make positive contributions to Thai societies and peoples throughout the Mekong.