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GLOBAL CONNECTIONS XI
THE PROGRAM: AN OVERVIEW
Global Connections Eleven at The Prem Center Chaing Mai, Thailand, 25th to 30th June 2008.
Registration Form (PDF): GC '08 Registration
Established in 2000 and beautifully situated on 90 acres in the foothills of the mountains of northern Thailand, the Prem Tinsulanonda Center for International Education (the Prem Center - www.premcenter.org) is just 25 kilometers north of Chiang Mai, Thailand's second largest city. In a region rich in culture and history, pivotally placed in Asia as an integral part of South East Asia and positioned between the two emerging super powers of India and China, the Center is strategically located to serve Thailand, the region and the world educationally.
Thailand, unlike its neighbours, has never been colonized. One of the major characteristics of its past 150 years is that of a country opening-up to a global world of ideas and change but retaining a strong undercurrent of continuity.
The Thais are a vibrant, friendly people, welcoming and hospitable. They have a strong distinctive national identity, are proud of their history and heritage, and also of their achievements as a fast developing modern nation. There is much that they have learned from the West but there is much the West can also learn from them.
The Seminar Program (June 25-30)
Whilst the Program is not finalized, it has taken shape and will reflect the following outlines:
Wednesday, June 25: Registration will take place from 9 am to 5 pm, Global Connections XI will officially get underway with a Welcome Dinner, Introduction to the Seminar focus on "West meets East" and a local cultural performance
Thursday, June 26 will be spent at the Prem Center. The focus will be on understanding Thailand historically, culturally, politically and how education takes place within this context and the Seminar theme "West meets East".
We are fortunate to have two outstanding speakers to lead the dialogue: Khunying* Kasama Voravarn, Secretary-General, Office of the Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education. Dr Chai-Anan Samudvanija, recently retired Headmaster of Vajiravudh College; formerly Professor of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University; presently President of the Royal Institute**.
* a Royal honour
** Similar to the Royal Society in the UK
There will be small group break-out discussions with Thai colleagues, together with panel/plenary sessions.
Friday, June 27 Using Thursday's sessions as a springboard there will be visits to several different types of schools in the Chiang Mai area, together with Thai colleagues.
On both evenings there will be a focus on the Thai performing and visual arts.
Saturday, June 28: The day will start at the Prem Center with an introduction to the King's "Sufficiency Economy", his Royal Projects and the work done by the government and NGOs and in conservation, poverty alleviation and also with the Hilltribes. These will be presented within the theme of "West meets East" and the more holistic context of Sustainability. There will be an eminent speaker to present and lead the dialogue.
Following the presentation and discussion there will be the opportunity to visit a number of projects.
The evening will be "free", with the opportunity to spend it in Chiang Mai, and enjoy the famous Night Market and other activities (eg. dinner, massage)
Sunday, June 29 will focus on life in the rural villages and communities around the Prem Center. There will be the opportunity to give alms to monks, to visit temples, talk with villagers, observe rice-growing, and to sit with monks and learn a little about Buddhism and perhaps be introduced to meditation.
In the evening, the Seminar Dinner will be held in Chiang Mai.
Monday, June 30: The first part of the morning will be spent in discussion groups, drawing from Seminar experiences what the West learns from the East, and in particular from Thailand. This will be followed by the customary Business Meeting at which the Seminar Declaration is reviewed, the on-going operations of Global Connections are considered and the location and possible timing for the next Seminar, GC XII (Global Connections 2009) is considered.
The Seminar will conclude with lunch.
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On Monday afternoon after, the Seminar is officially over the following can be arranged for those leaving in the evening or staying on for the Post-Seminar Tour.
- A tour of Chiang Mai (US$ 15-30)
- A bike ride through the local villages, and countryside
A barbeque will be held in the evening and accommodation for Monday night are both provided covered only by the fee paid by those going on the Post-Seminar Tour.
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The Post-Seminar Tour, July 1-4
This Tour is also still being finalized. However, the following overview gives a shape to the tour. We will travel through the far north of Thailand, into the Mekong region, and into the Golden Triangle, once notorious for opium growing, but the crops now eradicated. We will be staying overnight at comfortable hotels en route.
July 1: We leave the Prem Center for Chiang Rai, Thailand's furthermost northern city. On the way we pass through mountainous country interspersed with plains. We will stop at an elephant conservation centre and later do some bamboo rafting (safe!), probably on the Mae Kok River.
July 2: We will visit the Mae Fah Luang University, an impressive new university just north of Chiang Rai and visit the Princess Sirindhon Centre for Chinese Studies. From there we will journey to the remarkable Doi Tung project which covers a vast mountain area encompassing over 26 villages and has earned renown for the comprehensive transformation of the area from "slash and burn" agriculture for "poppy" growing to developing alternative sustainable agriculture (eg. coffee, macadamia, orchids), reforestation, alleviating poverty and restoring pride in the culture and social fabric of the Hilltribes people.
From there we travel to a hotel overlooking the Mekong River and where Thailand's, Burma's and Laos' borders meet.
July 3: There will be a visit to the Opium Museum, a sobering look at the history of opium growing and trading, followed by a fish-tail boat-ride across the Mekong river to a market in Laos (no visas required). Then we will travel back by bus along the Mekong, through the river port of Chiang Saen, to Chiang Rai for the evening.
July 4: The morning will be spent traveling back to Chiang Mai. The tour concluding with lunch at the Prem Center.
Registration Form (PDF): GC '08 Registration
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