Report on the Bhutan Seminar Series 2024 (Aug. & Sep.2024)

2024年9月30日更新

Beginning in FY2021, the Global Collaboration Center is hosting regional research-based seminars to (1) learn about the Kingdom of Bhutan, which is located in South Asia, and (2) examine development policies and the situation of the country and region in light of these issues. Each seminar includes a film screening, a brief commentary by the presenter, and a question-and-answer session. A total of 15 sessions are scheduled for FY2024.

6th Seminar in the Bhutan Seminar Series 2024 (2024.8.9)

The 6th seminar in FY2024 was held on Friday, August 9th. This seminar focused on the family and child-rearing situation in rural Bhutan. Commentator Mr. Morishita, who is currently staying in Trashigang in eastern Bhutan, introduced children’s playgrounds in urban areas and closed rural primary schools. Participants asked questions about recent reforms of education system, the content of school education, the relationship between monastic education and school education, and shared information and exchanged opinions.

About 35 people attended this seminar. Here are some of the participants’ comments: “The content of the video, which focused on ordinary farming people in the village of Punakha, was good, but I learned more through Mr. Morishita’s subsequent explanations and comments, as well as Mr. Hirayama’s additional insights.” “I was able to deepen my understanding of the state of child-rearing in rural and urban areas both in the past (although it is still only about 15 years) and today through the video and Mr. Morishita’s commentary.” “It seems that in the name of ‘modernization,’important aspects are being lost in the country (region). I would like to learn more about Bhutan’s perspectives and actual countermeasures in response to this.”

Introduction of the featured video
Regarding the content of the video

7th Seminar in the Bhutan Seminar Series 2024 (2024.9.13)

The 7th seminar in FY2024 was held on Friday, September 13th. This was the 52nd overall seminar, and it looked at the youth and football situation in Bhutan. Commentator Mr. Kikugawa provided comments, as well as an introduction to the history of Bhutanese football, its overseas expansion, and the subsequent status of the Bhutanese national football team members in 2010, including Mr. Karun Gurung who appeared in the video. In addition, lecturer Mr. Hirayama shared the latest news and related information about football in Bhutan. Participants asked questions about the situation of Bhutanese living in Australia, especially in Perth, and the future outlook for the outflow of human resources overseas.

About 40 people attended this seminar. Here are some of the participants’ comments: “Mr. Kikugawa added much more extensive and detailed information to the video we had watched, and organized, analyzed and summarized it, making it a very fulfilling session. I can imagine that it must have been extremely difficult to prepare all of that. It was also very meaningful that he shared information he obtained from actual visits to Bhutan and Australia.” “I was able to deduce that football is enjoyed all over the world, that young people truly enjoy this one of the few forms of entertainment available, and that they must be worried about what the future holds as they consider how to balance their lives abroad. The commentator was very modest, which was great.” “It was packed with content, including talk about the current social issue of the outflow of human resources to overseas, the visit of the political officer in Sikkim to Bhutan 100 years ago, and the changes in stadium in Thimphu, so I was very satisfied.”

Introduction of the featured video
Articles about Bhutan's football league