10:09 AM | Posted by samakomlao

Talented Lao people to attend IASST Forum for exchanging culture

(KPL) Four talented Lao people were selected to attend the 41st and 42nd International Association of Traffic and Safety Science (IATSS) Forum in Japan for exchanging culture with Japan.

Two out of four people from Laos will participate in the 41st IATSS Forums will be scheduled on April 2007 and two people will participate in the 42nd on September 2007... more

The lucky persons to attend the 41st IATSS are Ms Polalak Khamkhosy and Mr Masouvanh Somkhuan, and the 42nd are Mr Laninnakhone Lathsasak and Mr Kongthanou Khanthavisay.
The selecting committee comes from the IATSS of Japan, Lao Youth Union, the secretary of the IATSS project, the representatives from HONDA Company and Japanese Embassy to Laos.

The IATSS Forum is a training institute established in 1985 through a personal grant from Soichiro Honda, and Takeo Fujisawa, the founders of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., with the aim of nurturing talented young leaders to shoulder Asia’s future.

The roots of "forum" as a term meaning "gathering place" in ancient Rome suggest IATSS Forum's role as a gathering place for young professionals from ASEAN and Japan. Inviting talented people from ASEAN countries to Japan for a broad range of seminars, field study, Group Study and cultural exchange under the common theme, "Thinking and Learning Together," the Forum is a place for participants to develop a greater understanding of their ASEAN neighbors and to address current issues facing ASEAN and Japan.

The program of IATSS Forum is developed by a diverse group of learned individuals from various fields, who make up the IATSS Forum Program Committee. We invite top lecturers from academia and industry. Specific issues addressed in each session vary to meet the needs of the times. But our commitment is to focus not so much on in-depth research in a particular field, but on the liberal arts skills required to become young leaders.

The first IATSS Forum Program was held in September 1985 with participants from Malaysia. As of 2005, a total of 38 IATSS Forum Programs have been held so far. Programs originally included participants from only a single country but beginning in 1991 the IATSS Forum Program became an ASEAN Forum, with young people from several nations taking part simultaneously. About 700 participants have completed programs over the last 20 years. Today we invite about twenty young people from ASEAN countries to Suzuka City twice each year, in spring and fall, for the 55-day Forum Program.

IATSS Forum facilities and accommodation are located in the city of Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, in central Japan. The city is conveniently situated about 50 km south of Nagoya, or about 40 minutes away by train. Facilities include a lecture hall, computer room, cafeteria, library, recreation room, laundry room, kitchen and prayer room. Participants enjoy private rooms and on weekends can take advantage of such nearby amenities as tennis courts, indoor swimming pool and spa.

The Participants will have many opportunities to meet people from the Suzuka area and other cities. Participants can also enjoy a variety of recreational and cultural activities including Japanese cultural introduction, home stays, and cultural-exchanges.

Participants visiting other cities have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities specific to each region and can meet people from many walks of life, including local businesses, non-profit organizations, local government officials, teachers, and students. These activities are designed to provide each participant with a unique experience.

IATSS Forum program consists of three main elements each of which is designed to maximize the benefits of the 55-day program, by taking into account current regional and world issues. The IATSS Forum program was comprised Seminars and field study, Group Study and Study tours.

After completing the IATSS Forum programme, participants return to their home countries and apply their experiences at the Forum as leaders in a variety of fields. At the same time, they join IATSS Forum alumni associations in their home countries. These organizations offer a place to continue sharing a wealth of experience through networks of alumni that span a broad range of ages and occupational fields.

Active alumni associations in each country provide opportunities for alumni to get together and exchange the latest information from various fields. Alumni activities also include informational sessions for prospective applicants and NGO-type community services such as English lessons or traffic safety education for disadvantaged children.

International Alumni Meetings, which take place in a different country every second year, provide an opportunity for representatives from each country's alumni association not only to report on their activities but also to engage in a lively exchange of views about recent issues that concern them.

Source: kpl.net.la