Project Dissemination: The 12th International Conference on Thai Studies, The University of Sydney

On 22-24 April 2014, The University of Sydney hosted the 12th International conference on Thai studies. The conference was well attended by approximately 500 scholars worldwide.  This important  conference  promotes various ideas and research studies regarding contemporary Thailand. The sub-themes of this conference are eclectic. Examples of the themes include archaeology, art and design, rural issues, ASEAN, borders, monarchy, politics, sexuality, environment, music.  This is a great academic event for us and we decided to submit our paper from MIDAS project to share some findings and research points with scholars in Thai studies.

                                                               The University of Sydney

Our paper was accepted under 'environment' theme because the focus of the paper is on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its impacts  upon the community and women in Thailand. Under the peer-review process by the conference committee, we finalized the paper and decided to include it in the conference program (proceedings). 

                                  H.E. Mr. James Wise, the Australian Ambassador to Thailand

Two team members (Dr. Pimpa and Dr. Moore) represented the team to present our paper at this conference. The presentation was scheduled in the afternoon of the 24th April. we were very fortunate to be in the same panel with a number of interesting scholars who work intensively in South East Asia. In the panel, we worked with Danny Marks (Australia National University), Sanita Ganjanapan (Chiang Mai University) and Sasithorn Onlao (Rajabhat Mahasarakham University). 

                                                                   Our Presentation

The session was lively with discussion on CSR policies and practices that affect contemporary environmental conditions in Thailand, the concept of Thai Buddhism and CSR, and arguments on CSR or PR. The critical issue on CSR and culture were raised by Professor Philip Hirsch from the University of Sydney. He questions the roles of cultural factors and how other actors such as MNCs, community and local government can play different parts in the developmental process of CSR programs. 

                                                                Q&A and Discussions 

By the end of the session, we realized that we  have learnt a number of interesting perspectives and constructive criticisms from the audiences. This is one of the very interactive dissemination activities of MIDAS project. If you are interested in reading our paper, please visit this link:http://sydney.edu.au/southeast-asia-centre/thai-studies-2014/conference-papers.shtml

Project Dissemination for Asia @ RMIT

One of the key characteristics of DFAT funded project is capacity building. We believe that our project should be used as a learning mechanism for students, academic staff and practitioners in international mining industry.

On 9th April 2014, Dr. Sheree Gregory and Associate Professor Natt Pimpa presented the findings from this project , focusing on how mining MNCs in Laos impact women in the workplace, to the academic community at RMIT University. The seminar was organised by Asia@RMIT which is an event co-hosted by RMIT's Graduate School of Business ans Law and the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies.

The seminar was attended by 16 academics and PhD. students from different departments and schools at RMIT University. All participants showed interests in mining industry in Laos and Thailand, how women manage to work in the male-dominated industry, socio-economic factors in Laos that promote and impede women, and policies on gender equity.

The seminar was a great success since we developed a CSR and mining network with RMIT scholars and students. This network is important for us since we will collaborate our future research and academic actions with them at various stages of this project.

 

Associate Professor NattavudPimpa and Dr Sheree Gregory (School of Management) 

‘Mining and Women: How Mining Multinational Corporations Promote Gender Equity in Laos’

We examine approaches and strategies to empower women in the mining industry and mining community in Laos. In order to balance some views on developmental actions by Mining Multinational Corporations (MNCs), we also collected primary data from an international governmental organisation (IGO) and secondary data from MNCs, IGOs and international mining reports. The results show that MNCs adopted various approaches to empower women, promote equal opportunity, and celebrate diversity in the industry and the community. Two key concerns were raised: the lack of participation by women in the decision-making of corporate policies and the exclusion of indigenous women in economic and educational activities by MNCs.

Seminar:  http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ixruhyg08rz3 

Event details

Title:	Asia@RMIT Seminar
Presenters:	Dr Claudia Astarita, Associate Professor Nattavud Pimpa and Dr Sheree Gregory
Date:	09 April, 2014
Time:	12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Location:	RMIT University, Building 80, Level 5, Room 01 (445 Swanston Street, Melbourne)
Location:	Email aastha.swaroop@rmit.edu.au by Tuesday, 8 April, 12 pm. Light lunch will be provided (places are limited)

How Mining Industry Impact Women

How Mining Industry Impact Women

Equitable Employment for Women in Mining Industry in Laos and Thailand

Over the last six months the Australian-based Equitable Employment for Women in Mining Companies in Laos and Thailand research project led by Associate Professor Natt Pimpa and involving a team of researchers from RMIT’s School of Management and Global Urban Social Studies School, the University of Melbourne’s Nossal Institute for Global Health, National University of Laos, Thammasat University (Thailand) and industry partners from Laos (MMG) and Thailand (Akara Resources), has been undertaking the first stage of fieldwork.

In what ways are mining workplaces providing equitable employment for women? What actions are the mining industry taking to safeguard female stakeholders? What are the social and economic development impacts, particularly in rural areas, of women's engagement in the mining industry? What changes in policy and practice could be taken by the mining industry to support gender equity and safeguard women stakeholders? These are the central research questions of the project.

The first phase of the project reveals that, although mining industry can improve women’s quality of life, international mining companies still need to promote women to play active roles in the mining industry and community.

This research also shows that Australian mining companies have progressively shifted from a focus on eliminating difference between men and women to celebrating gender differences and valuing them equally by raising awareness of how traditionally feminine activities and styles can benefit the organisation.

In the next phase, the project has involved working with partners and multinational corporations in Laos and Thailand to learn more about out how international mining impacts women and the roles they play in communities and industry. The project’s activities have focused around capacity building and preliminary data collection in preparation for intensive fieldwork to deliver outcomes that support and promote gender equity development and minimise disadvantage to women.

The Equitable Employment for Women in Mining Companies in Laos and Thailand research project is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australian Aid) and contributes to RMIT University's focus on critical issues that impact global businesses and communities.

There has been a huge degree of interest in this research project. The project will produce findings from new data and multiple perspectives (voices from management, employees, and community members) on a range of issues impacting women in mining communities and industry. It includes exploration of education, poverty alleviation, labour relations, community life and sustainability.   

The project is over halfway through the first stage and on track to conclude fieldwork in the second half of 2014.

For more information visit the Mining – Development – Asia research project website http://seabiz.asia/ and twitter handle @miningforwomen 

Getting to know our partners (2): MMG LXML

Our industrial partner is MMG Lan Xang Minerals Limited (LXML). MMG has been one of the major contributors to minning industry in Lao PDR and the region. LXML operates in Sepon.  Sepon mine is located in Vilabouly district, Savannakhet province.

                                              Credit: Image of Sepon from MMG LXML Website
                                                 
                                   

Sepon has played a vital role in development of Laos. It, in fact, was the first mine in an industry that now provides 80 per cent of foreign investment, 45 per cent of exports and 12 percent of Government revenues, to Lao PDR. 

                 
                                          Credit: Image of Sepon from MMG LXML Website

 There have been a number of interesting sustainability projects from MMG LXML such as the Trust Fund for Vilabouly district, Fightinh against Malnutrition, Vocational Triaining schemes and biodiversity management. 

                                         Credit: Image of Sepon from MMG LXML Website

In 2011 the gender diversity at Sepon and per cent of female employees 19 per cent, which is higher than Century, Golden Grove and Rosebery mining operations by MMG. This accounts for all employees, including contractors and Sepon casual staff.  Thus, gender and gender management can be another issue that our team will work with MMG LXML in this project.   

Getting to know our partners: The National University of Laos

I returned to Vientiane to attend a few meetings and start the first round of data collection for this project. Our meeting with the National University of Laos (NUOL) helps me to understand a few critical points about mining in Lao PDR.

Preliminary data from international agencies such as the Asian Development Bank, UNDP and Mekong River Commission have confirmed that robust growth has helped to nearly halve poverty in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). Investments in mining and hydropower in recent years have driven much of the growth of the economy. 

However, the economic transformation continues to pose challenges for the country. Continued structural transformation and economic diversification is needed to expand opportunities, provide jobs for a young population, and for growth to become more inclusive. At the same time, high economic growth will need improved natural resource and environmental management.

NUOL believe that this project will enhance the quality of life of women in the mining industry. As a higher education institution, NUOLaims to promote new knowledge and research for development. 

Founded in 1996, with departments brought in from other existing colleges, it is the only national university in the country. NUOL accepts top students from Laos with few international students. National University of Laos is cooperating with various international universities. In this project, NUOL will be one of the key partners working with the local community in Villabouly. 

  

Capacity Building Workshop

One of the key elements of this project is "capacity building in research and development" among key partners. The term itself is broad and can be achieved in various ways. In achieving this commitment with the Australian Government (and our research partners), we organised a capacity building workshop in Bangkok on 25-26 November 2013.

Our special guests are Jen Tyrell (Counsellor in Education and Science) and Watinee Karnwong (Deputy Director, Australian Educaton International) from the Australian embassy. They joined our first session and discussed roles of education and research in development. This project is clearly one of many initiatives from the Australian Government to promote educational and developmental links among Australia and developing countries in South East Asia.

  

We invited our in-country partners from Lao PDR (National University of Laos and Burnet Institute) and Thailand (Thammasat University) to participate in this inaugural capacity building workshop at Swissotel Nailert Park.

Associate Professor Sengdeuane Wayakone, the director of international relations  and Prof. Somkiat, the Director of Research from the National University of Laos presented their ideas on research and process and protocal of research in Lao PDR to the team.  A number of interesting issues, such as dealing with local stakeholders, language and manners in the data collection process, dissemination of research in Laos, were discussed among our team members.

From Thailand, Assistant Professor Suphat Supachalasai and his team from Thammasat University discussed issues on dealing with mining industry in Thailand, data collection in the Thai business environment, and promotion and dissemination of research project at Thammasat and their academic and industrial partners.


Our team members from the Nossal Institute of Global Health, Dr. Timothy Moore and Brigitte Tenni, presented the roles of Australian AID and research under ADRA scheme.  We also discussed plan for the data collection and responsibilities among team members in the next 16 months.

We ended our workshop with discussion on plans for capacity building for students and young researchers in both countries, women associations, and mining workers in Lao PDR and Thailand.

In my opinion, the workshop promotes strong engagement and the flow of research ideas among team members from Australia, Lao PDR and Thailand. We really hope that young researchers who participated in the workshop will gain some ideas on research and gender equity.