Сайн байна уу? Sain Baina uu? （Hello in Mongolia）
ສະບາຍດີ Sabaidee （Hello in Laos）
สวัสดี Sawadee （Hello in Thai）
ជំរាបសួរ Chomreabsuor（Hello in Khmer）
The Yamaguchi Takada Laboratory, as a research group in Global Scientific Information and Communication Center, has been actively involved in research activities through international development projects utilizing ICT to contribute to sustainable development. Our principle for field activities is to make practical contribution based on togetherness, and empowerment of local communities. The laboratory has long-term collaboration with research teams, local governments and communities in Mongolia, Lao PDR, Samoa, Bhutan, Philippines, and Cambodia.
Our unique characteristics as a research group are diverse in background, globally aware, needs-driven and long-view approach in international development project, and the integration of ICT in social development.
We have students from Japan, China, Iran, Cambodia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Portugal, and Indonesia. Lab members also had diverse academic backgrounds such as education, information and technology, mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, civil engineering, and environmental engineering. We are able to view the world from different perspectives thanks to the diversified backgrounds of lab members.
We hold two kinds of seminars weekly to promote our global awareness: news reading seminar, and joint reading seminar. In the news reading seminar, we share and discuss the current news. In the joint reading seminar, we read and discuss publications covering various topics in international development such as human development and innovative finance.
Our involvement in international development projects has been continued more than 10 years. This long-term close collaboration with local stakeholders could realize with the foundation on the careful analysis of local needs. With good understanding of rapid change in local trend and needs, we repeatedly conduct assessment on project.
Centered around ICT, we are utilizing diverse ICT to contribute and realize the sustainable social development. For example, in East Asia, the wave of the ICT use in education progressed in Mongolia starting with the project activity based on the local needs of distance learning. In another aspect, in ASEAN country, integration of ICT helps to develop strong local human resources to preserve the landscape of the World Heritage Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.
In another note, the laboratory initiated the first practice introducing database for preservation of the national Intangible Culture Heritage (ICH) happened in Samoa. Recently, we work with the Government of Bhutan to formulate policy for integrating ICT in education.
Yamaguchi-Takada laboratory have been involved in long-term community-based projects and effective use of ICT in various field. For such close collaboration, Prof. Yamaguchi received the “Polar Star” medal from president of Mongolia and Honorary medal of Khentii Province. Prof. Takada was also awarded the Bayanhongor Government Award. And our laboratory received labor Labour Medal at Luang Prabang 15th anniversary.
As the guideline for our daily activities, members of Yamaguchi-Takada laboratory proposed “7 principles” of the laboratory. The latest version of the “7 principles” can be found below.
