Event (General Public): Kobe University Seminar Announcement

The Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS), Kobe University, is pleased to invite you to the following seminar series, which will be held in a hybrid format. The seminars are open to all interested participants. If you would like to attend, please register using the application form below. We look forward to your participation.

Date & Time: July 7, 2026 (Tus.) 10:30 AM–12:00PM
Topic: Internationalization of Lao Higher Education: Focused on the Strategic Plan and Operation of the National University of Laos

Speaker: Dr. Vadsana Chanthanasinh (Dean and Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics and Business Management, National University of Laos, National University of Laos)

Dr. Vadsana Chanthanasinh is the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Management (FEB) at the National University of Laos (NUOL). She holds a master’s degree in applied economics from De La Salle University, Philippines, and a Ph.D. in economic development at NUOL. Her research spans various fields, including economic development, trade, tourism, and NTM. In 2008, she was a Scholar Fellow at IDEAS-JETRO in Japan. She served as a member of the National Steering Committee for the Implementation of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Promotion Policy in the Lao PDR, also served as a member of the Executive Board of the Bank of the Lao PDR, and served as a member of the Committee Responsible for Amending the Law on Health Insurance.

Venue: Main Conference Room (1F), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS), Kobe University & Zoom
Language: English
Registration: https://forms.gle/FEanMxJRjRPRYyaNA
Seminar Announcement: https://www.gsics.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/news/entry-513.html

Date & Time: July 9, 2026 (Thu.) 1:30 PM–3:30PM
Topic: Career Seminar at The World Bank

Speaker: Dr. Shiro Nakata (Senior Economist, World Bank)

Dr. Shiro Nakata is a Senior Economist at the World Bank’s Education Global Practice and leads higher education and skills development projects and analytical works in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Previously, he worked on education projects in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa for 20 years under different development partners. He earned his PhD at Kobe University and has received an MA in Economics from Kobe University and an MRes in Social and Educational Research from the Institute of Education, London University. He likes traveling and rock climbing.

Venue: Main Conference Room (1F), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS), Kobe University & Zoom
Language: English
Registration: https://forms.gle/FEanMxJRjRPRYyaNA
Seminar Announcement: https://www.gsics.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/news/entry-505.html

Date & Time: July 15, 2026 (Wed.) 1:30 PM–3:00PM
Topic: The Emergence of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and Its Impacts on the Mekong River Basin

Speaker: Dr. Seungho Lee (Professor, Korea University; Dean of the Graduate School of International Studies and the College of International Studies)

Dr. Seungho Lee has been working at the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS), Korea University, since 2008 and now serves as Dean of GSIS as well as the College of International Studies. His research interests are institutional change in water policy, water ODA projects, and transboundary water management with reference to the Mekong River Basin, Korea, and China. He is the Director of the Brain Korea 21 Program of Glocal Studies, Korea University. Professor Lee often consults with various ministries of the Korean government, K-water, KDI, Korea EXIM Bank, UNESCO iWSSM, GGGI, and UNESCAP. He previously worked at the University of Nottingham, UK, and holds a PhD in Geography from SOAS, University of London.

Venue: Main Conference Room (1F), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS), Kobe University & Zoom
Language: English
Registration: https://forms.gle/FEanMxJRjRPRYyaNA
Seminar Announcement: https://www.gsics.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/news/entry-501.html

Date & Time: July 16, 2026 (Thu.), 3:00 PM–4:30 PM
Topic: Working in International Development

Speaker: Dr. Najung Kim (Research Professor, Korea University )

Dr. Najung Kim is a Research Professor at the Graduate School of International Studies, Korea University. Her research focuses on international education, skills development, and international development cooperation. She has worked with major international organizations, including the World Bank, UNESCO, and the OECD, on projects related to TVET, education policy, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation, and education finance in Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Mexico. She currently manages the CAMPUS Asia Exchange Program at Korea University. She earned her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University, and her M.A. in International Education from The George Washington University.

Venue: Main Conference Room (1F), Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS), Kobe University & Zoom
Language: English
Registration: https://forms.gle/FEanMxJRjRPRYyaNA
Seminar Announcement: https://www.gsics.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/news/entry-503.html

Date & Time: July 23, 2026 (Thu.), 12:30 PM–2:00 PM
Topic: Higher Education Policy, Planning and Implementation in Lao PDR

Speaker: Dr. Kaisone Phengsopha (Director-General, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, Lao PDR)

Dr. Kaisone Phengsopha is the Director-General of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, Lao PDR. Prior to his current appointment, he served for more than 20 years at the National University of Laos, where he taught natural resource policy, climate change, and policy analysis at the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research focuses on forest policy, land management, community-based forest management, and resource governance, and he is widely recognized as a leading expert on forest policy and governance in Laos. He previously served as Head of the Postgraduate Study Division, Director of the Postgraduate Study Office, and Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the National University of Laos. He received his Master’s degree from Yale University and his Ph.D. in Resource Management from the University of Melbourne.

Venue: Zoom (Online Format Only)
Language: English
Registration: https://forms.gle/FEanMxJRjRPRYyaNA
Seminar Announcement: https://www.gsics.kobe-u.ac.jp/news/entry-527.html

【Contact Information】
Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS)
Kobe University
Email: gsics-gnp[at]office.kobe-u.ac.jp
(Please replace “[at]” with “@” to use the email address.)