Geographic Information Science for Urban and Regional Development


Asian-African-German Summer School in Laos

Geographical Information Science

Asia meets Africa - GIS for Urban and Regional Development
in Vientiane, 21 September - 4 October 2008

 

The Summer School has been organised by ForUm, an international network of urban experts, spearheaded by the Department of Geography, University of Cologne (Germany) and financially supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

 

North–South–South Cooperation 

The Summer School programme focused on an active North-South-South dialogue in the field of worldwide urbanisation and provided a platform for a North-South-South dialogue among participants and networks from Africa, Asia and Europe. 

Stakeholders from universities, institutions, the private sector, practitioners and civil society groups, including local partners and non-university partners were sharing their experiences and expertise.

Participants from:
Austria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Sudan, Thailand, Uganda and Vietnam 		working in:
Universities, Development Agencies, Urban Planning, Government and Non - Government Bodies, Economy, etc.

Capacity Enhancement

In the context of increasing globalisation, worldwide processes of urbanisation and regional development are of growing importance for research, teaching and capacity enhancement, particularly in regard to development policy and economic cooperation.

Sharing of Expertise and Contacts

  • “Best practice examples” were presented and discussed as well as ”needs and challenges” in the field of urban and regional planning.
  • Presentations and discussions were complemented with workshops.
  • International networks and institutions (ForUm, Z_GIS, ITT, GAWN, GTZ, InWEnt, etc.) introduced their exchange and study programmes.
  • Concrete ideas and opportunities for future co- operation and common exchange programmes has been developed and documented. 
CONFERENCE TOPICS
  • GIS for resource and land management
  • GIS and livelihoods
  • GIS in disaster and hazard management
  • Management and decision support by GIS
  • International exchange and GIS study programmes
  • Opportunities of future cooperation

 

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