ADB-Asian Think Tank Development Forum 2018
22 to 23 August 2018

Australia

The Asian Development Bank-Asian Think Tank Development Forum 2018 shared ideas and experiences among affiliated scholars on human capital and skills development programs and interventions that can boost the productivity and employability of workers for future jobs. The forum also explored emerging technologies that foster human resource development and the role of regional cooperation in addressing the challenges of developing human capital and skills.

Program and Learning Materials
Session / Activity Title Speaker(s)
Opening Ceremony Welcome Remarks Shiro Armstrong
Opening Ceremony Keynote Speech Andrew Leigh
Opening Ceremony Opening Remarks Bambang Susantono
Session 1: Regional Economic Outlook Economic Outlook and Progress of Regional Cooperation and Integration in Asia and the Pacific
The growth of developing Asian countries is expected to remain solid amid the continued robust growth in major advanced economies. Domestic demand…
Cyn-Young Park
Session 1: Regional Economic Outlook (People’s Republic of) China’s Economic Outlook and the China-US Trade Disputes
The People’s Republic of China saw steady economic momentum in the first half of 2018. Aware of potential uncertainties from domestic and…
Qiangwu Zhou
Session 1: Regional Economic Outlook Australian Economic Outlook
Australia is enjoying its 25th straight year of economic growth. Risks could arise from increasing housing prices and household debt, and weak growth…
Adam Triggs
Session 2: Expert Presentations: Upgrading Human Capital and Skills Development Introduction: Upgrading Human Capital and Skills Development for Future Asia
Asia has seen a proliferation of educated workers, non-routine cognitive jobs, and jobs in IT, finance, and communications. However, youth…
Aiko Kikkawa
Session 2: Expert Presentations: Upgrading Human Capital and Skills Development Financing Tertiary Education
Given the need to expand universities in Asia and therefore the critical role of financing, the author seeks to answer questions such as the case for…
Bruce Chapman
Session 2: Expert Presentations: Upgrading Human Capital and Skills Development Social Protection in a Competitive Economy: What Have We Learned?
Australia has a well-targeted welfare system. Gross income is unequal, but taxes and transfers make it more equal, and government invests a lot in…
Danielle Wood
Session 2: Expert Presentations: Upgrading Human Capital and Skills Development Discussant Shujaat Farooq
Session 3: Country Paper Presentations Part 1: Jobs, Skills Gap, and Skills Development Changing Task Content of Jobs in India: Implications and Way Forward
The number of non-routine cognitive jobs has surged in India, driven by technology and mostly contributed by the services sector. Routine cognitive…
Pankaj Vashisht
Session 3: Country Paper Presentations Part 1: Jobs, Skills Gap, and Skills Development Labor Market and Skills Gap in the ICT Sector in Bangladesh: An Exploratory Study
ICT is emerging as a promising sector in Bangladesh; it employs more than 200,000 people. The market size of ICT services is about $2 billion and…
Monzur Hossain
Session 3: Country Paper Presentations Part 1: Jobs, Skills Gap, and Skills Development S&T Workers for Innovation and Growth in Sri Lanka
Science and technology (S&T) workers in Sri Lanka composed 12% of employed workers in 2016. To further increase the percentage of S&T workers…
Nisha Arunatilake
Session 4: Policy Panel: Building Human Capital and Skills in Asia, Models, Policies, Issues and Challenges Panelist Radhicka Kapoor
Session 4: Policy Panel: Building Human Capital and Skills in Asia, Models, Policies, Issues and Challenges Panelist Xiaoyan Qian
Session 4: Policy Panel: Building Human Capital and Skills in Asia, Models, Policies, Issues and Challenges Panelist Carunia Firdausy
Session 4: Policy Panel: Building Human Capital and Skills in Asia, Models, Policies, Issues and Challenges Panelist Orzala Nemat
Session / Activity Title Speaker(s)
Session 5: Country Paper Presentations Part II Vocational Training and Labor Market Transition: A Randomized Experiment among Cambodian Disadvantaged Young Adults
In Cambodia, a trial provided two-month training in housekeeping, with incentives, to low-income young adults in Phnom Penh. The program found that…
Chandarany Ouch
Session 5: Country Paper Presentations Part II The Role of Private Sector in Human Capital and Skill Development in Thailand
Challenges in Thailand’s education sector include skills mismatch and employers’ low satisfaction with workers’ skills. The country’s dual vocational…
Boonwara Sumano Chenphuengpawn
Session 6: Country Paper Presentations Part III Overcoming Double Income Traps in Thailand and Myanmar
Thailand has been a middle-income country for 40 years, while Myanmar has been a low-income country for 55 years. The presenter cites evidence that…
Ngu Wah Win
Session 7: Policy Recommendations and Way Forward Forum Summary and Recommendations Venkatachalam Anbumozhi
Session 7: Policy Recommendations and Way Forward Forum Summary and Recommendations Aiko Kikkawa Takenaka
Session 7: Policy Recommendations and Way Forward ATTN Way Forward Cyn-Young Park
Session 7: Policy Recommendations and Way Forward Closing Remarks Shiro Armstrong

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Event Coordinator/s

  • Aiko Kikkawa

ADB Organizer/s

  • Economic Research and Development Impact Department

Topics

  • Education
  • Social Development and Protection