NEWS

From April 1, 2013, APU hosted a total of nine public officials from African government bodies including industry and trade ministries for the JICA backed “Community Capacity and Rural Development – Focusing on One Village One Product – for African Countries”. This program ran for approximately two weeks and concluded on April 12.

Held under the theme of Capacity Development, this training program aimed to equip trainees with the skills needed to develop a basic outline and course of action for the creation of achievable regional development policy frameworks in their home countries, development strategies, project plans, and more. This training program welcomed civil servants from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda.

In addition to lectures covering theory, evaluation, and case studies of community development, trainees participated in lectures and on-site visits in Oyama-Machi and other locations around Oita Prefecture. They also learned about Beppu Hatto Onpaku, after which they experienced the program first hand. In Oyama-Machi, the trainees were able to stay overnight in family lodges and interact with the locals.

During the program closing ceremony, the Deputy Director of Industrial Support Services at the Kenyan Ministry of Industrialization, Ms. DEDE Pamela Adhiambo, spoke on behalf of the trainees: “This training program taught me just how important it is to focus on local resources. My approach towards regional development has switched 180degrees”.

Under the auspices of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), APU has been accepting trainees from all over the world since 2006. Until AY2012, a total of 41 training programs have been held inviting 536 trainees from 53 different countries. In AY2013 APU plans to welcome trainees from Eastern Europe, Central and Southern America, Africa and the Asia Pacific region.