Social Science Research Council

Final Workshop and Award Ceremony of the VASS-SSRC Interdisciplinary Social Science Research Training Program

From October 18-19, 2004, twenty program participants presented their research reports in a final workshop organized by the course faculty and Project Management Board.

The reports were based on preliminary analysis of data collected during three weeks of fieldwork at Van Giang Ward and Khanh Mau Village in Ninh Binh Province. They covered diverse topics such as youth and education, household economy and living standards, health, HIV/AIDS, and the society. The presentations were professional and demonstrated an enhanced understanding of the link between theory and research, social science as a policy input, and practical applications of the skills and knowledge acquired in the course of the nine-month intensive training. Each presenter fielded questions from the faculty, the PMB, and other trainees, and received comments and suggestions for improvement and further exploration.

Attendants of the workshop also included Dr. Do Hoai Nam (VASS President), Dr. Mike DiGregorio (Ford Foundation Program Officer), members of the Project Management Board, and the heads of some of the participant's affiliations.

At the award ceremony, certificates of achievement were awarded to the twenty Program 2 participants. Five participants received special recognition for outstanding performance.