SURVEY RESULT SUMMARY AND FEEDBACK

"And thanks to you guys for organizaing such a great conference. It was one of the best I have been to, in terms of interaction, feedback, networking opportunities and finding commonalities between the presenters. I am grateful that you invited me and look forward to returning next year, should there be another conference."

Best,
Kristine Eck, Uppsala University


"There was a gathering of some 60 scholars, professionals and policy practitioners of Nepali origin engaged in intellectual discussions on Nepali issues with a deep concern for its democracy and development." More Part I

" This is the general impression one could get from listening to the findings of the research studies made on Nepal. The opportunity was provided by Nepal Study Center based in University of New Mexico at Madison, Wisconsin on October 11, 2007. It is an open forum for researchers on Nepal to share their findings with a professional group hailing from all over the world. It is basically an assembly of academic exercises done in different universities the world over on Nepal." More Part II

Aditya M. Shrestha

Second Annual Himalayan Policy Research Conference (HPRC)
Organized by the Nepal Study Center ( University of New Mexico )
October 11, 2007 Pre-conference venue of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s 36 th Conference on South Asia

Of the 40 abstracts submitted initially, 26 papers were finally presented at the Second Annual HPRC 2007. The conference was organized in seven sessions, and it occupied two rooms for a whole day. A wide range of topics were covered such as: environment, poverty, inequality, conflict, natural resources, GIS, land use, remittance, ethnicity and gender. Most papers were driven by analytical approach but with deep policy implications.

On average, there were about forty to fifty participants attending the sessions at any point. Participants came from the US , Nepal , Sweden , Switzerland , and Japan . Several doctoral students also participated from various universities. Participants were served complimentary breakfast and lunch as well as snacks and drinks throughout the day. A presentation on various activities of the Nepal Study Center during the lunch hour was also well received. The conference ended with a dinner gathering at a Nepali restaurant Chautara on the State Street .

The survey responses appear below following each question:

1. This is our second annual HPRC conference. What is your opinion about continuing this event in future on a scale of 1 to 10 (10: strongly in favor)? ______

Mean = 9.7, median = 10.
(Out of 29 scores received, 26 were a perfect 10. This highly favorable rating was mostly because of the overwhelming policy focus of the research presented.)

2. NSC is thinking about putting together a proceedings volume of the conference. Would you be willing to contribute your expanded version of the abstract?
Yes ______ No ______ Not Sure ______ Not Applicable ______

90% Yes, 10% Undecided

3. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being highest), what is your likelihood of attending the HPRC in Madison next year:
  (a) if held on Thursday, like this year, ___________
  (b) if held 3 days later on the following Sunday ________________

The response was somewhat tilted towards the Thursday schedule. A group discussion among a few of us saw pros and cons with both schedules, but thought a Thursday schedule would be more attractive to those who would come there to attend the UW’s South Asia conference. It is also worth noting that the HPRC’s policy research focus complements the UW’s South Asian’s primary theme of culture, language, history, arts, and religious studies.

4. If this Conference were to be held at the University of New Mexico (during a weekend), what would be your likelihood of attending the HPRC next year on the scale of 1 to 10 (10 highest)? ______

Mean = 7.6

5. Rate the overall satisfaction with the 2007 conference on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 highest): ______

Mean = 9.7

6. NSC is taking a knowledge transfer initiative sending faculty/doctoral students to Nepal to conduct training/workshop/lectures to help Nepali scholars and institutions. Would you like to help and be contacted for this?
Yes ___ (email: _____________________________________) No ___ N/A ___

If yes, what would be the area of your skill-set? ______________________________
What time frame would you prefer? Summer ___ Fall ___ Spring ____ Other/All ____

There was a strong positive response: 75 % yes

(Knowledge skills mentioned in responses: biodiversity, GIS and remote sensing; cultural policy; econometrics; environmental economics; resource economics; women’s health issues; conservation biology; poverty and inequality; political science)

7. There has been a suggestion to change the NSC’s name to reflect its wider regional scope to help enhance participation and generate funding opportunities. Show your best choice as 1, then 2…:
Himalayan Studies Center ____ Himalayan Policy Studies Center ____
South Asia Studies Center ____ Center for Himalayan Policy Studies ____
Keep the current name: Nepal Study Center ____

Seventy five percent of the respondents preferred to widen the scope of the policy research area by changing the name of NSC. Twenty five percent preferred to name it South Asian Studies Center while a strong majority was split between Himalayan Policy Studies Center and Center for Himalayan Policy Studies. This debate will continue for a while because much of the resource currently bears the name of NSC.