Former International PhD students
Bugi Sumirat
Australian Centre for International Agricultural research (ACIAR) scholarship
Social capital of farmer forest groups in Indonesia
Bugi, who is from Indonesia, commenced his Masters in 2007 with an up-grade to PhD in 2009. Bugi’s research explored the social relationships and activities of farmer forest groups – a form of social capital- in two case study regions in Indonesia (South Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara). Bugi’s supervisors were Dr Digby Race and Dr Joanne Millar. He was based at the Albury-Wodonga campus.
Viengxay Photakoun
ACIAR scholarship
Evaluation of capacity building for livestock extension in Lao PDR
Viengxay , who is from Laos, commenced his Masters in 2007. His study evaluated the effectiveness of capacity building methods for livestock extension staff across a range of livestock projects in the northern provinces of Laos. The results will assist the Lao government and NGOs in designing appropriate training and on the job learning opportunities for staff who work with farmers. Viengxay’s research was based on qualitative interviews with program managers, field staff and district managers. He was supervised by Dr Joanne Millar and Dr Digby Race. EASLP Project link
Kim Alexander
Industry funded CSU scholarship
Agricultural change in Lao PDR : pragmatism in the face of adversity
Kim Alexander completed her doctoral thesis in 2007 on agricultural change in the uplands of Lao PDR. She conducted
a survey of 30 villages in the district of Xieng Ngeun, Luang Prabang province to determine changes to their cropping and livestock systems as a result of Lao government policy to eradicate shifting cultivation. Kim’s research also examined the growing role of markets in driving farming decisions for those villages with road and river access. Kim is now working with CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems group in Canberra. She was supervised by Dr Joanne Millar. Link to Project Summary.