Training needs analysis for development in the Greater Mekong Subregion, Journal of GMS Development Studies, Vol. 1, pp. 1-29

Abstract

Human resource limitations, particularly skill and knowledge gaps, have been identified by Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries as well as by bilateral and multilateral agencies as a major obstacle to growth and economic development in the subregion. In late 2003, the Mekong Institute in Khon Kaen, Thailand, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Phnom Penh Plan Program, and the Greater Mekong Subregion Tertiary Education Consortium(GMSTEC) jointly carried out a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) study to obtain a better understanding of the priority training needs of people working in the public, nongovernment, and business sectors of the six GMS countries. The analyzed results from 140 interviews and 760 detailed questionnaires completed by senior to middle-level officials in the GMS are presented as prioritized training needs. The questionnaire data was statistically verified and integrated with respondents’ perceptions — obtained during interviews — of difficulties in implementing effective capacity-building programs, and barriers preventing integration of newly acquired knowledge and skills into the workplace. The paper suggests a possible capacity-building strategy for GMS organizations, donor agencies, and training providers.