title: Developing a quality workforce: Linking a strategic research agenda to industry
training; and Higher level skill needs and worker voice: Exploring new ground in skills
analysis.

authors: Cochrane, William

subjects: industrial relations

abstract: This presentation will pivot around the relationship between industry training, workplace productivity, worker voice, and the role of unions. Two, linked mini-papers will be presented. Both built on material presented to last year’s forum. The first minipaper summarises a template developed by the researchers in response to approaches from Industry Training Organisations. Its focus is on labour market skills forecasting. The second mini-paper breaks new ground. It outlines the broad thrust of a new research project that explores the more advanced skills required by workers in order to participate effectively in high performance (manufacturing) workplace schemes. Underpinning both mini-papers is the researchers’ central focus on the ways in which on-the-job union activity, the redesign of work, workers’ education and training, and employee involvement at the workplace can come together in order to provide workers with a ‘voice’ both in their work and in the wider society.
The mini-papers assume that workplace productivity is central not only to the growth of the New Zealand economy, but also to union renewal and the achievement of the union movement’s social agenda. But they also recognise that for unions and workers the present emphasis on the ‘knowledge society’ will fall short of their economic and social aspirations unless it looks well beyond the myopic horizon of narrow, inherently self-limiting, skills training. The presentation will end with an integrative conclusion.

text: Developing a quality workforce: Linking a strategic research agenda to industry
training; and Higher level skill needs and worker voice: Exploring new ground in skills
analysis. This presentation will pivot around the relationship between industry training, workplace productivity, worker voice, and the role of unions. Two, linked mini-papers will be presented. Both built on material presented to last year’s forum. The first minipaper summarises a template developed by the researchers in response to approaches from Industry Training Organisations. Its focus is on labour market skills forecasting. The second mini-paper breaks new ground. It outlines the broad thrust of a new research project that explores the more advanced skills required by workers in order to participate effectively in high performance (manufacturing) workplace schemes. Underpinning both mini-papers is the researchers’ central focus on the ways in which on-the-job union activity, the redesign of work, workers’ education and training, and employee involvement at the workplace can come together in order to provide workers with a ‘voice’ both in their work and in the wider society.
The mini-papers assume that workplace productivity is central not only to the growth of the New Zealand economy, but also to union renewal and the achievement of the union movement’s social agenda. But they also recognise that for unions and workers the present emphasis on the ‘knowledge society’ will fall short of their economic and social aspirations unless it looks well beyond the myopic horizon of narrow, inherently self-limiting, skills training. The presentation will end with an integrative conclusion.

year: 2005

title: Malaysia and South-South cooperation: the determining factors and implications

authors: Hamid, Ahmad Faiz

abstract: This study focuses on Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation from 1986 to 1996. South-South cooperation is defined as the strategy used by developing countries to promote economic independence, to increase self-reliance, and to improve bargaining power with the developed nations. Malaysia, particularly its Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has been actively involved in South-South cooperation for more than a decade. The study attempts to identify and analyse the determining factors and the implications of Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation. The significance of this study lies in the fact that there has not been any thorough study on Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation. 

This study attempts to address four critical issues. What are the factors that influenced Malaysia’s interactions with developing countries and the implications of the relationship to both parties? What are the impacts of Mahathir’s leadership on Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation? What are the factors that influenced Mahathir’s involvement in articulating the North-South issues and what are the implications of his actions? Finally, what are the prospects and problems of Malaysia’s economic relations with developing countries, particularly with Indochina states and South Pacific countries?

In the context of determining factors, although many factors have contributed to Malaysia’s involvement, nation’s national interests, external factors and leadership variables are argued to be more significant. The study also argues that Malaysia’s high profile in voicing the North-South issues and its private sector involvement in the South has created resentment from several parties, especially from the NGOs, the Western media, the regional powers and local business groups. Finally, the study detected that South-South cooperation is an effective means for Malaysia to enhance its own economic interests.

For the case of Malaysia’s relations with the Indochina states and the South Pacific countries, the study found that Malaysia's economic interests has been a crucial determinant of the depth of the relationship. In terms of economic interests, Indochina states are more promising to the relationship than the South Pacific region. It is hoped this study will be a significant contribution to the study of Malaysian foreign policy, particularly on Malaysia’s relations with Third World countries.

text: Malaysia and South-South cooperation: the determining factors and implications This study focuses on Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation from 1986 to 1996. South-South cooperation is defined as the strategy used by developing countries to promote economic independence, to increase self-reliance, and to improve bargaining power with the developed nations. Malaysia, particularly its Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has been actively involved in South-South cooperation for more than a decade. The study attempts to identify and analyse the determining factors and the implications of Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation. The significance of this study lies in the fact that there has not been any thorough study on Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation. 

This study attempts to address four critical issues. What are the factors that influenced Malaysia’s interactions with developing countries and the implications of the relationship to both parties? What are the impacts of Mahathir’s leadership on Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation? What are the factors that influenced Mahathir’s involvement in articulating the North-South issues and what are the implications of his actions? Finally, what are the prospects and problems of Malaysia’s economic relations with developing countries, particularly with Indochina states and South Pacific countries?

In the context of determining factors, although many factors have contributed to Malaysia’s involvement, nation’s national interests, external factors and leadership variables are argued to be more significant. The study also argues that Malaysia’s high profile in voicing the North-South issues and its private sector involvement in the South has created resentment from several parties, especially from the NGOs, the Western media, the regional powers and local business groups. Finally, the study detected that South-South cooperation is an effective means for Malaysia to enhance its own economic interests.

For the case of Malaysia’s relations with the Indochina states and the South Pacific countries, the study found that Malaysia's economic interests has been a crucial determinant of the depth of the relationship. In terms of economic interests, Indochina states are more promising to the relationship than the South Pacific region. It is hoped this study will be a significant contribution to the study of Malaysian foreign policy, particularly on Malaysia’s relations with Third World countries.

year: 1999

title: Te Nahi o Te Taniwha: Teeth of the Taniwha

authors: Rout, Matthew

abstract: This report outlines the scope of the project He oranga whānau: mahi ngātahi Whānau livelihoods within the context of work and Māori economies of wellbeing, which has been funded by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga—the New Zealand Māori Centre of Research Excellence. Its purpose is to set the direction and design for the research project. To say the creation of such economies will be a complex task is an understatement. Three factors make this task a ‘wicked problem’.

text: Te Nahi o Te Taniwha: Teeth of the Taniwha This report outlines the scope of the project He oranga whānau: mahi ngātahi Whānau livelihoods within the context of work and Māori economies of wellbeing, which has been funded by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga—the New Zealand Māori Centre of Research Excellence. Its purpose is to set the direction and design for the research project. To say the creation of such economies will be a complex task is an understatement. Three factors make this task a ‘wicked problem’.

year: 2022