Details below from Gregory MacRae, Canterbury University.

If you are interested in this short term 2 weeks assistance position please follow up with Greg – and/or please forward to anyone else you know who may be interested.

Perhaps someone working on another project in the wider region could include as part of a planned trip?

This is one of those special assignments where a New Zealander with the interest, experience and communication skills is likely to be able to make a positive contribution.

Please let us know if you or someone else you know is interested in doing this.

From: Gregory MacRae <gregory.macrae@canterbury.ac.nz>
Sent: Monday, March 4, 2024 9:12 PM
To: Graeme Carroll <Graeme.Carroll@globalreachassociates.com>
Subject: Educational Opportunity in Pakistan

Dear Graeme,

I was wondering if there is any interest in the following…. I am committed at that time and cannot come. However, such an effort by an appropriate person would create a lot of goodwill.

The email for the natural hazards inc. business cluster is below.

Kind wishes, Greg

Dear Natural Hazards Inc. Business Cluster,

I have been approached by the organisers of a joint programme about the possibility of us (NZ Inc.) sending someone to provide some lectures to support the following short course. I am writing to you to seek your advice, and ideas about such support. Details are below.

A joint programme between COMSTECH-RAEE-NED plans to run a short two week training course on “Disaster Resilient Structures” at NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan from the following dates: 22 April – 3 May 2024. Earthquake, fire, flood and tsunami are included in this training programme considering both technical and societal consequences. A flyer for the course is here.

COMSTECH is the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation. It is one of the four standing committees of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) dedicated to promoting and coordinating science and technology activities among OIC member states. The core mandate of COMSTECH includes strengthening cooperation in science and technology, enhancing capabilities through training in emerging areas, implementing OIC resolutions, and fostering a scientific culture for socio-economic development and rapid industrialization. RAEE is the Russian Association of Earthquake Engineering, and NED University of Engineering & Technology is one of the oldest and best engineering universities in Pakistan, acknowledged for its best teaching practices and graduates.

The audience of the short course is teaching staff in Pakistan, other OIC countries, and Russia. There are likely to be about 15-20 participants. The aim is to empower these teachers with knowledge and tools so that they may instruct their students and thereby increase the safety and wellbeing of people, as well as the resilience of infrastructure. The emphasis will be on providing strong fundamental knowledge on which the attendees and their students can later build.

This course is the first step. Future steps could involve experts being sent to a few OIC developing countries to train larger groups of people at home.

A number of capable teachers from NED University, Russia, and elsewhere will lead this. I have been approached because there is the possibility for us to also participate and support their efforts. This may involve sharing of NZ information from our recent experiences, engaging in discussions with participants, delivering some lectures, and other activities as needed.  Our involvement will be at our own expense as there is no funding from the joint programme. If we can provide lectures, the course organisers are happy to work around our lectures to avoid excessive duplication.

I am writing to seek your advice regarding the possibility of sending someone. This person should not only be capable technically, but should also an excellent communicator, and culturally suitable.

I look forward to communicate with you regarding this. We probably need to make a plan in the next week or so, since the course starts in a few weeks, and the organisers need time to plan.

Sincerely,

Greg

PS. I am also sending this to NZSEE ManComm too, as they may also have some ideas.

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