In December 2009, the Asia Health Policy Program celebrates the first anniversary of the launch of the AHPP working paper series on health and demographic change in the Asia-Pacific. The series showcases research by AHPP’s own affiliated faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scholars, as well as selected works by other scholars from the region.

To date AHPP has released eleven research papers in the series, by authors from China, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Pakistan, and the US, with more on the way from Japan and Vietnam. Topics range from “The Effect of Informal Caregiving on Labor Market Outcomes in South Korea” and “Comparing Public and Private Hospitals in China,” to “Pandemic Influenza and the Globalization of Public Health.”  The working papers are available at the Asia Health Policy website.

AHPP considers quality research papers from leading research universities and think tanks across the Asia-Pacific region for inclusion in the working paper series. If interested, please contact Karen Eggleston.

A 2009 article in China Education Daily highlights REAP's work in Shaanxi Province.

"A newly published two-year study on high school students in Shaanxi Province's eight poorest counties reveals insight on how scholarship money can affect the college decision making process. If scholarships are offered to poor students before they write their "zhiyuan" form, they are more likely to choose colleges and majors they are interested in, rather than free normal colleges and cheaper professional colleges. How much does scholarship money affect the decision-making process for a student's college and major? What kind of scholarship policy will best work in China? If we promise scholarships to students before they fill out their "zhiyuan" form, what kind of difference will it make? The "Shaanxi Study" offers valuable insights."

An "International Workshop on Evaluation With Participation (EWP)" was held in Beijing between August 21st and 23rd. This is one of the series of activities organized by the Rural Education Action Project (REAP) in order to share its projects and research progress with the general public.

The Policy Forum on Rural Education Challenges in China was held on the first day (August 21st). Professor Jikun Huang, the Director of the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy (CCAP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Dr. Jin He, the Ford Foundation's Program Officer, gave the opening address. Dr. Linxiu Zhang, Deputy Director of CCAP and Director of REAP-China, chaired the opening ceremony. During the day, REAP team members and collaborators shared their most recent research findings on multiple topics: nutrition and education in rural areas, rural boarding school management, barriers to higher education for the rural poor, and the migrant children's education . Experts from other organizations were also invited to share the results from their research.

From August 22nd to 23rd, Paul Glewwe, a professor from the University of Minnesota, gave a two-day intensive training on the "Methods for Project Evaluation." At Glewwe's side was Professor Scott Rozelle, the Co-Director of REAP from Stanford University, who summarized the presentation with his fluent Chinese and translated on the spot.

Nearly 140 participants from government organizations, universities, research organizations, NGOs, businesses, and the media, attended the policy forum and the methodology training. The participants all agreed that the training was very helpful. They also expressed their keen interest in building up their research capacities through similar training workshops in the future. 

On July 31, 2009, the Education Economic Seminar Series held its first meeting at the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy (CCAP). Professor Linxiu Zhang moderated the meeting, while Doctor Yingquan Song jumpstarted the series by presenting his research on the "Information and Educational Choices of Junior High Students in Rural China."

The meeting was attended by various professors and graduate students from universities and research institutions in both China and America, including CCAP, Stanford University, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Peking University, Beijing Normal University, and Renmin University. Doctor Song's presentation was followed by a heated and in-depth discussion. Attendees debated and brainstormed ideas for the next step in Song's research.

During the meeting, Professor Linxiu Zhang, the co-director of REAP and the deputy director of  CCAP, introduced the idea behind the Seminar Series. Jointly founded by REAP, CCAP, Peking University's China Institute for Educational Finance Research, and Beijing Normal University's School of Economics and Business Administration, the goal of the Seminar Series is to foster creative dialogue among researchers on the development of Education Economics and its role in society. They plan to meet each quarter to discuss fresh ideas and exchange research results. Professor Scott Rozelle from Stanford University, also the co-director of REAP, stresses that once the Seminar Series has started, it needs to continue in order to provide a platform for continuous dialogue among those in the field.

REAP Managing Director Brian Sharbono gave a talk entitled "Rural Education in China: Lessons and Approaches from the Field" to an audience that included representatives from the Zigen Foundation and the Rural China Education Foundation.

REAP Director Scott Rozelle and Managing Director Chengfang Liu gave a joint talk entitled "The Role of Worms in Iron Deficiencies in China's Northwest Rural Areas:Results from a Randomized Control Trial" in Shanghai, China.

REAP China Director Linxiu Zhang and Managing Director Liu Chengfang gave a joint talk entitled "Nutrition, Education and the Performance of Primary School Students in Poor Rural China" at a Chinese Academy of Sciences seminar.

REAP Director Scott Rozelle gave a talk to investment group Dodge and Cox Investments entitled "China’s Shifting Economy, the Plight of Migrant Workers and Shaping the Hope for China’s Recovery/Future Development: China’s Education Challenge."