CATS will hold the Tourism Online Forum Series (TOFS) vol.48 on Thursday, May 8. Anyone is welcome to attend. We look forward to your participation.

Understanding Preferences in Community Participation & Applying Randomized Conjoint Analysis to Tourism Research

Abstract:
The study explores teacher retention in rural Myanmar, a critical aspect of educational reform vital for community revitalization. Addressing the issue of chronic teacher shortages in rural areas, the research uses an improved conjoint analysis to identify workplace attributes influencing the preferences of education graduates from Yangon University of Education. Key findings reveal that secure housing and higher salaries are significant motivators, while preferences vary across clusters based on gender and unobservable factors. The study highlights a dichotomy between teachers viewing their roles as either “jobs” (prioritizing financial incentives) or “callings” (valuing altruistic, community-focused attributes). Policymakers are urged to implement multifaceted strategies that accommodate these diverse motivations to improve teacher retention. By enhancing teacher satisfaction, this approach aims to boost education quality, thereby fostering long-term socio-economic benefits in rural communities. This research provides a framework for aligning educational policies with broader community revitalization goals.

Hosted by: Hokkaido University, Center for Advanced Tourism Studies (CATS)

Date/Time: Thursday 8 May 2025  |  18:30-20:00 (JST)

Venue: Online (Zoom Webinar)

Language: English

Capacity: 50 persons

Participation fee: Free to join (pre-registration system)

Speaker: Dr. Ben Blevins
Bio:
Ben Blevins, Ph.D., is a development economist with extensive experience in education and socio-economic research in low- and middle-income countries. Currently an independent researcher based in Djibouti, he has co-authored studies focusing on youth employment preferences, gender inequality, and multilingual education. His past roles include consultancy work with UNICEF, where he contributed to key educational development projects in Southeast Asia and Kazakhstan. Ben’s expertise includes leading data analysis, producing policy briefs, and conducting field-based research in countries like Nepal, Myanmar, and Kenya. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Development Economics from Hiroshima University, Japan, and an MSc.Econ. in International Relations from the University of Wales. Proficient in multiple languages, he is committed to advancing education policies and sustainable development initiatives globally.

Moderator: Dr. Meng Qu

Registration:
Please register at the URL below.
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lzt4uh9uReCtA7RjqAdtdA

Contact:
Hokkaido University, Center for Advanced Tourism Studies (CATS)
online-forum(at)cats.hokudai.ac.jp
*Please replace the (at) part with @.