Another graduate student from CRGP is reporting in from overseas. Henry Chan was awarded the NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) fellowship, which provides funding for selected students to spend this summer in Asia conducting research with professors of their choice. The intent of the fellowship is to promote academic and cultural exchange across the Pacific. These days, Henry is working with Professor S. Ping Ho of National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan. The two met in the spring of 2007, when Professor Ho gave an invited talk at CRGP (presentation available on CRGP website). Researchers at CRGP have been very excited about Professor Ho’s research interests and Henry approached Prof. Ho upon learning about the EAPSI opportunity.

Since his arrival in late June, Henry has been working with Prof. Ho and his students on modeling international joint venture stability using game theory. Prof. Ho is an expert in analyzing infrastructure projects using game theory models. In addition, Prof. Ho has published prolifically on evaluating infrastructure projects using real option analysis, a research interest of Henry's.

Besides working with Prof. Ho and his students, Henry has also connected with practitioners and professors from other universities. In mid-July, Henry attended a regional CEM conference and met many CEM professors from Taiwan and Hong Kong. This paved the way to a series of visits including Professors Rong-Yau Huang and Jieh-Haur Chen of National Central University, Professor Yu-Lin Huang of National Chiao Tung University, and Professor Cing-Long Liao of National Taiwan University. Professors Y.L. Huang and Liao were integral parts of Taiwan's BOT development as they were responsible for drafting the current BOT/PPP laws and guidelines. In addition, Henry also interviewed two executives from CECI Engineering Consultants, Inc., the largest BOT professional service firm in Taiwan. These scholars and practitioners provided Henry with valuable comments on his PhD research of renegotiations in PPP infrastructure projects.

Before returning to the Farm in late August, Henry will make a stop at the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong and share with the CEM faculty and students about the ongoing research projects at CRGP.

Posted by rjorr at August 26, 2008 1:18 PM