The Korean Local Government Centre Sydney and UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance (UTS:IPPG) co-hosted a seminar for a visiting delegation of 15 provincial governor’s from the Republic of South Korea titled Revitalising Economies on 21 June 2016. The delegation was interested in learning about better ways for Korean local governments to boost local and regional development.
The delegation was welcomed to UTS by Associate Professor Roberta Ryan, Director of UTS:IPPG and UTS Centre for Local Government (UTS:CLG).
Ms Kim, the Director General of the Korean Local Government Centre Sydney introduced the seminar.
Four presenters shared their perspective on the seminar topic of Revitalising Economies.
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana region:
Project Officer Nicole Payne provided an overview of RDA’s activities in the Orana Region. This included a case study of the Korean Apprenticeship Project that is matching identified skill shortages in the ORANA region with South Korean apprentices. The Korean population is under skilled and the Korean government is seeking to raise the skill levels. The apprenticeship program provides the opportunity for apprentices to be trained up while providing labour for ORANA businesses. These skills can then be utilised when the trained apprentices return to South Korea upon completion of their apprenticeship.
Greater Sydney Commission (GSC):
Neil Selmon, Consultant Advisor to the GSC, provided an overview of the newly instituted GSC and the use of governance to support regional and local infrastructure planning to deliver improved outcomes for local communities. Ways to achieve collaboration and cooperation across local areas to deliver outcomes are under consideration.
City Of Sydney (CoS):
Executive Manager Creative City Alex Bowen provided a photographic presentation highlighting how CoS Festivals and events have evolved over the years along with the way City spaces are used. The CoS runs a number of festivals and partners on others. Festival participants feedback is valued and the CoS has responded to what they hear. One example ‘Art and About’ which has gone from a once a year event to a monthly event. It includes a variety of events some of which may only last 24 hours, there one day, gone the next but leaving a lasting memory on the users of the space who experienced the event.
UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance:
Professor of Urban Studies with the IPPG Lee Pugalis provided a Global City perspective highlighting the most pertinent challenges facing global cities and regions in the twenty-first century. Lee identified key international trends arising from globalisation and discussed new opportunities in respect of revitalising cities that are altering intergovernmental relations.
The seminar concluded with lunch.