Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Development in Bhutan'

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2002.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 147-149).
This research examines practices that achieve an urban fabric unique to its cultural heritage by promoting innovation in local building industries while embracing notions of urban livability. Prevailing urban livability theorists argue that built form is a physical manifestation of the expression of culture and agree that cultural heritage is important to a community's sustainability and identity. The central hypothesis is that "Quality" in the built environment in Bhutan is accomplished only by employing traditional building practices. "Quality", as defined here, is achieved when two factors are satisfied: 1) the construction is equal to or above established standards and, 2) the construction practice possesses the distinct characteristics of the culture. This hypothesis is tested through five case studies of current buildings in urban centers and through various discussions with design professionals, construction practitioners, government officials and others in Thimphu, Bhutan. The Royal Government of Bhutan is at the forefront of cultural heritage initiatives and has been celebrated for its progressive Gross National Happiness (GNH) development vision, a document that articulates the criteria for defining the distinct characteristics of the Bhutanese culture. However, the government has been challenged to implement this vision while facing the rapid development of its nascent urban centers. As part of the conclusion, the thesis proposes the establishment of a research institute, The Housing Research Institute of Bhutan, for the study of responsible building practices in support of GNH. The mission would be to inform design, development and construction processes formulated from the collection and dissemination of information, promotion of knowledge exchange, and support of research on materials, regulation, management and design through building demonstration projects. The institute will act as a conduit for the convergence of information and priorities between industry, contractors, government agencies and the public.
Alexis Anne Bennett.
M.C.P.

Teacher professional development is important to provide ongoing opportunities for teachers to enhance their teaching and learning practices. This study investigated ways in which peer mentoring may support the development of a professional learning community among beginning and experienced teachers in Bhutan. A social constructivist perspective framed the approach to peer mentoring which encouraged both beginning and experienced teachers to use evidence from classroom observations and engage in social interaction during the post-lesson discussions. The study used qualitative methodology to explore and understand the teachers’ authentic experiences of peer mentoring. The participants were four groups of three teachers (two beginning and one experienced) working in four different schools in Bhutan. Multiple data sources included pre-peer mentoring survey, semi-structured interviews with the teachers, observation notes maintained by the participants and researcher’s onsite observation notes. The findings confirmed that peer mentoring provided opportunities for teachers to collaborate, discuss and share new ideas with each other. In addition, observations and discussions helped teachers analyse and refine their teaching and learning practices. Initially some beginning teachers found it difficult to provide feedback to the experienced teacher in their group but over time the observation tool and collegial discussions enabled them to provide feedback. The peer mentoring enabled beginning teachers to be more confident in their practices and provided opportunity for experienced teachers to rethink their teaching and learning practices. The findings also highlighted inherent challenges related to managing classes for observations and time constraints for post-lesson discussions. For the groups that met regularly, mentoring as a school-based professional development provided opportunities to share knowledge, resources and improve collegial support. This offered possibilities for creating an effective learning environment that supported instructional development and helped in building a professional learning community.

Bhutan is a small Buddhist country nested in the cradles of the eastern Himalayas. It has rugged mountainous terrains with altitudes ranging from 500 masl in its southern plains to 4500masl in the snowy capped mountains in north. This rugged mountainous topography blessed Bhutan with huge hydropower potential. The hydropower potential of Bhutan is estimated at 30000MW with projects above 10MW capacity as per the power system master plan. This is one of the highest in the world considering its small size. In absence of other valuable natural resources, hydropower has become the main national resources in the country. Out of huge potential, Bhutan today has 1488MW of installed hydropower project under generation illuminating about 90% of all houses in the country and feeding power to its developing industries. Because of its small size and even smaller population, the internal electricity consumption of Bhutan is small roughly 30% of its present generation. The balance power is exported to India generating the most needed revenue for the economic development of the country. Bhutan plan to construct 10000MW of hydropower projects within year 2020 among which some mega projects are already under construction.Bhutan being located in the tectonically active Himalayan geological formation faces lots of geological challenges in tunneling works. The Himalayan geology intruded by numerous geological discontinuities, and frequented by the tectonic activities poses lots of challenges for tunneling works. The Himalayan geology is very complex and rock mass properties changes greatly within small distances.The engineering geological investigation for an underground work is very important. Detailed investigation is important during the prefeasibility and feasibility study stage of the project. But the availability of funds and time are the constraining factor in performing detailed engineering geological investigations. Balance need to be made to cover most important geotechnical studies within the availability time and fund to get a reliable design.Punatsangchu II hydropower project is a runoff river scheme project being constructed along this river basin in central western part of Bhutan. In this thesis, the engineering geological study of the HRT was carried out with an aim to carry out stability assessment and support requirement for HRT. The engineering properties of the rock mass along the HRT are reviewed from the stability aspect with discussion on orientation of main foliation, joints and weakness zones with the tunnel alignment. An alternate alignment is proposed, optimizing on orientation of main foliation, shear zones and main jointing with the tunnel alignment, restricting the exercise within the same limits of the start and end point of the HRT as given in designed layout.It has been found that the topography along the HRT permits very limited alternatives for the tunnel alignment layout and the location of construction adits. The main foliation and joint orientations were taken care for the tunnel alignment. However, there are some rooms for optimization within the same limits, if taken care of could bring better benefit to the project. This possible optimization was used in the proposed alternate alignment.The rock mass characteristics and possible instability problems along the HRT alignment were also reviewed in stability study. There are very less possibility of squeezing problems along the tunnel alignment but minor instability problems could not be fully ruled out due to the low rock mass strength. With the tunnel alignment crossing two nalas, some minor seepage problems were also expected at those nala crossing areas. Possible solutions for instability and seepage problems were also recommended in the relevant cases.The NGIs Q method and Bieniawskis RMR methods were used for the rock mass classification and the support design thereof. The designed rock supports are cross checked with the standards NGIs support chart and Bieniawskis RMR guide charts. It is found that a typical conservative support approach practiced in the Indian sub continent is followed for the support system. The supports designed were on much conservative side compared with support requirement from Q support charts.Finally the supports were further checked by using Phase2 numerical modeling. The result of the numerical analysis suggests lighter supports compared with the designed support for the HRT. The adoption of the conservative methods may keep the instability problems at bay, but the cost affect can be on the higher especially when the projects suffer from fund availability.

This study of women in Bhutan is based on the country’s unique development concept known as Gross National Happiness (GNH). Whereas in most countries, a western approach to development concentrates on increasing Gross Domestic Product to improve a country’s economy, Bhutan follows a different approach based on improving the general well-being of the people. The thesis argues that Bhutan has relegated Gross Domestic Product to the background where it can be used as a means to enhance “happiness” but not as an overall goal of development and that the impacts of this on women require separate study. There are four elements that form the core of the Gross National Happiness concept: good governance, environmental conservation, cultural preservation and socio-economic development. This thesis has focused on only two elements of the GNH concept, questioning the nature of cultural preservation and socio-economic development. This is because cultural preservation is one of the areas that affects women particularly. In the path of development, many socio-economic policies inadvertently discriminate against women although their intentions are gender neutral. Thus, the overall purpose of this thesis is to explore women’s position, especially in the education sector and the impact of tradition and culture on Bhutanese women. The relationship between women in Bhutan and the government policy of preserving culture is analysed in order to determine if there is conflict between preserving culture and sustaining happiness against the backdrop of the fast pace of economic development. The methodological approach for this thesis is both qualitative and quantitative. Because of the limited written material on Bhutan, it was important to talk to members of the public to explore general perceptions, feelings and opinions relating to government policies and the impact of development activities and culture on their lives and also to bring in unofficial perspectives. Participants consisted of twenty households in the village and twenty-two participants from the urban area to address urban/rural differences. Literacy is less in rural areas as is access to information and exposure to western influences. Official documents, newspapers, on-line discussion forums, school curricula and films were also drawn on to explore the role of culture and the impact of development policies on the Bhutanese people. The thesis concludes that cultural preservation, particularly when followed uncritically, remains a major obstacle to women’s empowerment towards achieving their development goals.

This study investigated Bhutanese teachers' concerns and experiences in teaching children with Special Educational Needs in both inclusive and special schools. A mixed method design, combining quantitative and qualitative methods was used to answer the research questions. The aim of collecting quantitative data was to identify the key concerns. The aim of collecting qualitative data was to find out how teachers were experiencing including students with SEN in the classrooms. In doing so, three major issues were highlighted from this study: lack of classroom and human resources, lack of policy and lack of professional development for teachers.

Being a small landlocked country located in Eastern Himalaya ranges, makes it difficult for Bhutan to secure and sustain its national food security. Thus, Bhutan highly depends on the import of food from neighboring countries. This paper aims to improve the food security in Bhutan by giving a specific focus on the egg value-chain which starts from the import of parent stocks until the consumption within the country. Methods to identify potential constraints within the value-chain and provision of possible solutions used in this paper are a combination of literature reviews, qualitative studies (interview), and personal experience/communication of the author, who had been working with the Department of Livestock in Bhutan. The results of the study indicate that animal welfare, basic farm management, and consumer education are the top three areas that all stakeholders, especially government agents, should work with interdisciplinary in order to strengthen the overall value-chain. Challenges and room for improvement in animal welfare can be found from the beginning of the value-chain, the transporting of layer Day Old Chicks (DOCs). Lack of knowledge and skills for basic farm management which includes farm data recording, egg grading, and egg labeling, are issues found in the middle of the value-chain. Lastly, in the very end of the value-chain, more education should be given to consumers regarding the health benefits and nutritional value of eggs as to alleviate the problem of low egg consumption per capita relative to other developed nations. Possible solutions provided in this paper on animal welfare standard are suggested by the international projects and organizations namely, European Animal Welfare Platform and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. For basic farm management, the government should be the one who encourages and provides skills using effective communication tools as well as law enforcement in order to improve the egg quality. At the same time, consumers should be stimulated to demand higher quality as this will be a driving force for future improvement and create higher liquidity in the market.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2002.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 125-128).
This thesis focuses on the impending urban development of the terraced rice paddies in the valley surrounding Bhutan's capital city, Thimphu. It makes the argument that this unique landscape is deeply rooted in Bhutanese culture and its preservation can provide Bhutan with environmental, cultural and economic benefits. Escalating development pressures are such that the government cannot salvage the paddies at any cost, but sensitive development strategies can mitigate development's impact on the terraced land and the bodies of water that have supported life in the valley for centuries. This thesis argues that it is possible and necessary to absorb the current and predicted growth without obliterating the valley's previous use. The Royal Government's agendas to maintain Bhutan's living cultural heritage, sustainable "middle path" development strategy, and self-sufficiency cannot be fulfilled if agricultural land is not valued as a resource. Issues of government capacity, coordination between the Ministries, reliance on modern methods of development, and the exclusion of agricultural land in the nation's conservation efforts have prevented a holistic development plan from being realized. In response, this thesis offers six guiding principles that can help preserve the cultural, agricultural, and natural landscape. Stressing the environmental and cultural risks involved in rapid development of the traditional landscape, the principles offer recommendations to value traditional sources of livelihood, undeveloped land, environmentally and culturally sensitive development, and the inclusion of communities through participation. They provide sustainable development approaches that balance and recognize the cultural, environmental, and economic value of the farmland and existing housing settlements. An overview of international urban development precedents that demonstrate these principles offer insight on how Bhutan can remedy these risks and benefit economically. Last, specific mechanisms that can guide the government in their development process will make preservation of the traditional landscape realistic. In conclusion, Bhutan can provide culturally and environmentally sensitive urban development that does not detrimentally impact the landscape and its inhabitants.
Rosemary Carolyn Dudley.
M.C.P.

Die vorliegende Dissertation widmet sich methodischen und empirischen Forschungsfragen mit Bezug auf saisonale Arbeitsmärkte und Politiken zur nachhaltigen Nutzung natürlicher Ressourcen. Hierfür wird ein gesamtwirtschaftlicher Modellierungsansatz angewendet, für den das im südöstlichen Himalaya gelegene Königreich Bhutan als empirische Fallstudie dient. Das methodische Forschungsziel der Arbeit ist, die Relevanz der Darstellung von saisonalen Arbeitsmärkten innerhalb von allgemeinen Gleichgewichtsmodellen (sog. CGE Modelle) zu ergründen. Dies stellt eine Neuheit in der Literatur dar. Die Arbeit zeigt auf, dass Modelle ohne saisonale Arbeitsmärkte systematisch Ergebnisse, wie Angebotsreaktionen und Wohlstandseffekte, verzerren. Die Saisonalität von Arbeit hat eine hohe Relevanz für gesamtwirtschaftliche Analysen im Kontext landwirtschaftlich geprägter Volkswirtschaften, insbesondere für Untersuchungen des Strukturwandels und agrarpolitischer Interventionen. Empirisch wird die wechselseitige Abhängigkeit von Politiken zum nachhaltigen Management natürlicher Ressourcen mit Zielen des Umweltschutzes und der ländlichen Entwicklung untersucht. Basierend auf unterschiedlichen Modellierungsansätzen, konzentrieren sich drei Studien auf agrar- und forstpolitische Szenarien in Bhutan. Es wird gezeigt, dass Bhutans Ziel, seinen landwirtschaftlichen Sektor auf 100% ökologische Landwirtschaft umzustellen, zu substantiellen Wohlfahrtsverlusten und negativen Folgen für die Ernährungssicherung führen würde. Die Analyse verschiedener forstpolitischer Szenarien demonstriert, dass eine höhere Forstnutzung in Bhutan im Sinne der gesamtwirtschaftlichen und ländlichen Entwicklung nachhaltig möglich ist. Die Arbeit weist auf verschiedene zukünftige Forschungsfelder hin, wie zum Beispiel die Integration von Ökosystemdienstleistungen, was als eine der wesentlichen Einschränkungen bei der modellgestützten Analyse von Politiken zur Nutzung natürlicher Ressourcen identifiziert wurde.
Using an economy-wide modelling approach, this dissertation investigates methodological and empirical research questions related to seasonal labour markets and natural resource policies. The Kingdom of Bhutan, located in the south-eastern Himalayas, serves as a case study. The methodological research objective of this thesis is to gain an understanding of the relevance of seasonal labour markets in the context of economy-wide modelling. The depiction of seasonal labour markets at national scale using a seasonal social accounting matrix (SAM) and computable general equilibrium (CGE) model presents a novel development within the literature. It is demonstrated, that the absence of seasonal labour markets leads to systematic bias of model results. The consequences are distorted supply responses and biased welfare effects, underlining the pivotal implications of seasonality for economy-wide analysis in the context of agrarian economies, particularly for scenario analysis involving structural changes and agricultural policy interventions. The empirical research objective addresses the interdependence of natural resource policies with objectives of environmental conservation and rural development. Employing modelling techniques, three studies focus on specific agricultural and forest policy scenarios in Bhutan. Simulating Bhutan’s ambitious policy objective to convert to 100% organic agriculture demonstrates substantial welfare losses and adverse impacts on food security, causing trade-offs with objectives of rural development and food self-sufficiency. Analysing forest policy reforms shows that increased forest utilization contributes to economic development, particularly in rural areas, without jeopardizing the country’s forest conservation agenda. The dissertation points at numerous areas of future research, as for example the incorporation of ecosystem services, which is identified as one key limitation of economy-wide analysis of natural resource policies.

This thesis explores if and how Bhutan can maintain its Carbon Neutral pledge, in light of its growing economy and increasing Greenhouse Gas, while continuing its pursuit of its Gross National Happiness (GNH) strategy as part of its development commitments. It investigates the complex interplay between these three core goals and options for their integration, thus establishing a model for how the development nexus can be resolved for emerging economies.