Date: June 4, 2007 (Monday)
Time: 12:30 – 14:00 (sandwich lunch from 12:30 –12:45; seminar begins at 12:45)
Venue: Mrs Chen Yang Foo Oi Telemedicine Centre, 2/F, William MW Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

Abstract:
Most developed countries are seeking to attract a greater proportion of skilled migrants, creating a tension between immigration and development policies. The idea that the developed world is "poaching" the medical staff of the developing world is become a sensitive issue with countries of origin and countries of destination seeking to manage the flows. Ethical recruitment policies, restrictions on exit and bonding are among a battery of policies being implemented. This seminar will assess the validity of these policies and go on to argue that the reality is a lot more complex that simply developed country gain against developing country loss. Levels of training, appropriate skills and distribution of skills within country all need to be factored into the equation. Links between public and non-state providers are important. The seminar will also consider the much promoted idea of the diaspora in the solution to the perceived erosion of health providers in the developing world.

Bio-sketch:
Ronald Skeldon is a Professorial Fellow in Geography at the University of Sussex, UK. He is part of the Development Research Centre on Globalization, Migration and Poverty at the University of Sussex that is supported by the Department for International development of the UK Government where he coordinates the research on skilled migration. He was from 1982 to 1996 on the Faculty of the University of Hong Kong and has been a staff member of the United Nations and a consultant to many international organizations. He has published widely in the area of population migration and development with a focus on Asia.

Registration:
For registration and enquiries, please call Ms Maggie Cheuk at 2819-2841 or email mhrn@hkusua.hku.hk