Rieko Hayakawa

Completed 2017: PhD

Thesis Title:

Possibility of Telecommunication Universal Service in the Pacific Islands: case studies of Vanuatu, PEACESAT and USPNet

Thesis Abstract:

This thesis examines the meaning of telecommunication for the remote islands and rural areas of the Pacific Islands through the application and assessment of the 'Capability Approach', which was developed and used by Amartya Sen in his book, Development as Freedom (1999), in which he argues that development means freedom of choice and achievement. This research also makes a major contribution to the study of ICT4D (Information and Communications Technology for Development) and the development of telecommunications in the Pacific Islands, by examining the historical background of communication, and case studies of Vanuatu and PEACESAT with USPNet. In the Pacific, thousands of small islands are scattered in the ocean, which occupies a third of the surface area of the Earth. Each small island is far from the major economic centres and many have small populations. Due to their economic scale, uneven developments and Western colonization policy, many islands did not have a telecommunication service for a century after telecommunication was developed globally in the 19th century. In the 1970s, during the Cold War, many Pacific Islands had an opportunity to use a free second-hand satellite from the United States, which enabled them to provide higher education services and to manage their fisheries. In the 2000s, deregulation and competition were introduced to the Pacific Island counties (PICs) and Universal Service (which provided a telecommunication service to the whole population) was finally achieved in some PICs, such as Vanuatu. This study presents research in measuring the capability of ICT users, policymakers and providers, with interviews in Vanuatu using the 'storytelling approach' and policy document research on USPNet and PEACESAT. The results of this research (both archival and fieldwork) tell us about the dynamism of development and people using ICT to magnify their Capability. Other case studies tell us that Capability does not belong to technology but to people and what they want to do.

Supervisors:

Associate Professor Vijay Devadas

Associate Professor Jenny Bryant-Tokalau (Te Tumu)

Personal Information:

Since 1991, working for Pacific Islands as Project Officer of the Sasakawa Pacific Island Nations Fund. One of the main achievements is upgrade USPNet project with Japanese ODA. Although main focus was ICT and Education, I was in charge of variety of projects such as journalism, cultural heritage, and policy reform and making.

Conferences:

Rieko Hayakawa, Project Coordinator Sasakawa Peace Foundation “Ocean Management by the Pacific Islands and ICT4D”, Public Symposium on Islands and Oceans, 27 October 2013, “Towards New Island Studies Project”, International Institute for Okinawan Studies University of Ryukyus
Rieko Hayakawa, “USPNet – as Regional Political Will for Development of their Human Resources”, 12th Pacific Science Inter-Congress, 8-12 July 2013, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay Campus, Suva, Fiji
Rieko Hayakawa, PhD scholar Otago University, Project Coordinator Sasakawa Peace Foundation, “Mobilizing Pacific Islanders”, Organized by International Institute for Okinawan Studies, Ryukyus University, Naha, Okinawa, January 2012
Rieko Hayakawa, “Capability approach for ICT4D“, 8.4 Policies and Economical issues on eLearning and eHealth in Pacific, SUBTHEME 8: 
Science for Policy and the Future, The 22nd Pacific Science Congress, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 14-17 June, 2011
Rieko Hayakawa, Visiting Researcher, Keio University, “Pacific Commons - Backbone Network for the Pacific Islands”Pacific Telecommunication Council in Honolulu, 17-20 January 2010
2008 13-14 March 2008, “Pacific Islands Telecommunication and Distance Education” at the “Asia Pacific Initiative (API) 2008 Partnership Workshop” , UNU
2007, August, Best B., Hayakawa R., “Telecenters in Micronesia”, PacINet2007, Solomon Islands
January 6-9, 2006, 4th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education ”Web Education Materials for the Micronesia Diaspora”
Guest “Sunday Café Radio NHK, March 2003
Guest Lecturer, “Enjoy Learning through Talk and Live: BeGood Café “Love Islands 2002 Disappear Pacific Islands” co-organizer FoE Japan, 20 July 2002, Tokyo
Lecture “Digital Divide and Pacific Islands: Japan's cooperation in the future” JICA Training program for the Pacific Private Sector 14 July 2000 JICA TIC
”Task Force on Globalization” The 19th Pacific Science Congress（held between 4th-9th July1999 at the University of New South Wales）”
Poster session, The 9th International Development Academic Conference held between 24-25th October 1998.1
Lecture “Meaning and Cases of Volunteer activities for Community” Ministry of Post and Telecommunications Training Center 12 Nov. 1998

Publications:

Book & Report:
Hayakawa. R, Chapter 9, “Politics, economics and regional cooperation of Pacific Islands” in Kikuchi and Hata (eds), “Latin America, Oceania” World Politics series 6, Minerva Press, April 2012.
Hayakawa, Rieko; Richard Guy and Toshio Kosuge (editors): “Distance Education in the South Pacific: Nets and Voyages” Institute of Pacific Studies, The University of the South Pacific and The Sasakawa Pacific Island Nations Fund 2000. ISBN 982-02-0143-8
Rieko Hayakawa (Editor) “Report of Pacific Islands Digital Opportunities (PIDO) Research Committee :Creating New Value and Knowledge for Pacific Islanders”

Papers:
Hayakawa R., “Why We Travel - What 'Homo Mobilitas' Can Teach The Pacific- “, 2008 January, Pacific Magazine (Hawaii)
Hayakawa R., Higa C., Wasem C., in press “The Role of Telehealth in Pacific Island Human Resource for Health (HRH) Development: An Environmental Scan of Past Experiences and Potential Developments”, Proceeding of the Asia Pacific Telecommunity Telemedicine Initiative, 21st Pacific Congress Okinawa, 15-16 June 2007, Okinawa, Japan
Hayakawa R., “International Cooperation for Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development”, 30 January –1 February 2007 ”Workshop for Pacific Islands `07: Tourism Education and Cultural Heritage Management for Sustainable Development in the Pacific Region
Hayakawa R., Jason Aubuchon “Web Education Materials for Micronesian Diaspora” The 4th annual　Hawaii International Conference on Education, January 6th-9th, 2006, Honolulu
Hayakawa R., “Okinawa as the Springboard to Pacific Island Nations - Making Okinawa the base for a Japanese Pacific frontier diplomacy”, SPF Voices, No.47 2005 Vol3
Hayakawa R., “Kava of South Pacific”, Alcohol Health Medical Association News & Reports June 2005
Hayakawa R., “Satellite Communication and I 16”, Space Japan Review 4-5, No.16 April/May. AIAA-JFSC, 2001
Hayakawa R., “Digital Divide in the Pacific Island Nations: Universal Service and the IT revolution in the age of free competition”. PacificNews. NET, Vol. 5 No.7 August 2000, Hawaii
Hayakawa R., “Minkan no Kokusaikyoryoku: Taiheiyo no shimajima no Enkaku Kyoiku” Shichokaku Kyoiku, Vol. 54 No.12 2000
Hayakawa R. “Policy for Information Network Development in the Pacific Islands through International Cooperation: Case study of PEACESAT” Master Thesis, International Politics, Aoyama Gakuin University, 1998
Hayakawa R. “Ongaku no Sekaikara Kokusaikoryu no Sekaie; Hito to hito wo Musubi Samazama na Harmony ni Shiageru”, Kokusai Program Office, Kokusai Koeki Katsudo Kenkyukai, ALC press, 1996
Hayakawa R. “Popular Song of Oceania” , series articles for the Kikan-Oceania, 1993 Spring No.36～1997 Spring No.49
Hayakawa R. “National Anthem of Oceania” series articles for the Kikan-Oceania, 1989 Summer No.18～1993 Autumn No.35