First Global Tibetan Professionals’ Summit Gets Underway
[Monday, 6 September 2010, 12:47 p.m.]
Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche (1st L) speaks at the opening session of a three-day global Tibetan professionals’ summit in Dharamsala, India, on 6 September 2010. Also seen in the picture are Dr Y S Rajan, (C) Eminent Indian Scientist and co-author, India Vision 2020 and Kalon Tempa Tsering, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Bureau in New Delhi/Photo by Tenzin Dhonyoe/RFA |
Dharamshala:
A group of Tibetan professionals and entrepreneurs have gathered in
Dharamsala to discuss ways to “harness the power of professionalism and
a develop of shared vision to strengthen the Tibetan community in
exile”.A three-day first Global Tibetan Professionals Summit
organised by the New Delhi-based Empowering the Vision began this
morning at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.In his
inaugural address, Kalon Tempa Tsering spoke about “the collective
efforts made by the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the
organisers in bringing together Tibetan professionals to engage them in
the community development”.There has been growing number of
Tibetans having expertise in various professionals fields. “In the last
50 years in exile our efforts were restricted to learn vocational
skills for only short-term goals, but now there has been gradual turn
of focus towards achieving professionalism,” Kalon Tempa Tsering said.He,
however, underlined that “facilities and opportunities should be in
place to develop Tibetans in various of professional courses”.Addressing
the meeting, Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche defined the term
professional as one who does not follow other’s direction blindly, but
instead uses the power of discretion and intellect in understanding and
making analyses. Kalon Tripa described the essential
characteristic of a professional as one who dedicates service for
other’s well being and community development instead of working solely
for one’s livelihood.Kalon Tripa called for the need to make
proper introspection into the failure of our community to produce
outstanding geniuses in academic and vocational fields as it was
prevalent in Tibet before 1959. He called on the professionals
not to be overwhelmed by complacency and urged them to make their
initiatives a sustainable endeavour.The participants will take
part in interactive Plenary sessions: a) State of Education in Exile by
Ven. Karma Gelek Yuthok, Secretary, Department of Education b) 50 years
of Human Capability Developments: Status and Trends in Tibetan
Population in Exile by Dr. Kunchok Tsundue, Chief Planning Officer, C)
Role of Department of Informational and International Relations on
international relations and media by Mr Tashi, Additional Secretary and
Mr Sherab Woeser, Editor of Tibetan Bulletin.They will interact
with various CTA departments in the key areas of education, economic
development, public health care, and international relations.The
key action plans adopted during the meeting would be presented to His
Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration, the
organisers said.A Global Tibetan Professionals Network (GTPN)
was initiated by ENVISION in 2008 with support from Bureau Office of
His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi. This network was envisioned
as a platform for sharing and networking and as a medium to facilitate
Tibetan professionals’ engagement with their communities.