First Phd student of the WISDOM Project graduated

On March 25th, 2011, Pham Cong Huu successfully defended his PhD thesis at the Faculty of Math and Science of the University of Bonn. The defense took place at the Centre for Development Research, ZEF, where Pham Cong Huu worked for more than three years.

In his thesis, he investigated the planning and implementation of dyke systems in the Mekong Delta.

Drawing on findings from a one year field work in Can Tho City, Pham Cong Huu analysed positive as well as negative impacts of the dyke systems and critically looked at the different perceptions, priorities and experiences of planners, local state agents, scientific experts and involved communities. With this work, he made an important contribution to better understand planning processes and also made suggestions on how to improve upon current practices.

Shortly after his defense, Pham Cong Huu returned to Vietnam where he will resume work with the Mekong Delta Development Research Institute of the Can Tho University. His thesis will soon be published in the ZEF Development Studies Series, Lit Verlag, Germany.

Pham Cong Huu is the first out of 14 PhD students who received the PhD degree within the WISDOM project (Phase I).