The Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations

Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations

Abbreviation	HPAIR
Formation	1991
Type	Non-Profit
Purpose	International Relations
Headquarters	Cambridge, Massachusetts
Official language	English

The Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) is a non-profit organization under the Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences. HPAIR currently holds two annual conferences that bring together international students and eminent individuals in the fields of academia, politics and business - the Harvard Conference and the Asia Conference.^[1] Established in 1991 with the goal of enabling distinguished students to participate in an open forum on Asian international issues, HPAIR also promotes long-term relationships among these future leaders and connects them with current leaders in the world.^[2]

HPAIR is an organization run entirely by undergraduate students. HPAIR's Asia Conference is Harvard University's largest annual student event in Asia. Since its founding in 1991, HPAIR has held over 20 conferences in locations ranging from Mumbai^[3] to Kuala Lumpur,^[4] Currently, HPAIR holds two annual conferences: the Harvard Conference and the Asia Conference.

Harvard Conference

The Harvard Conference was first held in 2008 on the Harvard University campus. Each year, about 200 international students and Harvard students came together at the Harvard Conference to explore pertinent issues concerning the Asia region, including foreign policy, public health, environmental issues, media and entrepreneurship. Attendees have the opportunity to investigate these issues in-depth through plenary sessions, panel sessions, seminars, and case-studies.^[5]

Harvard Conference 2014

Conference Theme: The Many Faces of Asia: Shaping Identities in a Dynamic World^[6]

Dates: February 14–17, 2014 Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

Asia has transformed itself into a world superpower in the past decades. The economic success stories of Japan, the Four Tigers, and now China have been used as models worldwide. At the same time, Asia has vibrant history and culture with thousands of years of tradition that reaches far beyond its borders. As Asia spirals into faster development, how will Asia maintain its essence in such a fast-paced world? The HPAIR Harvard Conference 2014 will provide a forum to discuss the many faces of Asia in the 21st century. We will equip delegates with the tools and ideas to have the ability to shape Asia's identity that will accelerate Asia's development moving forward.

Panel Topics for the 2014 Harvard Conference include: TBA

Harvard Conference in Previous Years

^[7]

Asia Conference

The HPAIR Asia Conference is a 5-day academic program in mid-August in an Asian city. The conference integrates the contents of the academic and business world to create a hybrid structure. Delegates benefit from gaining a broader exposure to issues spanning multiple arenas, including political, social, economic, cultural, and business.

The Asia Conference started off in 1992 in Taipei, back then known as the Academic Conference. Bringing together a diverse group of speakers and about 300 graduate and undergraduate students from across the world, the Academic Conference takes the form of six workshops that explore, through research and discussion, issues ranging from environmentalism to cultural trends.

In 2004, HPAIR started the Business Conference, which invited many prominent figures from the world of business, government and law to discuss their understanding of Asia and its place in the global economy with more than 300 business students and young professionals. As of 2012, HPAIR has merged the Academic Conference and the Business Conference into a single conference, the Asia Conference. The most recent 2016 Asia Conference was co-organized by The Chinese University of Hong Kong, held from August 19-23 in Hong Kong.^[8]

Asia Conference 2016

Conference Theme: EMPOWER

Dates: August 19-23, 2016

Location: Hong Kong

Partnership University: The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Panel topics for the 2016 Asia Conference include: TBA

Asia Conference in Previous Years

Year	City	Theme	Joint Host University
2015	Manila, Philippines	Confronting Asia's Development Challenges Through Innovation	De La Salle University
2014	Tokyo, Japan	Reflection and Progression: Fostering Mutual Growth	Keio University
2013	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	Extending Horizons: Charting Asia's Flourishing Future	American University in Dubai [9]
2012	Taipei, Taiwan	Challenges and Prospects: Envisioning Global Transformations	National Chengchi University [10]
2011	Seoul, Korea	At the Crossroads: Decisions in a Dynamic Asia	Yonsei University [11][12][13]
2010	Singapore	Sustaining Momentum: Ten Years into the Asian Century	Singapore Management University [14]
2009	Seoul, Korea	Evolving Asia: Path-ways in the Global Era (Academic Conference)	Sungkyunkwan University [15][16][17]
2009	Tokyo, Japan	Braving New Frontiers: Tomorrow’s Ventures Today (Business Conference)	Waseda University [18]
2008	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Beyond Borders: Asia on the World Stage (Academic Conference)	Universiti Malaya
2008	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Emerging into Focus: Asia Incorporated (Business Conference)
2007	Beijing, China	Engaging Asia: Discourse and Dialogue (Academic Conference)	Students in Beijing [19]
2007	Hong Kong, China	Engaging Asia: Competition and Collaboration (Business Conference)	University of Hong Kong [20]
2006	Singapore	Redefining Asia: Visions and Realities	National University of Singapore
2006	Mumbai, India	Harvard College Asian Business Forum
2005	Tokyo, Japan	Futuring Asia: Contemporary Challenges and Emerging Realities	University of Tokyo [21]
2004	Shanghai, China	The Once and Future Asia: Expanding Horizons, Historic Transitions
2003	Seoul, Korea	Integration and Innovation: Finding Common Ground for a Dynamic Asia	Sookmyung Women's University [22]
2002	Sydney, Australia	Traditions and Transformations: New Perspectives of Progress
2001	Singapore	Asia and the Knowledge Economy: Opportunities for Progress
2000	Beijing, China	Diversity and Convergence: Resolving Asia's Role in the Global Community
1999	Hong Kong, China	Asia at the Crossroads: Rising to the Challenges of Reform	The Chinese University of Hong Kong
1998	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Asia in Transition: Beyond the Miracle
1997	Bangkok, Thailand	Building Nations, Building Communities
1996	Seoul, Korea	The Challenges of Globalization: Creating Common Ground in the 21st Century	Seoul National University [23]
1995	Jakarta, Indonesia	Sustaining the Miracle: Challenges Facing Asian Development
1994	Manila, Philippines	Economic Cooperation for the Pacific Century
1993	British Hong Kong	A Free Trade Area for the Pacific Century
1992	Taipei, Taiwan	International Trade and Investment

^[24]

Notable Speakers

HPAIR conferences are often led by a diverse group of speakers prominent in various areas of society.

Conferences have drawn many top-tier political leaders such as former President of the Republic of Korea Kim Dae-jung,^[25] Crown Prince of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah, Finance Minister of the Republic of the Philippines Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao, and President of Singapore S. R. Nathan.^[26] The former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea and the current Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon ^[22] has spoken at an HPAIR conference.

Many speakers also hail from influential international organizations, like the United Nations or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Speakers from ASEAN include the current Secretary-General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan and the former Secretary-General of ASEAN Ong Keng Yong.

HPAIR often invites speakers who are successful in the world of business, like the Chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (Harvard '81 / HBS '87), CEO of Haier Zhang Ruimin, Chairman of Prudential Asia Victor Fung and President of Goldman Sachs Asia Philip D. Murphy.

References

External links

• The Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations Website