Harvard’s largest student conference in Asia-Pacific returns to Manila

MANILA, Philippines- The Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) Asia Conference, one of Asia’s largest business and youth leadership gatherings, returns to the Philippines after 21 years. DLSU will host the confab on August 20-24.

As Harvard University’s largest annual student conference in the Asia-Pacific region, HPAIR has continuously gathered and carefully chosen international students and academics from major throughout Asia. The confab which focuses on social, political, economic, and cultural business issues is known to attract key dignitaries such as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and Director of the Earth Institute Professor Jeffrey Sachs.

After a competitive bidding process, the HPAIR Asia Conference will be returning to Manila, with DLSU as the host institution.

“We are thrilled to host HPAIR in Manila for the first time since 1994,” Jonathan Beltran, the Executive Director for the HPAIR Asia Conference 2015- Host Country Organizing Committee, said.

“With events like our hosting of APEC, and with the country’s tourism push for this year, we believe that this event marks our country’s desire to be more internationally competitive and reflects DLSU’s commitment to academic excellence,” he added.

The bid was selected for seamless logistics, ambitious plans for delegate engagement, and the rising importance of the Philippines in the region.

“We believe that the time is right for HPAIR to return to the Philippines, a country growing in international influence and importance,” said Artur Meller, the HPAIR Executive Director for the 2015 Asia Conference.

“Working with you and regional partners, we hope to highlight the greatest facets of the country while exposing our conference delegates to a wide range of international issues.”

HPAIR and De La Salle University formally launched the 2015 HPAIR Asia Conference on January 22 at a luncheon held within DLSU, together with members of the Harvard Club of the Philippines and conference partners.

The 2015 HPAIR Asia Conference is presented by HPAIR and De La Salle University, in partnership with the Ayala Corporation, with Globe Telecommunications, PHINMA Corporation, and the Jollibee Foods Corporation as primary sponsors.

HPAIR is a student-run organization of the Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences. HPAIR organizes Harvard University’s largest annual student conferences in the Asia-Pacific region. Since 1991, HPAIR has continuously gathered a growing pool of international students from top universities, renowned academics, business professionals, and political leaders to engage in the organization’s rigorous educational events.

HPAIR’s programs intend to achieve three goals:

• Provide a dynamic forum of exchange on international issues vital to Asia
• Foster long-term relationships among young leaders from around the globe
• Connect talented delegates with some of today’s leaders in academia, business, and government.

Today, HPAIR has significantly expanded to offer two annual conferences. Through plenary sessions, panels, keynotes, workshops, and case studies, the conferences provide valuable opportunities for discussion about challenges and trends in the international landscape. – Rappler.com