Hong Kong, September 14-18, 2005
Medical and Health Research Network, The University of Hong Kong
Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam

Background Information

Each year, the East-West Center (EWC) identifies participants from the younger, rising generation of leaders from the United States and Asia Pacific for this two-week intensive educational and dialogue program developed around a thematic focus. The purpose is to help create a better-informed younger generation of leaders who have a greater understanding of regional issues and challenges. The New Generation Seminar (NGS) also provides these younger leaders with a growing network of their counterparts throughout Asia Pacific and the United States as they rise in their leadership positions. Since its launch in 1988, a total of 213 participants from 22 Asia Pacific countries and the United States have participated in 14 NGS programs.

The Freeman Foundation has funded the New Generation Seminar program for the past nine years, since 1996. Through this funding, the East-West Center covers participant air and ground travel expenses, meals, lodging and other per diem expenses related to the two-week period of the program.

The East-West Center seeks nominations for participants from a variety of organizations and individuals: U.S. Embassy public affairs or cultural affairs officers and EWC Alumni Chapter heads in Asia Pacific; the Japan Center for International Exchange in Tokyo; the American Council for Young Political Leaders, and the New Generation Seminar alumni. Since the 2000 program, we also have been accepting direct applications from individuals. The program has been advertised in various publications and through partner organizations. Self-applicants access the program through our website: www.eastwestcenter.org/sem-ld.asp, click on New Generation Seminar.

For this year's program, we will be accepting nominations/applications from January 15, 2005 to March 21, 2005, with selections in early April and invitation letters going out by mid-May. The New Generation Seminar is a competitive process; a selection committee at the East-West Center makes the final selection of participants.

Participant Criteria

The New Generation Seminar involves 16 participants, approximately 12 from Asia and 4 from the United States. The program seeks to engage "communicators" and "leaders", those individuals who are in a position to shape and influence the views of others. An important selection consideration is that participants show demonstrated leadership in their current and/or past positions, and the potential for continued and future leadership. Most often these individuals are involved in politics, leading through active engagement in the political processes of their countries. They have been members of national, state or provincial government assemblies or ministries, young mayors or governors, up and coming members of political parties, leaders of political party youth wings, political advisors and other elected officials. But the NGS also has included leading representatives from media, business, law, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and academic institutions. These individuals typically are selected because their work involves significant community outreach and/or influence on government decision-making.

We try to balance gender representation and also strive for diversity of ethnic, religious and political party entities from each country, as well as participants representing regions outside of the capitol cities. The age range of participants is from 25-40, with the majority of participants in the early to mid-thirties. All participants must be fluent in English.

Preference is given to those Asians who have had little knowledge of or travel to the U.S. or other parts of Asia Pacific; likewise we generally select those Americans with little or no Asia Pacific experience. Thus nominees or applicants from foreign ministries or international relations "think-tanks" are not strong candidates.

Program Agenda

The New Generation Seminar program provides an avenue for dialogue and interaction among the participants on key issues through formal meetings as well as informal after-hour social activities.

The first week of the New Generation Seminar is held at the East-West Center in Honolulu and consists of briefings by EWC research staff on key issues in the region such as politics, economics, security and international relations, energy resources, population and environment, as well as sessions directly related to the seminar theme. The Honolulu program also includes visits to the U.S. Pacific Command and Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, a half island tour and an opportunity for each of the participants to share with the group a topic of interest/importance to him or her. Each participant is asked to give a short presentation on a topic about which he or she already has knowledge and expertise. These informal presentations are meant as a means for participants to learn from one another about the region and to stimulate discussion.

The second week of the program, which involves the field travel, focuses primarily on the program theme. This year the thematic focus is on health issues in the Asia Pacific region. Past themes have included the U.S. election/political system, hi-tech development, the Asian financial crisis, environmental issues, community and international law responses to 9/11, challenges of religious diversity and security and leadership.

Thematic Focus: Health Issues in the Asia Pacific Region

Health issues in Asia have received considerable attention in recent years with the SARS epidemic and on-going concerns about the spread of avian flu. HIV/AIDS continues to be a major concern for Asian and Pacific governments as the growing epidemic could have devastating economic and social impacts. In addition, governments face new health challenges related to changing demographics and rapid globalization and industrialization. Through discussions at the East-West Center and a one-week study tour in Asia, participants will learn about groundbreaking East-West Center research models that are helping Asian nations deal more effectively with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, will examine the various factors influencing health and health policy throughout the region, and will gain a better understanding of how health affects and is affected by politics, economics, demographics and social and cultural issues.

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Programme

• Wednesday September 14, 2005

Participants arrive to Hong Kong from Bangkok


• Thursday September 15, 2005:
  Focus on surveillance, identification and control of infectious diseases
  
• Breakfast on your own

• Friday, September 16, 2005:
  Focus on reforms in health care systems in greater China
  
• Breakfast on your own

• Saturday, September 17, 2005:
  Summary and Review

• Breakfast on your own

• Sunday September 18, 2005:
  Departures

Participants