User:Syphiroth/The Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations

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. 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.

HPAIR is an organization run entirely by undergraduate students. HPAIR's Asia Conference is Harvard University's largest annual student event in Asia.

Annual Conferences
Since its founding in 1991, HPAIR has held over 20 conferences in locations ranging from Mumbai to Kuala Lumpur, Currently, HPAIR holds two annual conferences: the Harvard Conference and the Asia Conference.

Asia Conference
Once called the Academic Conference, the Asia Conference was first held at Taipei in 1992. The Asia Conference is traditionally held at a different Asian metropolis every year. Bringing together a diverse group of speakers and about 300 graduate and undergraduate students from across the world, the Asia 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 2010, HPAIR has merged the Academic Conference and the Business Conference into a single conference, the Asia Conference.

Harvard Conference
The Harvard Conference was first held in 2008 on the Harvard University campus. Each year, about 125 student delegates attend the Harvard Conference, making the conference smaller but more interactive. Delegates to the current 2010 Harvard Conference will tackle professionally designed case studies from the viewpoint of a self-selected special interests group.

Notable Speakers
HPAIR conferences are often led by a diverse group of speakers with impressive credentials in various areas of society.

Conferences have drawn many top-tier political leaders such as former President of the Republic of South Korea Kim Dae-jung, Crown Prince of Perak  Raja Nazrin Shah and President of Singapore  S. R. Nathan. The former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea and the current Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has spoken at an HPAIR conference.

Many speakers also hail from influential international organizations, like the United Nations or the Association of Southest Asian Nations. (ASEAN) The Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has spoken at an HPAIR conference. 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 CEO of Haier Zhang Ruimin, Chairman of Prudential Asia Victor Fung and President of Goldman Sachs Asia Philip D. Murphy.