East-West Center Annual Report 2001

[ 7 ]East-West CenterLaunches New Student Program“Given itsparticular blend ofcurricular designand content,teaching staff, andstudents, the AsiaPacific LeadershipProgram may bethe only programworldwide that isso purposefullyfocused on theregion.”Terance W. Bigalke,EWC deanof academic programsThe number of East-West Center students will be increasing for the first time inmany years as the result of the new Asia Pacific Leadership Program, approvedin 2001 by the Board of Governors. Seed money for the new program wasprovided by a generous $4.5-million grant from the Freeman Foundation.The new program is a consequence of the Board of Governor’s Action Plan,which envisioned developing new products in line with changing educationaland human resource needs.The Asia Pacific Leadership Program is a six-month or yearlong non-degreeprogram designed to complement the Center’s other programs, which awardscholarships for degree studies at the University of Hawai‘i. When fullydeveloped, the program is intended to fit into degree programs of homeinstitutions, but offer participating students opportunities not available in mostof those institutions: a chance for intense study of regional challenges in aninternational student body and with an international faculty. East-West Centerresearch staff provides the core faculty for the required Asia Pacific course.A second required course, a leadership seminar, combines a teaching stafffrom the Center, the University of Hawai‘i and the community. The courseexplores leadership in varied situations and cultures, introduces case studies ofconflict resolution drawn from the region, and culminates with a segment onskill development, self-assessment, and agenda-building. Community mentorshelp provide students with models of leadership.The first class arrived in January 2002 – 25 students from 15 countries,reflecting a broad range of national and cultural perspectives in a generationspanning the ages of 22 to 35. Nearly all participants can be characterized as“early career,” pursuing paths in higher education, journalism, internationalinstitutions, the business sector, and voluntary organizations. The program isinitially designed to accommodate as many as 100 students within four years.“Given its particular blend of curricular design and content, teaching staff,and students, the Asia Pacific Leadership Program is highly distinctive and maybe the only program worldwide that is so purposefully focused on the region,”said Terance W. Bigalke, EWC dean of academic programs. “The first class ofstudents already confirms how unusual it has been to think outside a singlecountryframework for even these bright potential leaders from 15 countries.Developing a thoroughly regional perspective will be a transformingexperience.”The program also includes group projects, field study and individualizedstudy. The next session will run from August 7, 2002 to June 22, 2003.