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eportAsian IAESTE ForumDr Pulat PulatovChairman of the AIFThe historical first Asian IAESTE Forum (AIF) took place from 12 - 15November, 2009 in Shanghai, China. Sixteen countries from the Asia-Pacific region and guests from some European countries attended,including the General Secretary of IAESTE A.s.b.l. Mrs PaulineFerguson, the incoming General Secretary Mr Goran Radnović and allmembers of the Board.The work of the AIF was verysuccessful as delegates formed thefirst informal group of IAESTE A.s.b.l.in the Asian region.The idea of creating such aninformal group was initiated back in2007 by IAESTE Tajikistan. This idea wassupported by the General Secretary,Pauline Ferguson and by almost all thecountries of the Asian continent duringthe General Conference in 2008.The objectives of the AIF were:• To discuss common issues of IAESTEin Asia and Asia-Pacific;• To encourage an efficientadministration, carry out an effectiveexchange, increase the number ofEmployers and Sponsors, as wellas increase the number of studentexchanges within Asia;• To introduce IAESTE to potential newcountries in Asia and to provide trainingfor new IAESTE Administrators viaMentoring Workshops;• To involve new Asian countries inIAESTE activities;• To arrange an Annual Conference ofIAESTE A.s.b.l.The AIF adopted a resolution thatprovided for the following, among othermatters:• AIF participants support the ideaof creating a permanent Forum andconsider that it is important to hold ameeting every year in the Autumn;• AIF notifies other Members of IAESTE,that it is a non-formal and constantlyWorking Group in IAESTE A.s.b.l;• AIF participants at the first Forum inNovember 2009 in Shanghai declaredthat the primary objective of the AIF is todevelop IAESTE in the Asian region;• AIF participants declared that AsianIAESTE countries will co-operate witheach other, as well as with other IAESTEMembers and Co-operating Institutions;• The Asia IAESTE Forum invitesStudents, Academics, Universities andEmployers to co-operate with IAESTEand to develop IAESTE in the Asianregion;The Plenary Session of the Forumincluded some Mentoring activitieswhich were organised by the GeneralSecretary and members of the Board.These proved to be very useful for themajority of the new countries and newdelegates. The 2nd AIF will be held inDamascus, Syria from 13 - 16 November2010.IAESTE China did everything it could atthe highest possible level for the Forumto be successful. All the delegates aswell as The Board expressed their deepgratitude to IAESTE China and all theirvolunteers.26 REPORT