SIX students and alumni of Silliman University represented the school at the Harvard College Project for Asian & International Relations 2021 Conference held virtually from January 15-18.

MA Psychology student Daryl Robinson, BS Foreign Affairs student Keanu Paul Sygaco, and BA Mass Communication student Lealah Morton joined the conference with SU alumni Charmaine Malata, Achilles Isidore Israel, and Keziah Therese Castillo Gerosano.

With `Embracing Change’ as its theme, the conference featured talks on current issues such as climate change, online learning, the aftermath of the pandemic in various sectors, the efficacy of vaccines, and unemployment.

Out of 9,100 applicants, Sygaco said only 2,200 were accepted to join the conference.

“HPAIR has shaped my critical thinking because it provided a better perspective on networking and meeting famous personalities. It gives me a glimpse of the changes that might transpire in the foreseeable future,” said Sygaco.

Delegates of the conference received coaching and mentorship from world-renowned leaders from different sectors and industries and participated in a networking event.

Speakers during the conference include Dr. Tedros Adhanom, director-general of the World Health Organization; former Thailand Prime Minister AbhisitVejjajiva;  Kevin Sneader, CEO of McKinsey & Company; Yang Lan, chairperson of Sun Media Group; renowned venture capitalist Tim Draper and Anla Cheng, CEO of SupChina Inc., among others.

Discussions during the conference were organized into the following tracks: Arts, Media, and Culture; Energy and Environmental Sustainability; Global Markets and Economy; Governance, Geopolitics and Social Policies; Medical Innovation and Health Policy, and Science and Technology.

The HPAIR conference, which started in 1991, provides a forum for discussing issues surrounding the Asia-Pacific region.