Program areas at EWC
Since 1960, the East-West Center (Center) has a long and proud legacy promoting better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the united states, asia, and the pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. The Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options. As a national, public diplomacy institution, the Center works in partnership with organizations throughout the united states (u.s.) and in the region. The collaborative research, education, seminars and outreach, and other programs bring together americans and counterparts from asia and the pacific to work in an atmosphere of academic freedom on issues of mutual importance. The Center's exchange and dialogue programs involve multi-country, region-wide activities involving everyone as full participants. In fy'22 the Center returned to live events but continued to offer virtual and hybrid events. The Center provided 1,820 participant awards to people from 71 countries and 44 us states and territories. While more information on the Center and its programs may be found at our website (www.eastwestcenter.org), the following is a highlight of the program activities during the year. Professional development program: the professional development program conducts capacity building, leadership training, professional exchanges, and career development for academics, journalists, and young leaders from asia, the pacific, and the united states. There were 824 participant awards for the various professional development program events including the international media conference.
Education program: the education program has supported more than 8,000 students from asia, the pacific, the united states, and around the world. Graduate students from over 40 countries, hawai'iHawaii'i, and from across the u.s. live in residence at the Center, where they learn, work, and live together. Through Cultural exchange, shared experiences, and collaborative preparation for future leadership roles throughout the region, the Center experience creates lasting relationships and an active network of people committed to positive change. In fy 2022, there were 496 participant awards in degree programs and conferences such as the exchange and the ewc international graduate student conference. The education program strived to keep students safe and supported during the covid-19 pandemic and were able to continue their graduate student engagement and exchange at a time when many other international exchange activities were halted.
Research program: the research program executes policy-relevant, actionable research projects in four key areas: climate change and the environment; regional geopolitics; public health (hiv/aids and covid-19); and economics and demographic change. The program works with research and policy communities in the us and the indo-pacific region to provide more complete knowledge and deeper understanding of environments, societies, economies, governments, and international relations in the region. Capacity building and research to support decision-making are conducted in close collaboration with networks of individuals and institutions throughout asia and the pacific and is shared broadly with planners, policymakers, regional specialists, the media, and the general public. During the year, the program had 101 participant awards for events that included the ewc/kdi conference.
Other programs: other programs include East-West Center in Washington, communications and external relations, pacific islands development program, and the auxiliary enterprise services. East-West Center in Washington supports the Center's mission through direct work with u.s. policymakers and opinion leaders in the nation's capital. It facilitates understanding of the u.s. policy process by its asia pacific participants through direct interaction with u.s. policymakers. It also continues the successful asia matters for america/america matters for asia initiative to organize and disseminate information, data, and analysis on u.s.-asia interactions. In fy 2022 the office had 215 participants awards. Communications and external relations had approximately 54 participant awards for the hosted activities including Cultural activities by the arts program such as the nhpimi conference. The pacific islands development program conducts a broad range of activities to enhance the quality of life in the pacific islands. Pidp had 11 participant awards for their conferences including the 12th pacific islands conference of leaders. Auxiliary enterprises provide conference facilities and dormitory housing for students and conference participants that participate in the Center's programs. The dormitories remained open to our education program students throughout the pandemic ensuring that our students would be able to continue their studies.