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'23 the Center provided 1,442 participant awards to people from 69 countries and 43 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. 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 Center's research program launched a new fellowship during the year, the research innovation collaboration & exchange, or rice, to foster projects that help strengthen networks, partnerships, and shared outcomes in the region. Open to researchers, practitioners, policy experts, and journalists, the inaugural rice fellowships are covering work on asia's role in the arctic, the us-australia alliance and southeast asia, and water resources in the pacific. During the year, there were 140 participant awards for events that included the ewc insights and ewc research speaker series.
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, Hawaii, 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 2023, there were 628 long-term degree students. Other students participated in programs and conferences such as the exchange and the ewc international graduate student conference.
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 391 participant awards for the various professional development program events including the 30th asdp national 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 2023 the Washington office had 140 participant awards. Communications and external relations hosted activities such as the australian america leadership dialogue and numerous briefings. The pacific islands development program conducts a broad range of activities to enhance the quality of life in the pacific islands. Pidp had 61 participant awards for their activities including the resilient pacific islands leaders fellowship. Auxiliary enterprises provide conference facilities and dormitory housing for students and conference participants that participate in the Center's programs.