Student leaders’ forum launched

MANILA, Philippines – The time has come again for four of the best college candidates from some of the top universities in the country to show their potentials as future leaders in a global arena as leading electronics company Hitachi takes them on for the 11th edition of the Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI) forum.

A regional corporate social responsibility program which takes place every 18 months, HYLI has continuously provided the youth with a venue to exchange ideas on pressing issues in Asia for the past 15 years.

The initiative picks out top students from seven countries– Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines — who show potential to become leaders in the future.

The lucky participants will also have the chance to interact and establish connections with influential government officials, prominent business leaders, respected academicians, as well as non-government organizations’ representatives.

HYLI invited has 14 Filipinos at the forefront of their field to speak before the HYLI student delegates. The list  included former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Senator Pia Cayetano, Ateneo de Manila University Economics professor Dr. Cielito Habito, and UP Diliman and Judicial Academy of the Philippines professional lecturer in environmental law Atty. Antonio Oposa Jr.

Hitachi Ltd. Asia Philippines Branch General Manager Hitoshi Goto announced on Wednesday that HYLI was accepting applications from students in the Philippines until August 31.

Four of the brightest students will be chosen from each country to participate in the 11th HYLI which will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam from Jan. 9 to 13, 2012. But HYLI will only be screening possible delegates from five universities in the country: Ateneo De Manila University, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines Diliman, University of San Carlos, and University of Santo Tomas.

The 28 selected participants from the seven countries will undergo intensive workshops and will have the chance to air their ideas on the theme “The New Stage for Asia – an Asian Perspective on Managing Sustainable Development and economic Integration,” as well as sub-themes “Energy and the Environment” and “Economic Partnership and Integration”. They will also join in a field trip that will enhance their understanding of the said themes.

HYLI not only gives voice to the youth of the said Asian countries but also fosters cross-cultural understanding among them.

Looking back at her experience during the ninth HYLI in 2008, Procter and Gamble Distributing Philippines, Inc. Oral and Personal Health Care Assistant Brand Manager Nicole Marie Villarojo said that HYLI opened her eyes to the various cultural and religious practices of other Asian countries through interaction with their delegates.

Goto said that Hitachi sought to “groom potential leaders” through the initiative by helping them establish contacts and hone their skills.

He said that although they were looking into further expanding the reach of HYLI, the 28 delegates from seven participating countries were the most favourable number for the forum.

Goto pointed out that they had already expanded their search for applicants back in 2007 when they included Vietnam. The Philippines, he stated, was one of the first six to participate in HYLI, and even played host to the initiative back in 1997.

To qualify for the HYLI program, interested students must meet the following criteria:

1.Nominated candidates must be full-time undergraduate students (third or fourth year) or post-graduate students with minimum CGPA/CAP/GPA of 3.5 out of 5, not exceeding 28 years of age at the time of the initiative;

2.display strong leadership abilities, as well as good track records in academic excellence and extra-curricular activities;

3.have taken keen interest in regional and global affairs;

4.fluent in the English language and preferably with flair for public speaking; and be

5.a permanent resident or citizen
of the Philippines.

Interested students from the five participating universities can get more information from their respective Offices for Student Affairs. Application is open until August 31.

Each university will choose two students to represent them using their own selection process, according to Hitachi. The 10 students from the participating universities will face the HYLI selection panel for individual interviews and judging.