APRU-APEC Relations Revisited: New Approaches to Engagement by Michael A. Goldberg Associate Vice President International The University of British Columbia APRU 2004 Presidents Meeting 23 rd to 25 th June 2004: University of Chile Santiago, Chile

Context APRU was born just before Asian crisis began From inception APEC was to be a policy focus Much early optimism re: Asia Pacific is gone Initial successful links with APEC are past Thus, there is a need to revisit APRU-APEC possibilities and relationships

Initial Ideal APRU-APEC Model APRU is APEC brain trust and capacity builder High level APRU-APEC dialogue promotes this APRU presidents meet APEC ministers annually APRU presidents meet host country ministers President Kim-Dae Jung in Seoul Minister of Industry and PM Advisory Council on Science and Technology in Vancouver in Planned Lee Kwan Yew meeting in Singapore in 2003 Meeting President Lagos APRU a continuing source of policy analysis and advice for APEC and its constituent economies

APEC-APRU Report in 2002: A Failed Effort to Use the Model Background Global forces are reshaping all economies Natural resources-manufacturing not enough Human resources key to prosper now & future Knowledge-economy demands HCB investing Conclusions Many APRU roles as APEC capacity builder Diverse needs to help with education/training Education, skills & training are linked system Need seamless and portable training Need digital access for continuing learning

APRU-APEC Opportunities and Questions I How can APRU add value to APEC? Move APEC from seeing us as another NGO Identify areas where we can, and do, add value Identify programs and activities we can undertake to add value

APRU-APEC Opportunities and Questions II APEC is trade not education focused How can we bridge education-trade gap? How can our degree programs add to APEC? How can our research add to APEC trade? How can our extension and distance programs add to APEC trade? How can our alumni links add to APEC trade? How do we mobilize these APRU assets to add to APEC trade?

APRU-APEC Opportunities and Questions III What role should our IP assets and technology transfer prowess play? Should we continue to try to get into Ministerial Meetings? APEC Science Ministers are meeting in NZ: should we push via Auckland? Should we try to work with ISTWG again? Should we pursue the APEC Leaders again?

APRU-APEC Opportunities and Questions IV Should we pursue something totally different? Build APRU strengths so we are sought out by APEC given our stature and achievements? What other bottom-up approaches might work via our individual economies? Should we work with ASEAN developing economies under an ASEAN umbrella? Should we target specific countries that might serve as exemplar templates?

2004 APRU Links to APEC HRDWG: Cause for Optimism 2004 APRU Links to APEC HRDWG: Cause for Optimism APRU participated in 26 th APEC Human Resources Development Working Group Meeting held May 11-14, 2004 at Jeju Island, Korea 117 participants; 17 economies; plus invited guests APRU only non-member invited to attend all plenary and network sessions APRU included in agenda to make a statement Gave APRU rare chance to see APEC working group in action; comment on working with APEC

Implications of APEC HRDWG & Recommendations for APRU APRU attended as independent organization Major step: APRU previously participated in APEC as part of official delegation of an APEC economy APRU needs recognition in own right, not affiliated with interests of particular government-economy APRU built credibility with APEC delegates APRU objectives and initiatives part of official APEC delegate briefing APRU offered to assist APEC HRDWG in HCB Entirely in line APRU corporate citizenship mission in contributing to growth and development in region

Conclusions from APEC HRDWG Meeting Research institution delegates want to work with APRU Hard to be in HRDWG projects with their complexities Short terms of key APEC positions and HRDWG Building long-lasting APEC ties challenging & costly Executive Director at APEC Secretariat serves 1-year Program Directors for working groups serve 2-3 years APRU thus must renew links to all new officials APRU Secretariat to monitor HRDWG development APRU Secretariat recommend actions at appropriate time

Summary APRU has much to offer to APEC As broadly based research & policy brain trust As S&T human capacity building resource As powerful link across APEC economies APRU potential for APEC has not been exploited Initial idea: build ties with APRU Presidents & APEC leaders at APEC meetings not realized Thus, need a new approach HRDWG participation may be one such avenue We should explore others too

Conclusions APEC may be having a rebirth Getting serious about its trade mandate Moving into regional security issues as well Continuing its interests in HCB and HQP APRU can be very valuable to APEC APRU IP-tech transfer activities APRU joint course and program development APRU economic & security policy research APRU alumni networking APRU web-based learning and resources Link to working committees: ISTWG-HRDWG