APRU-APEC Relations Revisited: New Approaches to Engagement

1. 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 23rd to 25th June 2004: University of Chile Santiago, Chile

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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 APECcapacity 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

5. 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

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. 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?

9. 2004 APRU Links to APEC HRDWG: Cause for Optimism • APRU participated in 26th 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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