The 13th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI) was held in Makati City, the Philippines, from July 27th – 30th, 2015. Thirty-one top students from the participating countries were selected as official delegates. The student delegates were divided into four groups, each with at least one representative from every participating country. Each student delegate worked with their respective groups from Day 1 until the culminating activities concluded the HYLI learning agenda.
Download the HYLI 2015 Whitepaper
This year's theme, "ASEAN Perspectives on the Social and Environmental Challenges of Designing and Implementing Public Transportation Systems," aimed to deepen the student delegates' understanding of how public transportation can be effectively designed and implemented to address social and environmental challenges in Asia. The agenda was divided into three pillars:
This year’s program featured final presentations by the delegates, focusing on the following sub-themes:
Pre-HYLI | Awareness & Appreciation
The pre-HYLI work launched the Awareness and Appreciation pillar, preparing student delegates for the upcoming HYLI week. During this period, they were tasked with preparing essays accompanied by infographics, analysing past successes and failures to understand how they could contribute to developing solutions. The infographics offered a broader perspective on their countries' issues, serving as the basis for discussions with other student delegates, mentors, and panellists.
The event continued with talks from guest speakers, followed by panel discussions on specific sub-themes.
Day 1 to 3 | Engagement & Reflection | 27 - 29 July 2015
The Engagement and Reflection pillar included panel discussions, field interviews with stakeholders, and visits to two Gawad Kalinga villages, where student delegates experienced tricycle rides and learned about the lives of drivers and residents. They also explored urban development by visiting Bonifacio Global City, a fast-growing business and residential hub. The insights gained from these activities helped the student delegates create presentations for the event's culmination. Local guests and mentors provided valuable feedback to guide them in real-world situations beyond HYLI.
Day 4 | Commitment & Celebration | 30 July 2015
The Commitment and Celebration pillar took place on the final day, where student delegates pledged to advocate the knowledge and experiences gained from HYLI. They also presented cultural performances representing their countries as part of the event’s cross-cultural sharing. The event concluded with a special dinner to celebrate their achievements.
