The 7^th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI) was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from July 11^th to 15^th, 2005. It brought together twenty-four of the region’s brightest students representing leading universities from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The program enriched the delegates' understanding of regional opportunities and challenges, provided the delegates with an opportunity to meet prominent leaders of today, and hear their views and recommendations on issues affecting the region.

The 7^th HYLI delegates have joined the 168-strong alumni network, continuing to connect with their counterparts across Asia as they advance in their careers now and in the future.

HYLI 2005 Student Delegates’ Learning Journey

During the event, the student delegates participated in a variety of activities including a public forum, closed-door workshops, community work, and a media conference, all focusing on the theme "Balancing People, Planet & Profit in Asia’s Future," with the following sub-themes:

• 1) Asian economic integration: Challenges and opportunities
• 2) Translating environmental awareness into action
• 3) The changing role of education in a dynamic Asia

Their vision for a better Asia includes:

Asian economic integration: Challenges and opportunities
Establishing the Process for an East Asia Common Economy (PEACE) as a complementary system to the existing East Asian Community (EAC), with the goal of providing funds to:

• Develop social safety nets
• Fund economic development of nations which need assistance
• Improve the free trade process through trade facilitation efforts
• Harmonize standards and practices of civil services

Translating environmental awareness into action
The recommendations were designed to tackle the challenges of economic constraints, poor governance, and the lack of ownership, which have led to the ongoing degradation of the environment in Asia. They include:

• Establishing a Green Bank, a financial institution dedicated entirely to sustainable development
• Creating the Sustainable Practices for Holistic Environmental Resource Engagement (SPHERE) program, a community-based initiative focused on environmental protection through community empowerment and livelihood enhancement

The changing role of education in a dynamic Asia
They proposed the Model for Social Empathy and Asian Identity through Competency Enhancement (MOSAIC), aimed at restructuring school-level education to equip students with essential skills for the competitive, fast-paced world. The restructuring would occur in two phases:

• Phase 1 (Foundation) – Standardized math and science education across Asia, along with the study of an additional Asian language.
• Phase 2 (Immersion) – Connecting students with various career sectors, helping them explore potential paths before selecting a university course.

Community work

The 7^th HYLI community work project involved the student delegates working with youth from the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf (MFD). After learning about deaf culture and sign language, they visited Zoo Negara to learn about endangered species and environmental protection. The delegates then collaborated to create "The Earth Story," a performance that demonstrated teamwork, leadership, and creativity. The project concluded with a fun and rewarding finale.