MANY countries, whether through their governments, universities or foundations, run various programmes in which pioneers or emerging leaders from around the world are invited to the country in the hope of sharing knowledge and establishing ties that strengthen bilateral relationships.
For decades, Malaysians have benefited from technical exchange and scholarship schemes, but one current example of a Malaysian institution hosting such a programme, which I have been speaking at since its inception in 2013, is the Asean Youth Volunteer Programme led by the National University of Malaysia (UKM), which has the added distinction of partnering with other universities in the region.
Over the years, I have also been a fortunate invitee to several overseas programmes. In 2013, I went on the French Foreign Ministry’s Future Leaders Invitation Programme, a solo trip that allowed me to meet government officials but also people involved in think tanks and arts organisations. (The trip also usefully coincided with Roland Garros.)
Also that year I was one of six Malaysian participants of the Muslim Cultural Exchange Programme organised by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which brought us to Melbourne and Sydney to engage with a variety of Muslim organisations and individuals, such as the beautiful Gallipoli Mosque, and Ed Husic, the first Australian Muslim federal MP.
In 2014, I went to Brussels for the European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP), which made me appreciate the passion and diligence – if not necessarily all the political goals – of the bureaucrats that were so often derogatorily described when I lived in the United Kingdom. Certainly, that widespread attitude contributed significantly to the decision by British voters in 2016 to leave the European Union, the ongoing process of which is still being dramatically played out.
Two programmes I attended stand out, however, in being deliberately designed for a group of participants mainly from Southeast Asia. The first was the Eisenhower Fellowship across the United States of America in 2013, and the second is the Singapore Summit Young Societal Leaders Programme last week.
There are major differences in the structure of the programmes: the first took place over six weeks and combined both group and solo travel across the USA, while the second consisted of stimulating discussions over four days within Singapore.
However, I could still not help but make comparisons among my fellow participants. Although every person in both programmes was doing something innovative in their respective industry or contributing to good causes within their countries and across the region, there was a clear generational difference caused by a much lower average age in the Singapore cohort. This was accentuated by the fact that I was the youngest member of my Eisenhower Fellowship cohort, while I was one of the older members of the Singapore programme – plus I am of course six years older myself.
Interacting with them highlighted the extent to which dominant discourse has changed. My 2013 colleagues were ground-breaking entrepreneurs and public policy innovators for sure, but in what might now be seen to be in old-fashioned ways – my raison d’etre for being there, as founding president of a think tank, is a case in point. Back then, concern about populism (especially of the ethno-nationalist variety) as a growing force around the world was not as heightened, and the science behind climate change not as universally accepted.
By contrast, my co-participants last week have started organisations that are ever-ready to seize opportunities from IR 4.0, awaiting innovations in artificial intelligence, automation, and ever ingenious (and possibly sinister) uses of big data. All will sympathise with how Greta Thunberg stared at Donald Trump: and of course, six years ago no one heard of the former (she would have been 10 years old), and almost no one would have expected the latter to be President of the USA.
The realisations of these differences have emphasised the need to always be on top of changing trends, and not be too set in one’s ways, even if certain core values remain constant.
Incidentally I bumped into two of my Singaporean colleagues from the Eisenhower Fellowship. The first, at the Singapore Summit, observed the presence of many ‘young’ people at the event, not knowing that I was still considered ‘young’ by the organisers. The second, at the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, referenced our ‘old’ friendship.
Watching Greta Thunberg’s passionate speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit blaming the older generation for destroying the planet, I came to the conclusion that my generation has a unique perspective on the pace of change. And also that exchange programmes continue to be a wonderful way for people of different backgrounds to keep informed, stay grounded, and remain inspired.
Tunku Zain Al-Abidin is founding president of Ideas.