Asia matters. Period. In its mission to foster Asia competence, Asia Society Switzerland is aware of its responsibility to empower the next generation of Asia-engaged professionals. We offer the Gen A (short for: Generation Asia) program to young professionals and advanced students in Switzerland. The program aims to deepen their knowledge of Asia-related issues, to provide the participants with the tools to interpret Asia’s development and to identify opportunities for a successful collaboration with Asia. This one-year program will enable the next generation to engage with Asia on eye-level and build a community of young Asia-curious people in Switzerland.

In recent years, Asia's economies and people have become ever more intertwined with each other's markets and societies and those of the rest of the world. Some of those regions will probably never return to being growth motors for the global economy, some, one the other hand, are still determined to increasingly shape politics and global governance, some shine with their bright and creative minds that shape our culture for good. Understanding the economic, political and cultural shifts in Asia is key to stay ahead, as well as to identify opportunities and potential threats. This program gives young professionals and advanced students the analytical tools to gain a deeper understanding of Asia.

Program Elements

• 8 round tables, catered exclusively to Gen A fellows (on- and offline)
• 3-part workshop throughout the year (offline, if possible)
• Active participation in Asia Society Switzerland programs (attendance of a minimum of four public or members-only events/webcasts is required, participation at executive round tables upon opportunity)

Experts

Adrian T. Keller
Honorary Chairman of DKSH, Vice Chairman of Diethelm Keller Holding Ltd, Chairman of the Asia Society Switzerland Foundation Board

Eunice Zehnder-Lai
Member of the Board of the Geberit Group, Member of the Board of DKSH, and Member of the Board of Julius Baer Group

Kyoko Kuwahara
Research Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA)

Jessica Aung
Impact Investor, Myanmar Representative at DEG Invest, Founder of WyneeMyanmar.com

Martin Frech
Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Global eCommerce for DKSH
 

Fabienne Wassermann
Head of Department, Bilateral economic relations Asia/Oceania, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
 

Karin Wenger
SRF Correspondent in Southeast Asia

Markus Herrmann
Zurich-based Director at Sinolytics, Europe Advisor to Caixin Media, and Board Member of the Swiss Forum of Foreign Policy

Angelika Li (Photo: Nici Jost)
Founder and Curator of HOMELAND in TRANSIT and the Co-Founder of PF25 cultural projects

Schedule for Gen A 2021

1 February 2021 18:00-19:30
Launch Event and Round Table #1,
with Adrian T. Keller and Eunice Zehnder-Lai

15 February 18:00-20:00
Workshop Part 1

8 March 12:00-13:00
Round Table #2 with Kyoko Kuwahara

8 April 12:00-13:00
Round Table #3 with Karin Wenger

17 May 18:00-19:30
Round Table #4 with Markus Herrmann

7 June 18:00-19:00
Round Table #5 with Martin Frech

3 July 13:00-17:00
Workshop Part 2

6 September, 18:00-19:30
Round Table #6 with Angelika Li

4 October 12:00-13:00
Round Table #7 with Fabienne Wassermann

05 November 12:00-13:00
Round Table #8 with Jessica Aung

27 November, 13:00-17:00
Half-day Conference and Graduation

*Tentative dates, may be subject to change. 
 

The dates (and weekdays) will depend on the availability of the experts. Most of the round tables are planned to take place online – as these experts will be residing in Asia at the time we – and often over lunch (12:00-13:00) due to the time difference.

Application

Applications have closed. Look out for the next application window, starting December, 2021.

Contact

Serena Jung (sjung@asiasociety.org)
Director, Programs and Communication

Gen A 2020

https://asiasociety.org/switzerland/gen-2020