The goal of the APRU World Institute Workshop is to bring together about 60 top researchers and policy advisors to foster dialogue and active exchange on major public health issues confronting the Asia Pacific region. The theme for this year’s workshop is “The Role of Universities in Addressing Emerging Public Health Threats in the Asia Pacific Region”.

Apart from being creators, custodians and disseminators of knowledge, universities have a critical role to play in contributing cooperatively to the solution of global problems. As vanguards in society’s quest for knowledge, discovery and innovation, universities should be at the forefront of providing perspective and intellectual leadership on humanity’s path to a sustainable future. In the face of global health threats such as pandemic influenza, natural catastrophes and climate change, as well as the rising threats of non-communicable diseases, just how responsive are the universities of the Asia Pacific region - given their present structures and trajectories - in addressing emerging public health threats of the 21st century? 

The workshop will focus on three interrelated activities that are central to the mission of universities, namely:

• Preparing the Public Health Workforce (Teaching)
• Generating Public Health Knowledge (Research)
• Influencing Public Health Policy and Practice (Outreach)

Invited keynote speakers and interdisciplinary expert panels will explore how best universities in the region might respond to the new demands upon education and training, research and development, and policy formulation, in the face of emerging public health threats. There will be sharing of country experiences and opportunities for building relationships for future collaborations. A capstone University Leaders’ Panel Discussion featuring the Presidents/Vice-Chancellors of the sponsoring universities, who are well-positioned to shape the changing roles their universities will play, will draw the discussions to a tangible conclusion.
 

Back to Top