HPAIR

Our mission is simple: we connect the top leaders of today and tomorrow in a dynamic forum of exchange.

The Harvard College Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) was founded in 1991 to create a forum of exchange for students and young professionals to discuss and learn about the most important economic, political, and social issues facing the Asia-Pacific region. Since 1991, HPAIR has organized 49 conferences in 34 different host countries, touching the lives of more than 40,000 students and young professionals. HPAIR hosts two student-led conferences a year – one on Harvard’s campus and one in the Asia-Pacific. Prospective host cities in Asia must undergo an intensive, six-month bidding process. The 2026 Asia Conference will be held in Hanoi.

HPAIR will soon begin accepting bids to host the 2027 Asia Conference (ACONF) — a premier international conference connecting global leaders, students, and professionals for four days of discussion, collaboration, and cultural exchange across Asia.

If you’re a student team passionate about leadership, event organizing, and showcasing your home country to the world, this is your moment to make history.

A centerpiece of our conference experience lies in our Impact Challenges, a case-competition style workshop in partnership with leading organizations designed to ask delegates to formulate solutions to some of Asia’s biggest issues. In the past, HPAIR has worked with the World Bank, Schwarzman Scholars, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Impact Challenges have sparked startups, offered internship and travel opportunities, and mentorship events with corporate partners. This challenge sharpens participants’ strategic thinking, problem-solving, and presentation skills, while offering exposure to professional-level casing methodologies and mentorship from industry experts.