Between April 17 and April 19, we welcomed on our campus the first GRIPS International Advisory Committee (IAC). The purpose of the IAC was to provide advice on what GRIPS should do in the next five years to enhance its competitiveness and reputation as a policy school. The IAC was planned and implemented under the initiative of our President.  

The First GRIPS IAC included five distinguished members with extensive experience as policy leaders in their respective countries:

Ginandjar Kartasasmita (IAC Chairman), Member of the Presidential Advisory Board of the Republic of Indonesia; Former Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry of Indonesia
Cayetano Paderanga Jr., Chairman, Development Academy of the Philippines; Former Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning; Former Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority of the Philippines
Surin Pitsuwan, Former Secretary General of ASEAN Secretariat; Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
Hiroshi Watanabe, Governor, Japan Bank for International Cooperation; Former Advisor to the Minister of Finance of Japan
George Yeo, Vice Chairman, Kerry Group; Chairman, Kerry Logistics Network; Former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore

During their 3-day visit, the IAC members learned about our research and educational activities, had an opportunity to interact directly with our students and faculty members, and attended some of our lectures. On the last day of the visit, the IAC members submitted a report outlining their evaluation of our activities as well as some concrete advice on what areas we should strengthen or improve to become more competitive.

The visit has been an inspiring and invigorating experience for all of us at GRIPS.