On September 4-7, 2008, young leaders from Europe and Asia came together in Seoul to jointly chart the new global economic landscape.

Like no other continent, Asia has been able to profit from the increasing international division of labor; it has modernized its economy and attained prosperity at an unprecedented speed. As a result, the economic center of gravity is shifting from West to East. The participants - entrepreneurs, managers, scientists and scholars, political leaders and civil-society representatives from 15 European and Asian countries - discussed the economic drivers and social conditions of these developments. One key issue was the increasing internationalization of labor markets. This comprises ever-expanding low-skilled sectors, as was illustrated by the example of the Philippines. On the other end of the spectrum are highly qualified and mobile academics and professionals. Given these forms of migration, explanations such as brain drain or the focus on the integration of migrants into the receiving society are not wholly sufficient. We need to see migration as a global concept that comprises not only a wide variety of stays abroad but also the role of the Diaspora. In their launching statements, James Wickham from Trinity College Dublin and Wang Huiyao from the China Western Returned Scholars Association in Beijing contributed important ideas and thoughts to this debate. Hong Jungwook, member of the National Assembly of Korea, explained how South Korea sees its role in the global economy and to what extent the country is defined by the division between South and North Korea.

The participants learned more about the conference's host country during a film project, where they were asked to capture on film manifestations of the globalized world of work in Seoul.

The Europe Asia Young Leaders Forum will be divided into four sessions:

Session 1: The Rise of the Rest
The rise of Asian countries as new economic, technological and scientific players has enormous potential for global trade and innovation. Which regions will be the manufacturing hubs, where do the new hotspots of research and innovation emerge? Will we see a mere shift of economic activities from West to East? To what extent are the emerging Asian multinationals driving these developments? What are the key economic, political and social forces that will shape this new business map? What role do demographics play?

Session 2: People on the Move
A well-trained labor force is universally seen to be the key resource of the future which can determine the prosperity of a nation. The most talented and best educated people, however, are becoming increasingly mobile, and may choose to pursue their careers outside their own country. What are the trends in different Asian and European countries? Will the majority of scientists soon be Indians or Chinese? Can both Europe and Asia profit from brain circulation and which lessons can be learned from the Asian "diaspora" networks?

Session 3: Corporate Cultures and Diversity
Contrary to the perception that globalization leads to a homogenized world market, economic activities primarily take place locally and follow local rules and customs. Which values and norms characterize the corporate cultures in Asia and Europe? Does the rise of Asian companies challenge the dominance of Western corporate cultures and management thinking? Is it easier for young, more entrepreneurial companies to succeed in international markets than for more traditional family-run businesses?

Session 4: Towards Responsible Leadership in a Globalized World
This interactive session will focus on the relevance of some of the challenges and issues that emerge during the forum for our personal and professional lives.
The conference sessions will be framed by a multi-faceted cultural program, which is to provide the participants with insights into today's South Korea and offer them additional opportunities for an intensive personal exchange. This program includes a film project in Seoul and small-group discussions on leadership responsibility and extra-professional commitments.

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