Thanks to the support of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Prague, the Association for International Affairs organized two public lectures with over 90 participants as well as several networking events for ALYAS participants and alumni. This year ALYAS participants also had a chance to take part in a total of 9 expert group and 4 working group sessions. AMO was able to invite to Prague world-leading scholars, such as Professor Paul Irwin Crookes, Director of Graduate Studies at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies at the University of Oxford, Dr. Jue Wang, Assistant Professor at the Leiden University and Associate Fellow at Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs or Helena Legarda, Research Associate at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS). Throughout the program, ALYAS participants enhanced their understanding of crucial issues that play an important role in Asia’s future prospects. Topics discussed included: Taiwan v. United Front: China’s cyber-enabled disinformation campaign against Taiwan; China’s emergence as a global security actor and its consequences for Europe-China relations; The human rights dimension of EU-China relations; East Asian investment in the Czech Republic and the impact of Czech foreign policy on their development; Security dynamics in South-East and East Asia and its implications for technological development of armed forces; Politics of EU-China Economic Relations; Origins and implications of China’s recent economic slowdown; Korean Peninsula and the Czech Republic in the Current Geopolitical Context or Chinese influence in Central Europe.

ALYAS 2019 participants formed a diverse, international and talented group which actively participated in all parts of the program. They had a chance to get practical experience and learn new skills by working on real-world problems with mentors from both the public and private sector. The mentors came from leading institutions such as the Czech Embassy in Beijing, Czech National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NUKIB) or GOVIN Group. 

To conclude, the 9th round of ALYAS program was a success. 

Feedback from ALYAS participants: 

„I would definitely recommend ALYAS program because I learned so many things from it. It was totally different from any similar sessions at the university.”

„I would 100% recommend this program to anybody who is interested in Asia!“

„ALYAS is a valuable experience.“

„Just apply! It is going to give you more knowledge, experience, and friends than you would expect!“

„Do you have interest in Asian affairs, are you considering an occupancy or a career relevant to Asia, or do you simply want to get into touch with people who share the same interest as you do? Participating in ALYAS program is a great opportunity to connect all three.”