Stories and experiences from Summer Programmes's participants
Anita Sandana
Master of International Relations, Geneva School of Diplomacy
2011 Summer Programme on International Affairs and Multilateral Governance
When I signed up for the Summer Programme in International affairs and Multilateral Governance, my goal was solely to refresh my knowledge of international issues related to the fields of Environment, Migration and Humanitarian affairs. I was eager to participate in interactive workshops and debates lead by a team of experts and pool of field practitioners.On the last week, I realized how much the progamme surpassed my expectations and greatly impacted my life.Not only did I learn from the presentations and workshops, I had also been able to connect with a large pool of international candidates who shared a same vision. For me, exchanging ideas and knowledge with graduates,professionals and diplomats from all over the world was truly beneficial. The programme was a great place to build solid friendships and extend my professional network.
It was such a memorable experience that I wished It would not have ended so fast.
I feel extremely grateful for having been given the incredible opportunity to be part of the programme and I certainly would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone interested in International Affairs in the relaxing and beautiful scenery of Geneva.
Jean-Yves Barba
Database/ M&E Officer, International Organization for Migration, Nairobi, Kenya
2011 Summer Programme on International Affairs and Multilateral Governance
I decided to participate in the Summer Program in International Affairs and Multilateral Governance to cement and enrich many of the concepts to which I have been exposed during the past 4 years of intense engagement with migrant communities in East Africa. The program was such an eye opener on global issues that are gripping our world, introduced in a thematic, hands-on and case-based approach. I was highly satisfied with the content of the classes and the overall organization of the seminar facilitated by renowned experts. The intensive 3 weeks seminar also gave me an opportunity to meet young professionals just like myself and debate a host of issues ranging from the economics of migration to global warming. Coming from a nontraditional backgound, engineering, I believe that the program offerd me a solid foundation and teased my interest just enough so that I can now confidently contribute to discussions of international nature and enhance my prospects for graduate studies.
Guillaume Amigues
Research Analyst, Global Agenda Councils - World Economic Forum
2011 Summer Program WTO, International Trade and Development
The Summer Programme on the WTO, International Trade and Development has been a great learning experience for me, both at the professional and personal level. The programme is well designed and provides three very valuable perspectives on the issue: a strong trade theory background, insights on more practical aspects, including the inner workings of the WTO, and reflections on the connection between trade and other issues such as agriculture, intellectual property or climate change. The very strong academic cast put together by the Graduate Institute generally strikes a good balance between these different themes. Beyond the lectures, the workshops in smaller groups opened deeper discussions on specific topics and provided opportunities to interact directly with the professors.
The diversity among the participants is both a strong asset and a challenge of this Programme. Arguably the most impressive achievement of the Graduate Institute is that, by cleverly mixing the above-mentioned themes, it provides participants with different levels of previous knowledge with new thought-provoking insights throughout the course. The good mix of participants, including young professionals, experienced trade practitioners and students from all over the world makes up not only for very stimulating debates but also for a highly enjoyable atmosphere and some memorable moments on the shores of Lake Geneva.
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