Professors and students alike are beginning a well-earned summer break as another academic year at the Institute draws to a close. Alongside a busy teaching and research agenda, this past year has seen a large number of important events at the Maison de la paix, many organised by the Institute in partnership with leading organisations in Geneva.

Speakers have included José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission, Rafael Correa, President of the Republic of Ecuador, Joschka Fischer, former Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of Germany, Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization, and Pascal Lamy, former Director-General of the World Trade Organization. Many world renowned academics also spoke at the Institute this year, including Professor Saul Friedländer, UCLA, Professor Gilles Kepel, Sciences Po, and Professor William Beinart, University of Oxford. The annual Sergio Vieira de Mello conference brought together António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to look at leadership challenges in a world in turmoil. Moderated by Christiane Amanpour and attended by almost 2,000 people, the event, in a first for the Institute, was broadcast on CNN.

The fifth and sixth “petals” of the Maison de la paix welcomed their new occupants during the year, including DCAF, Interpeace, the Right Livelihood Award and the Small Arms Survey.

News of the Week will come out once a month during the summer break, before we return as normal at the start of new academic year in September. In the meantime, keep up to date with all the news at the Graduate Institute on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as on our website.