At an annual Graduation Ceremony for Executive Education programmes, Ms. Arancha González, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre delivered an inspiring and eloquent keynote address, challenging graduates to rise above the cynicism often found in today's global context. Ms González shared with participants her view of major development trends that are shaping the dynamics for leaders in world affairs, calling upon graduates to maintain their intellectual curiosity as a hallmark of good leadership. She encouraged them to remain optimistic about the impact that they can make, and to invest in personal networks across sectors as bridgebuilders of the future.
The Graduation ceremony recognized 68 new graduates from across four distinct degree programmes, designed and delivered in part-time format for mid-career working professionals. Participants who became alumni on Friday night returned to the Villa Barton, where they had commuted for course modules, from as far as Washington, Nairobi, and Singapore in order to celebrate with classmates and receive their degree.
The joint ceremony included two Executive Certificate programmes (Advocacy in International Affairs and International Economic Relations) and two Executive Master programmes (International Negotiation and Policy-Making and International Oil and Gas Leadership). In addition to the keynote speaker, a representative from each of the four programmes gave an addresss on behalf of their classmates and distinguished guests.
Since Executive programmes are designed in convenient formats for working professionals who are often juggling high demands at work with family responsibilities and studies, the audience included proud family members and work colleagues, who joined a formal reception and dinner following the ceremony.
The occasion also marked the "passing of the baton" to new, incoming participants in the 2014-15 Executive Master programmes, which concurrently held their opening modules last week at the Villa Barton. More news on the incoming cohorts.