With funding from ShanghaiTech University, Ma Yueyang ’28, from the Institute of Humanities (IH), was selected for the inaugural International Organizations Summer Study Program in Geneva. The program aims to broaden students’ global perspectives, foster versatile students with international background, and enhance their capacity to engage in global governance.
From June 22 to 29, under the guidance of Xiao Yin, assistant director of the Office of International Affairs, Ma joined a study group with five faculty and students from Shanghai University of Political Science and Law (SHUPL), conducting a week-long intensive study program.Discussion with Ambassador David Fernandez Puyana (first from right)The program’s partner, the University for Peace, hosted morning lectures led by Ambassador David Fernandez Puyana, its Permanent Observer to the UN Office in Geneva. Topics included introduction to multilateralism and diplomacy, overview of UN entities and institutions, and sustainable development goals and negotiation strategies. The group also engaged in in-depth discussions on strengthening multilateralism and improving education quality.Each afternoon, the group went to the UN Conference Center, observing real-time side events on topics such as combating human trafficking, enhancing child protection in cyberspace, and ensuring judicial independence and safety for judges and lawyers. They enjoyed the privilege of interacting with Ambassador Chen Xu, China’s representative to the UN Office in Geneva and other Swiss-based international organizations.The group also attended informal consultations on human rights resolutions, observing delegates negotiate draft texts word by word to ensure precision. During breaks, Ambassador Puyana arranged exclusive seminars with senior figures, including Shyami Puvimanasinghe from the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Maria Mercedes Rossi from the Pope John XXIII Community, and Mariateresa Garrido, a resident professor at the University for Peace in Geneva, who shared insights into their daily work.Particularly memorable were exclusive exchanges with representatives from Azerbaijan and Costa Rica. Their highly professional presentations showcased diplomatic finesse and enriched the group’s understanding of development and international relations in Central Asia and Central America.Towards the conclusion of the program, a tour was led by Fernando Puchol, a World Trade Organization public relations officer, where the students visited WTO headquarters to learn about its consultation processes. They took a group photo in front of Canglang Xuan, a Suzhou garden-style pavilion donated by China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Suzhou government during the WTO’s expansion.Ma Yueyang’s personal reflection:Previously, we could only glimpse the UN through TV reports, like buying foreign goods through a middleman. This opportunity allowed us to step into the conference halls and witness the real UN, like buying foreign goods in foreign countries personally. As an undergraduate in Foreign Languages and Foreign History, I believe immersing myself in international organizations and observing their operations is a vital part of my academic journey. It lifts our gaze from the study desk to the vast world. The harvest far exceeds the dozen pages of daily meeting notes, but lies in understanding, experiencing, and feeling the global cultures in the past seven days, enabling me to proudly say in the future, “I was there,” “I know,” and “I understand.”
As the first initiative of the China National Institute for Shanghai Cooperation Organization International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation based at SHUPL, the summer study program offers an immersive learning experience, providing unique exposure to global governance by observing the UN system’s operations and engaging in deep dialogues with diplomats and international officials. This fosters understanding with regards to upholding the UN-centered international system, advancing global governance reforms, and refining China’s outlook on solutions to global problems. In the future, the IH will actively participate in this program to enhance students’ practical experience with international organizations, set clear career goals, and highlight the program’s strengths in cultivating students for global governance and regional studies. This reflects the IH’s mission to “address national needs, training reserves for international organizations and regional research experts,” broadening horizons and offering diverse paths for students aspiring to work in global arenas.
