Inside Geneva’s world of diplomacy
Seven aspiring diplomats and changemakers recently capped off their participation in the International Project Program of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and Ureka Education in Geneva, Switzerland.
Prior to the overseas trip, students from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance collaborated remotely on a project aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which further enhanced their practical skills through teamwork and problem-solving.
For the final week, the participants set off to Geneva to complement their virtual collaboration with an immersive learning experience, as they engaged with global institutions and explored key issues in policy, development and sustainability.
“As one of the world’s leading centers for international cooperation, Geneva offers an ideal environment for understanding the intersection of public policy, business and global governance,” third-year Diplomacy and International Affairs student Marisol Caldo remarked.
The initiative exposed the delegates to multilateral diplomacy and intercultural encounters and bolstered career readiness by familiarizing them with possible professional pathways to international organizations.
“Aside from learning through actual collaboration, problem-solving, and project making, I also got to meet and work with people from different countries and backgrounds,” Jeus Fajardo, fellow DIA undergrad, shared. “I genuinely loved the diversity within the delegation because everyone brought unique ideas, perspectives, and experiences to the table.”
The program included lectures on the DNA of Multilateral Diplomacy by Ambassador Amr Aljowaily, director of the Citizens and Diaspora Organizations Directorate at the African Union Commission.
Graduand Joshua Bitong reiterated his main takeaways from the topic: “I learned about the sources of international law, the elements of statehood in international law, and the roles of specialized institutions such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, World Meteorological Organization, and other international bodies.”
On the other hand, UN-certified coach and trainer Jérôme L'host conducted sessions on Project Management and Professional Skills for Impact, Negotiation Skills and Techniques, and Leadership Skills.
“The immersion trip taught me that there is more to project management than meets the eye. I was able to garner some insight on how productive it can be,” Governance and Public Affairs freshman Helice Gevaña stated. “It must be community-based, SDG-aligned, and realistic yet ambitious. That is a big thing — ambition. It can drive you to do great things so long as you have the avenue to grow as both an individual and a leader.”
The Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Game was discussed by Alice Richard, a former staff member of the United Nations Children’s Fund and sustainability catalyst behind Co-CREATE ImpACT.
“The initiative helps students better understand how the SDGs are applied through real policies, projects, and global partnerships. Seeing these efforts first-hand makes the importance of sustainability, innovation, and social responsibility more meaningful and relevant,” senior Lancelot Gines mentioned.
The week-long excursion was highlighted by their tour at Palais des Nations, which houses the European headquarters of the United Nations and is the largest center after New York.
“The experience felt like a dream,” freshman Datu Jamsheed Hisham Bandila noted. “The UN existed as an object of my knowledge from books, documentaries, and news reports until I visited the site for real. The diplomatic meeting rooms and halls that I walked through showed me how vital international dialogues and decision-making processes work.”
The delegation likewise paid a visit to the Geneva Graduate Institute at Maison de la Paix, where they participated in a tech hub panel discussion titled AI in Diplomacy, Opportunities, Risks and Institutional Readiness.
Stopovers at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, the International Red Cross, Patek Philippe Museum, International Labor Office, and Broken Chair were part of the group’s itinerary.
“The program as a whole invoked the masterful coalescence of leadership and collaboration in the pursuit of sustainable global initiatives, multilateral diplomacy, project management, as well as artificial intelligence and its social impact,” fellow DIA student Hannah Gabrielle Concordia commented.