Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend a global conference
on the governance and management of natural resources, such as oil, gas and
coal, in Lima (Peru). I was part of a
group of six students and two lecturers who were sponsored by the Global Leadership Initiative (GLI).
Looking back on it now, I can truly say it was an invaluable
experience and really helped to develop my knowledge of this crucial issue. I was
able to actively engage with government representatives and other state officials as they
discussed the role of relevant legislative bodies. It also allowed me to put
the theory I had learnt in class into practice. I learnt more about public
policy in a two-hour workshop than I probably would have in half a semester of
classes! It also helped in ways I hadn’t even imagined before, such as
improving my time management (juggling coursework with pre-conference reading
and research wasn't easy!) and teamwork skills.
Part of my sponsorship agreement with the GLI was to write a
short summary and
blog piece on what I learned from the conference, putting my writing skills
to the test in two very different ways. And they must have been good, as they were
published by the Global Policy Journal – a well-known publisher amongst policy
analysts and scholars. You can read the pieces here.
I would encourage all postgraduate students to look out for
such opportunities throughout the year. Besides the academic and transferable
skills you’ll gain, there are also the practical knowledge and the opportunity to
network, travel and see the world as well. It’s also a great opportunity to
appreciate diversity amidst academics. I believe education is not only taught
in the classroom, but that the best classroom is the world…... Let’s get out
there and learn!
Winfred Syombua, MA Governance and Public Policy
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