Enriching study trip of EU International Relations and Diplomacy students to Geneva
During the first week of March 2025, the students of the Department of EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies visited Geneva to learn more about the work of various international organisations as well as the coordination between the EU member states in the context of multilateral diplomacy. In addition to high-level lectures and interactive discussions, the students enjoyed a fondue dinner at a traditional Swiss restaurant and had the opportunity to network with College of Europe Alumni.
The first visit was held at the Permanent Mission of the EU to the WTO and the Delegation of the EU to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, where the students had the chance to debate current affairs with the two EU Ambassadors in Geneva: H.E. Ambassador João Aguiar Machado (Head of the EU Mission to the WTO) and H.E. Ambassador Lotte KNUDSEN (Head of the EU Delegation to the UN), both College of Europe Alumni. Students also attended a panel discussion on Team Europe priorities, featuring the ambassadors of Finland, Croatia and Spain, with two students moderating the event.
Another highlight was a visit of the Palais des Nations, the United Nations headquarters, where students met with representatives from the office of the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), including Evariste KARAMBIZI, the Director of the Peace Division, as well as Oran NO, official of the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR). In the afternoon, students were given the opportunity to visit the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum or to enjoy a guided tour of the UN Museum.
The third day started with a panel at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with the much appreciated support of DiploFoundation, during which topics such as climate, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity were discussed. Students had, inter alia, the chance to exchange with Maja Drazenovic-Carrieri, Director of Governance Services at the WMO, and Olivier Coutau, Delegate to International Geneva. In the afternoon, the students visited the World Trade Organization, addressing recent developments at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, digital trade as well as dispute settlement.
On the final morning, the students could choose to visit one of the following institutions to be briefed about new developments in, respectively, global health, the climate-security and terrorism-technology nexus, humanitarian work, and human rights: the World Health Organization (WHO), the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Throughout the study trip, career opportunities were presented as well.
The College of Europe is grateful to all speakers for dedicating their time and sharing their expertise and would in particular like to thank two sponsors, namely, the Swiss Mission to the UN and the Office for International Geneva of the Republic and State of Geneva, for their generous support.
