Global Environmental Energy and Risk 2014

I think all of our class was able to make an international network of peers...

The Setting of the Program:
Studying in Geneva, Switzerland offered an opportunity to be at the heart of the action, when it comes to research, discussion, and decision-making at a global scale. As Geneva is the site of many international organizations, it offers a very unique setting to learn. The city itself is nestled among a number of spectacular geographic features. It sits at the southwestern banks of Lake Geneva, at the mouth of the Rhone River, surrounded by
mountains, with the Jura Mountains in the west and the Alps in the east. The flat that I was renting offered a view of the Arve River. Walking along the banks of the river every morning towards the University, alongside the early morning joggers, and looking up at the beautiful mountains on my way back was refreshing for both the mind and the body.

The Structure of the Program:
The course was structured such that we received the majority of our morning lectures from distinguished, knowledgeable, and inspirational professors that really wanted you to think outside the box. Despite how much you might actually know at a technical level, it was all about coming up with creative solutions to large problems. It wasn’t enough to just answer a question, there was typically always a follow up question that made you think about what you were saying and explain it with consideration for all stakeholders involved with the issue. Along with the main professors, we also had periodic lectures from guest experts in particular fields of research that complemented our studies. The afternoon lectures gave us an opportunity to visit and hear from employees of the many international and domestic organizations situated in Geneva, such as WMO, UNHCR, WEF, IFRC, and UNEP to name a few. The topics of the lectures at these organizations really gave us the full spectrum, from the theory that we learned in class to the actual strategic planning and implementation. It was beneficial to see how the organizations operate and what exactly they are doing in the areas we were interested in, from doing the research, putting people in the field, and providing the platforms that allow for stakeholders to interact. This mix of classroom lectures and site visits really opened a lot of eyes in my opinion, including my own. Finally, the program offered several opportunities for group collaboration. In a world of globalization, I think it’s crucial for our generation to be able to work as a team with people from many backgrounds. That leads me to third thing I want to talk about.

The Students in the Program:
What really makes the experience ultimately is whom you share it with. As this was a course open to international students, as expected, there was a diverse makeup to our class. Out of the approximately 20 students in our class, there were at least 13 nationalities represented! I come from a pretty diverse university to begin with, but even then, I don’t see this kind of mix. It was both refreshing and valuable to get thoughts on an issue with many perspectives, as everyone frequently used examples from their respective home countries. Having so many viewpoints made for very lively classroom discussions and debates that were beneficial to all. When you come from so many different backgrounds, you always learn something new with every conversation. As there were a number of activities planned outside of class, we really got a chance to bond and get to know each other. The dynamics of our group made for a lot of good stories and plenty of laughter. Naturally, getting acquainted out of the classroom made everyone more comfortable with each other and more likely to open up in class. I think overall we had a really special group, as everyone got along really well and genuinely wanted to hang out after class, whether it was going to our spot at Café de Rond Point or Mr. Pickwick’s Pub to watch the World Cup matches, going to Victoria Hall to see the One World Concert, or enjoying fondue in the Old Town. As an American, I never kept up with futbol/soccer, but I ended up watching every Germany game and surprisingly becoming a fan of the eventual champion, as one of my classmates was from Germany. Beyond just Geneva, many of us even had an opportunity to travel together to the many beautiful cities around Lake Geneva as well.

Final Thoughts:
When you first come to a new country, there is a good mix of anxiety and excitement. Will I be able to acclimate to my new surroundings? Will the program be worth it? I think the GSS program was designed so that all the students got to know each other rather quickly, which really enhanced the rest of the experience. They were able to make the most out of this short but nonetheless intensive program that really optimized its location by offering access to the many organizations. The balance of lecture, site visits, and group projects is more conducive to a student’s learning in my opinion. There were a lot of areas of my field that I didn’t know so much about that I am now very interested in. Geneva itself served as interesting model. In the end, while saying goodbye was hard on many of us, we are all still very connected. I think all of our class was able to make an international network of peers with the same field of interest. Even today, there is still a lot of activity in our Facebook group, we have started a
LinkedIn group, a WhatsApp group, and there has been discussion of joint ventures. I’m curious to see where we all end up.

It’s difficult to measure the value of the program, but I know that if I have more to think about in my field now than when I first started, it was worth it. I would highly recommend the program to anyone who is considering studying abroad.

Thank you ThinkSwiss, Geneva Summer Schools, and fellow students!

 

Vinay Amin, University of Texas