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February/March 2011
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Campus News: Diplomatic DialoguesBy Carlene London
Sharan Singh, Director of the International Office, explained that the DD presents a forum for discussions, debates and presentations on contemporary Caribbean and world issues. He said this forum creates an opportunity for the University to be the touchdown point for solutions stemming from in-depth research and involvement. Professor Timothy Shaw, Director of the Institute of International Relations, also says that he hopes the DD will become known for giving insight into world issues. He said that the series is an attempt to institutionalize the regular interface between the University and several diplomats and heads of international organizations. He believes that the occurrence of the DD is a natural progression for the IIR as it has been involved in diplomatic training and upgrading for a number of years. The DD is set to maximize the international resources that we have available to us as a nation and showcase how by engaging these resources, solutions can be found to pertinent issues, he said. The DD gives the University stakeholders the opportunity to gain valuable international perspectives within its borders.
The second session took place on February 24, and featured Ambassador Stefan Schlüter of the German Embassy. The panel discussion was on Conflict Prevention and Peace Building, an area the Ambassador worked thoroughly on in Berlin. Ambassador Schlüter planned to discuss how a more thorough approach to peace missions involving civilian and judicial reform as opposed to simply military force needs to be adopted, and how these issues can affect the Caribbean and Latin American regions. The German Ambassador said that the concept of the Diplomatic Dialogues supports his belief in bilateral relations that could result in knowledge and human resource exchanges. He believes that it provides a good opportunity not just to impart knowledge, but to gain insight into the thoughts and research coming out of the University. He has been instrumental in working with the IIR and IO in establishing connections and resources for future sessions. As part of this year’s programme, one of the sessions is planned to be on the addition of South Africa to the BRIC group, a topic that will surely yield provocative dialogue.
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The UWI St. Augustine Campus is bringing its international linkages centre stage through its Diplomatic Dialogues series. The Diplomatic Dialogues (DD) was born out of two separate ideas from The UWI’s International Office (IO) and its Institute of International Relations (IIR) that were merged into one cohesive initiative.
The first presentation of the series took place in November last year, when the High Commissioner of India, Sri Malay Mishra, spoke on major aspects of India’s foreign policy under the theme, Contemporary India.