Welcome everyone, to the Institute for Global Understanding's (IGU) blog. We just completed an exciting, engaging, and exhilarating week-long convention. The convention theme this year, Transcending our Differences, Transforming the World, helped us explore the richness of our differences and commonalities, and the many ways in which the global community can rise above the carnage of genocide, discrimination, human rights violation, and other challenges to humanity, to create a better world. I want to start with a BIG "THANK YOU" to everyone for participating and supporting our efforts this year and over the past 8 years. Our students in particular, volunteered, participated in many ways, and demonstrated their commitment to making positive changes in our local and global communities. The convention has been a success because of the campus community's enthusiastic participation and cooperation. Please feel free to post your thoughts on what you liked about the convention, how you participated, and suggestions about how we can make it better next year. Thank You,
Sincerely,
Professor Datta
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This year's conference was superb. I was so happy to see all the student involvement, and have been pleasantly surprised at the reaction papers I have received. I think the number and diversity of offerings achieved a good Goldilocksean balance this year... well done, everyone!
ReplyDeleteKaren (aka Dr. Schmelzkopf)
Dear Dr Datta,
ReplyDeleteThank you for engaging me in the Global Understanding Convention. It was a privilege to have the opportunity to address the students on the history, current affairs and future of Zimbabwe.
There is much work to be done and much of it falls on the academic institutions to breed new generations with a global understanding of ethics and poverty eradication. It makes me proud to be a student of Monmouth University because of professors like you, who are tirelessly advocating for global understanding. If politicians were educated to hold a high standard of principles, then the prevalent issues that are crippling our humanity today would be minimized. There is a need for us as students of our world to challenge each other to be well-informed so that any decisions we make in our career paths will be an ethical aid to the development of our communities. As an African, I call on your moral code to support efforts that will bring peace, freedom and prosperity to my people that have been long cursed with slavery, coloniasm and now – modern capitalism. I truly believe that it’s not adequate to be simply “willing” – we ought to do something. It’s not enough to “know” – we owe it to ourselves to apply that knowledge to something fruitful.
With high regard,
Moleen Madziva {MSc. Software Engineering, 2009}
This years GUP was definitely a success.
ReplyDeletethe hunger banquet was lots of fun and i think much better than last years. the only thing i would like to comment on for next year is perhaps a little bit more structure or rehearsal for the riot (i had ALOT of fun participating)
I felt that the panel on genocide was very well constructed and offered a lot of insight on the topic. the different perspectives of all the participants (in both panels) seemed to encompass the topic very well.
South Asia panel was also very informative. you don't seem to hear much about this upcoming region of the world and i felt that the panel did i great job in illustrating the current situation in Pakistan.
The Same Tribe panel was excellent in my opinion. there couldn't have been a better panel picked to handle the topic. it was a little obnoxious when that one woman became perhaps, overly vocal about the horrible acts committed with regards to janin. although i understand what a terrible situation janin was for the Muslim people, i do not feel that her behavior is an effective way to gain support or understanding her cause.
Model UN was fun to participate in and i was impressed with how prepared the health studies class was.
The presentation on Water & its influence on the Israeli Palestinian conflict was quite interesting and offered a practical mechanism that could be very useful in achieving peace in the middle east
The great debate was awesome as always. everyone did a great job & i must say i'm very excited to take the debate class in the fall.
The study Abroad China 2008 Olympics panel was awesome. not just because i got to participate but because it was a miniature class reunion. we got to relive our experience and look at pictures while we discussed Chinese culture and society. the only unfortunate aspect of this panel was one of our colleagues was rather rude to other panelists and disruptive; i'm sure she didn't mean it.
the Kosovo panel was an excellent panel as well. unfortunately i had to leave a few minutes early so i did not see the conclusion. it offered great insight into this region of the world that it seems has been forgotten in recent years. i was alittle disappointed however, at the lack of attendance at this event.
Dr. Svetlana Broz offered a great presentation on the recent developments in wake of the Bosnian war. her insight was very informative and inspiring.
David Sanger had a tremendously informative presentation as well. i felt that his knowledge and insight helped us understand the upcoming international conflicts and issues to come. he addressed some of the most precedent current global issues that many are concerned about yet no one seems to take the time to research. there was much to be learned from Mr. Sanger.
overall i felt that this years GUP was a great success.
I feel honored to have had the opportunity to get involved in one of the discussion panels within the Global Understanding Convention this year. Moderating the "Women Today: Different Cultures, Different Roles in Society?" panel gave me (Romania) and other two international students (Japan and Zimbabwe) the means to enrich the students' view in regards to the role heritage plays and shapes women's role in society. By organizing such events the Institute for Global Understanding plays an important role in addressing important social and cultural issues and promoting cultural diversity, pointing to a general common denominator: understanding each other's differences contributes to a more educated and thus better world.
ReplyDeleteI wish to thank Rie Komatsu and Moleen Madziva for their precious input and Dr. Rekha Datta for having faith in our contributions and hope I will have the opportunity to engage in other future similar events organized by the Institute for Global Understanding.
Cristina Onciu
MBA in Finance 2009, Monmouth University