Delegates of Wenzhou-Kean University Participate in the 8th University Scholar Leadership Symposium at the United Nations
From August 1, 2017 to August 7, 2017, the 8th University Scholar Leadership Symposium launched by Humanitarian Affairs was convoked at the United Nations in Bangkok, Thailand. More than 900 distinguished university delegates from 78 countries and regions were invited to partake in this conference.
As the first Sino-US cooperative university in Zhejiang, Wenzhou-Kean University was also on the list of this event. 13 excellent student delegates from WKU went to Bangkok to study and discuss humanitarian affairs with outstanding students from world renowned universities. The theme of this symposium is “Building life, Giving hope”, delegates listened speeches from staff of Humanitarian Affairs and Non-Governmental Organizations. In addition, delegates actively participated in services related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations. Delegates joined in the tea break and group discussion as well. After the variety of these activities, delegates were clearly aware that though they are having a comfortable life, there were still many placed in the world need to be changed.
Delegates also figured out the future directions that they would be working hard in the future by continually improving themselves and contributing to humanitarian affairs in the meantime.
At this symposium, delegates listened speeches of people from different fields such as Dr. Lutfi Fadil Lokman, the founder of Hospital Beyond Boundaries; Ryan Hrelja, the founder of Ryan’s Well Foundation; Francis Kong, a phillippino inspirational speaker and author; and Rachel Sumekh, the founder of Swipe Out Hunger.
A highlight of this symposium is service day which related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations. On that day, delegates from all over the world deeply felt the pain of poverty and starvation, and understood the importance of developing humanitarian affairs with sweats and tears. They also hoped to actively participate in serve humanitarian affairs in the future.
During group discussion on the United Nations sustainable development goals, WKU students actively made speeches and proposed the idea, centering on “quality education” in combination with WKU schooling practice, that to transfer the quality education resources of development countries to the developing countries to offer quality education to their students. This proposal received agreement and approval from representatives of other countries present.
Xu Zhenyang, one of WKU student representatives, said: “Through this symposium, I have a deeper understanding on the places of the world that need us young people to make our own contributions. By the tea talk and group discussion, I got a chance to know friends from all over the world and to communicate with them about my understanding of the world. ”
The University Scholars Leadership Symposium, a one-week leadership training program, offers a motivating platform for thousands of future leaders from all over the world to gather together. Since 2010 when the first session of University Scholars Leadership Symposium was held, this symposium has been held in one of the developing countries in Asian-Pacific region every year.
