Acknowledgments
Jan Eliasson
Former Deputy Secretary-General,
United Nations
MESSAGE FROM JAN ELLIASSON, FORMER UN DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Regional Academy on the United Nations is a valuable multicultural educational initiative to train an emerging generation of young scholars in issues of importance to the United Nations. With its program of meetings in several countries, and its flexible multinational teams of students working together to address challenges for global governance, the Regional Academy offers a model of how to encourage collective solutions to world problems.I congratulate the founders and the participants of the RAUN for their efforts. I hope to see many of them taking on important roles for international cooperation in their future careers.
Abiodun Williams Former President, The Hague Institute for Global Justice
MESSAGE FROM ABLODUN WILLIAMS, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE HAGUE INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE
The Regional Academy on the United Nations fulfils two essential roles in its work engaging diverse communities with the UN. First, its critical focus on young scholars serves the intergenerational mission of fostering a more peaceful and just world. Second, the initiative is a multicultural one, which brings together scholars from different backgrounds, and with differing perspectives, thereby serving the mission of the United Nations to foster cooperation and understanding between peoples.
Amb. Hans Winkler Former Director, Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (picture copyright: DA/Weingartner)
MESSAGE FROM AMB. HANS WINKLER, FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE DIPLOMATIC ACADEMY OF VIENNA
The Regional Academy on the United Nations (RAUN) is in many ways a perfect partner for the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (DA): Both institutions put emphasis on internationality, interdisciplinarity, high academic standards as well as combining academics and practitioners. We not only focus on learner-centred teaching methods, but also encourage our students to apply for internships at United Nations. This opportunity is an important asset that is also promoted by RAUN. It ensures that students get a unique insight into the work of the UN in addition to the academic training, which is an excellent preparation for a career in international affairs. Institutions also benefit from these knowledgeable and committed students. Therefore, we are pleased that each year a number of DA students are active in RAUN, which gives them the opportunity to work on UN-related subjects, to present and publish their papers. We welcome RAUN’s efforts to train students more about the UN system, its values and work and making the UN accessible to young people. I want to thank everyone at RAUN for their enthusiasm, energy and belief in the importance of excellent training.
Martin Nesirky
Director, United Nations Information Service (UNIS Vienna)
MESSAGE FROM MARTIN NESIRKY, DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE (UNIS VIENNA)
The Regional Academy on the United Nations (RAUN) is an innovative initiative involving young people in the work of the United Nations. It involves direct interaction between RAUN students and UN experts which creates a rewarding relationship. Looking into the future, the research projects of RAUN are clearly linked to the priorities of the UN. UN researchers can help the UN raise its game, by putting it under a microscope, by looking at the way it works and by suggesting ways that it can improve. It is therefore important for RAUN graduates to remain engaged in the work of the UN. Having been inspired by UN experts and inspiring themselves, RAUN graduates can help inspire others as well in their countries. We continue to encourage people to take part in such initiatives that help to bring young people to the UN and the UN to young people and help people to understand more about the work of the United Nations.