At 4 p.m. Beijing time on April 29th in 2022, the Q&A Session on International Organizations of the Third United Nations Job Fair, sponsored by the China Scholarship Council and co-organized by Zhejiang University, Guang Dong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) and other universities, was successfully held at GDUFS’ s three campuses. Senior Human Resources officers from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World Food Program (WFP) respectively gave presentations and answered participants’ questions via video links. Xu Yiping, project director of the Department of Overseas Study Selection and Training of China Scholarship Council, and Zhao Jia, vice dean of the School of International Studies of Zhejiang University, attended the event. Besides, Zhang Xiusan, vice dean of the Graduate School of GDUFS, was also present and delivered a speech. The event was also live streamed online in real time.
Moderator Zhu Xiaomin
At the beginning of the event, Mr. Zhang Xiusan extended his sincere gratitude to the China Scholarship Council, the representatives of the United Nations organizations, and Zhejiang University, the leading university of this event. Mr. Zhang said that this event provided a platform for people from the United Nations organizations and other brother schools to gather online or offline, and an opportunity for students to get close to and have a better understanding of the United Nations organizations.
Vice Dean Zhang Xiusan
He then added that GDUFS is committed to cultivating versatile and high-end professionals who are proficient in foreign languages with a love for their motherland and a global vision. This educational concept meets the requirements for the United Nations talents. GDUFS encourages and supports students to apply for internships and jobs of the United Nations system. At present, many graduates from GDUFS have successively entered international organizations such as the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. The achievements GDUFS has made have contributed to China’s participation in global governance.
Tanviur Rahman, a Human Resources officer of the WFP headquarters in Rome, and Ekaterina Lazarova, an official from the Human Resources Office of FAO, gave presentations and answered related questions respectively.
WFP
Tanviur Rahman introduced WFP’ s profile, purposes, functions, as well as its talent programs and requirements, while providing suggestions on applying for internships and jobs at WFP. He mentioned that the WFP started functioning in 1962 and is the world’ s largest humanitarian organization, aiming to offer food assistance to vulnerable groups in distress and hunger around the world. The organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020. Currently, internship programs such as the International Professionals Program, the Future International Talent Pool Program, and the Junior Professional Officer Program are available for all applicants. Applicants can apply for programs by submitting personal resumes, personal statements including reasons for applying and attending online interviews, etc., based on their own conditions.
GDUFS Campus in Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City
FAO
Ekaterina Lazarova gave a detailed introduction to the FAO of the United Nations to the students. She covered the organization’ s overview, purposes, principles, young professionals programs, job requirements, designated positions, application time, etc. Established in 1945, FAO is one of the earliest permanent departments of the United Nations. It is committed to researching world agriculture and food issues to improve people’s quality of life, promote rural economic development, and eliminate hunger throughout the world. Qualified applicants can apply for relevant positions through several young professionals programs.
Xu Yiping, project director of the Overseas Study Selection and Training Department of China Scholarship Council
After the presentation, the two UN officers and Mrs. Xu patiently answered the questions raised by the students and offered valuable suggestions. The Q&A session on international organizations ended on a happy note, with all participants gaining a lot from the experience.
A Successful Conclusion
The successful Q&A session marked the successful conclusion of the Third United Nations Job Fair. As one of the organizers, the Graduate School and the School of International Governance Innovation of GDUFS set up a working group responsible for plans making, equipment and technical tests, participants registration, conference organization, news writing, etc. They successfully delivered a distinctive event that built a bridge between GDUFS and UN organizations and created valuable opportunities for young people to directly communicate with UN personnel. Through the event, GDUFS’ s teachers and students had a more comprehensive and profound understanding of United Nations organizations, further developed their global vision, and enhanced their competitiveness. The event showed students that international governance is attainable and participating in international governance on behalf of China is a responsibility, pursuit and honor. .
In recent years, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies has proactively responded to the national call to cultivate professionals in international governance. During the process, GDUFS Party committee has been keeping the mission in mind, having strategically and successfully undertaken several international organizations talent training programs. In 2016, the International Governance Innovation Master Program was launched, and, many of its brilliant graduates have entered international organizations. This means that the program has been successful in sending excellent professionals to international organizations and achieving remarkable results in the cultivation of international governance talents.
