So, you think the “International Day of Peace” should be an everyday thing and not a one day event? We hear ya.
Every year on September 21st, World Peace Day
is celebrated as a global commitment to strengthening peace amongst
nations and peoples. Looking at our world, this should probably be
extended to an entire month or at least a week...but hey, it’s a start.
In honor of this day and GoAbroad’s commitment to meaningful travel, we want to throw out a huge THANK YOU to all those students studying public policy to better our world.
What better way to promote peace, expand your knowledge, and increase
the breadth of your impact than by studying public policy and diplomacy!
Study along the shores of Lake Geneva and potentially rub elbows with the UN and Red Cross.
Switzerland
The hub for the largest number of
international organizations, and seen as one of the most diplomatic
countries in the world, Switzerland is an easy pick for public policy
study abroad. You will be in proximity to some of the most powerful and
well-known agencies of the United Nations and Red Cross, in addition to
over 200 other intergovernmental organizations. International diplomacy
is basically in the air you’ll breathe while studying in Switzerland!
Universities in Switzerland, like The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, offer a range of opportunities for students to get up close and personal with world organizations based in Geneva.
From studies in global governance and policy interventions to
opportunities with the UN itself, you’ll return home with a backpack
full of experience and a better sense of the path you need to take to
become a diplomat.
Get an inside look at the EU in Brussels
Belgium
Another key player on the international
stage, Belgium is an administrative center for many prominent
organizations and conferences. If your main interest is European
affairs, head to Brussels,
where you’ll find the central institutions of the European Union along
with many agencies with European ties, like the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO). The EU’s eminent presence in Brussels draws a large
international community. As a study abroad student, don’t be surprised
if the guest lecturer of the day is a foreign minister or high-level EU
policy maker!
Belgium is also a neighbor to Germany, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, which are all home to places of interest (i.e. The Hague, Paris,
etc.) for public policy and diplomacy students. With easy and
affordable Interrail travel in Europe, you can take some extracurricular
trips to do even more learning on your own time to expand your
learning.
China
China is well-known for having the
fastest-growing economy in the world. With great economic status comes
great influence on a global scale, but economy isn’t the only factor
that comes to play in diplomacy. With a country as large and populous as
China, and one that strives to be a driving force in international
policy, there is much to study and learn in China related to how they
manage relationships amongst allies and frenemies.
Aspiring Global Economists should look into programs in Hong Kong.
Japan
While China may be the first country that
comes to mind when considering studying public policy in Asia, Japan
should not be overlooked. Japan is part of the UN as well as a member
country in key international meetings on economics, security, and global
issues.
In recent years, Japan has steadily grown
as a world power. Not only does it have a strong economy, its military
is well-funded and highly developed with numerous modern technologies at
their fingertips. Yet, even with one of the largest military budgets,
the country only utilizes its forces for internal disputes and restricts
its use for international disputes strategically.
More importantly (especially on International Day of Peace), Japan ranks highest of any Asian country on the Global Peace Index
and has consistently been named among the top 10 on this index
annually. If Asia is calling you and diplomacy is your middle name, then
Japan may be the right place for you to study abroad!
Learn how Japan has earned their ranking on the Global Peace Index in Tokyo.
United States
If you want to study public policy in a
country that has the largest political and cultural influences in the
world, the United States is the place to be. In a dominant country like
the U.S., much can be learned about global responsibility. From its
allied partnerships all over the globe to more turbulent relations in
the Middle East, students can gain expertise studying public policy at
some of the top universities in the world for the field.
The nation’s capital, Washington D.C.,
is the best place to study public policy if you’re looking for an
international hotspot. Embassies from almost every country can be found
there, and most students will be lucky enough to get an insider’s look
into various government offices during site visits around the city. If
you are looking for an alternative to D.C., head to New York to (hopefully) brush shoulders with staff at the United Nations Headquarters!
How to Studying Abroad Will Help You Become a Diplomat
Regardless of the best places to study
public policy and diplomacy abroad listed above, know that there are
range of locations you can choose from; the best location for you
depends on your main interests and career goals. Looking into study
abroad programs in the Middle East or Africa, for example, can be both politically and culturally enlightening and bring an increased understanding to the complications surrounding conflict resolution.
The countries above are only the tip of the iceberg, but studying
abroad can definitely teach you how to become a diplomat and begin your
international career!
UN Headquarters in New York City
Diplomats have a tough job; not only are
they 100 percent representative of their native country, but they need
the skills to smoothly assimilate to the country of their
duty/assignment. You can jumpstart your ability to mesh with foreign cultures
(and ignite a passion for learning other nations’ histories, cultures,
and languages) by studying public policy abroad in college. Your ability
to develop interpersonal skills, including excellent networking and
relationship building tactics, will be put to the test as you navigate a
foreign place. Understanding your program peers, your resident
advisors, your homestay families, your professors, etc. won’t be as easy
as it sounds, but diplomats must be skilled in such people skills, so
you’ll be preparing for your future.
Wherever you decide to study public policy abroad, make sure you do your research!
Getting the most out of your study abroad experience, or experiences,
is the key to unlocking your potential in public policy (and maybe even
becoming a diplomat) to better our ever-globalizing world. You might
even be able to turn World Peace Day into World Peace Month if you play
your cards right!
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