People
Human Rights student at UN conference
Human Rights student Saka Azimazi returned from New York
recently after representing the UK in a Model United Nations (UN)
Conference.
Saka, who is studying for an LLM in International Human Rights Law, was
one of 28 Chevening Scholarship students from the UK who attended the
conference. Saka was selected to attend after an intensive interview by
representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before joining the
team from the UK for three months of training in preparation for the
Conference.
The purpose behind the Model UN Conference is to simulate the activities
of the UN and prepare future international actors in the art of diplomacy,
friendship and cross-cultural building of consensus and compromise. The
Model UN Conferences are held across the world, but the largest and most
prominent is the conference held annually in USA. There were delegates
from 12 countries representing 120 UN member states divided into 44
committees and commissions.
This conference was opened by the UN Under-Secretary General for Public
Affairs, Shashi Tharour, inside the UN General Assembly Hall. Speaking
about the conference, Saka said: 'The experience was wonderful. We engaged
in drafting resolutions, caucusing, building regional blocs and trading in
diplomatic nuances. Though a simulation, it is surprising the length to
which some 'countries' will go in pursuit of state policy.'
New challenge for Andrew
Andrew Nightingale, the University's Director of Estate
Management, was elected as the Chairman of the Association of University
Directors of Estates at its annual conference at the University of
Nottingham just prior to Easter. The term of office is for two years and
Andrew is the first officer from the University of Essex to hold this
particular post.
Among the first issues that Andrew will be involved with in his new role
is to provide feedback to the Higher Education Funding Council for England
(HEFCE), as part of a senior management group, on the Good Management
Practice initiative and to work with the Commission for Architecture and
the Built Environemnt (CABE) and the Funding Council to establish a study
quantifying the value of design in higher education buildings.
Andrew said 'I am very much looking forward to this new challenge which
comes at a time of further expansion for the higher education sector as
well as initiatives for better quality and management control in the
construction industry. I am delighted to receive this personal recognition
from my peers and believe that this reflects well on the Estate Management
Section and the University of Essex.'
This marks a unique double for the University of Essex as David Lewis,
Deputy Director of Estate Management (Facilities), is currently serving
the second and final year of his term of office as Chairman of the
Association of University Engineers.
Also in the printed April edition of Wyvern:
- Royal meeting for business development manager
- prize for essay on artificial blood
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