David Fanhbulleh, ©UWinnipeg
UWinnipeg political science and human rights student David Fanhbulleh has returned from the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, NY where he attended a closed door meeting at the Security Council. This experience was part of his United Nations Intensive Summer Study Program at Seton Hall University, NJ. This incredible opportunity has been converted into a self-directed course for credit at UWinnipeg that will contribute to his degree. Fanhbulleh is working with Dr. Julie Pelletier, Acting Executive Director, Global College on his self-directed course.
“Truly an advantage of a small university is having flexibility to meet students’ needs,” shared Pelletier. “The Human Rights program at Global College was able to craft an independent course for David that drew from his important study at the UN.”
This UN program immersed Fanhbulleh in official sessions at UN headquarters and briefings on global initiatives that demonstrated first-hand experience on the inner workings of the UN. The course included bringing together distinguished practitioners working in the field of multilateral diplomacy and included briefings at the United Nations Association of the USA and the United Nations Foundation.
Speaking on his Security Council experience, Fanbulleh was very excited to be in the room and he describes it as, “the best academic learning experience,” adding that, “the meeting addressed issues bordering on private sector participation in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), challenges of the UN, role of non-governmental organizations in SDGs. The transition from theory to practice was top notch.”
During the program the students succeeded in building a community comprising of over 18 nationalities including the United States, China, Russia, Canada, Nigeria, Ghana, Belize, Granada, and Spain. In addition to to helping build a network of colleagues, the opportunity allowed participants to network with professors of the Seton Hall University and speakers who managed high profile diplomatic portfolios.
