Day Four - Three Emirates in One Day
From Dulles to Dubai, this journey has been filled with cultural immersion, challenging conversations, and creating increased opportunities for influence and growth for young professionals globally. With a particular focus in my professional role on increasing diversity in diplomacy and providing transparent pipelines for policy, I have been incredibly inspired by the rich conversations from young parliamentarian leaders throughout the United Arab Emirates and the enhanced empowerment for opportunities for our differences to spark conversation and serve as opportunities for coalition building.
With an eye for gender equity, enhancement of strategic security partnerships in the Gulf, and engaging our diverse cohort I have been incredibly inspired to take both the policy lessons and equally important the cultural components back to my community to increase exposure both for this important leader in the region, but also to share the power and simplicity of bringing people together. The challenge of the past two years filled with uncertainty, change in the social landscape and absence of typically seen human connection makes a moment like this experience even more powerful and impactful.
Outside of the political and professional levels of this trip, the opportunity to experience the glamour and magisterial elements of the United Arab Emirates in person and not via screen has been thrilling! From gold glistening high-rises, to the shimmering turquoise seen while kayaking in the Mangrove Plantation, our experiences have shown the various layers of the beauty both within the landscapes and most importantly its people. I am honored to be here learning from this experience, and I am eager to see what is left for this trip!
-Savannah Lane
Today we had the privilege of visiting the American University of Sharjah, a private university in what is widely known as the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates. Sharjah is an Emirate, similar to a State in the United States, that is located north of Dubai. American University was founded in 1997 by his Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
Despite its common moniker, the American University is an independent institution and is not a UAE branch of the American University based in Washington, D.C. Nonetheless, all instruction is conducted in English and the university trains local and international leaders in both engineering and foreign policy. We had a great dialogue with both students and faculty who were affiliated with the international relations and foreign affairs department. The faculty hailed from a variety of backgrounds and had previously lived and studied in North America, Asia and Europe. The students were very insightful and passionately discussed current affairs such as the crisis in the Ukraine and ways that we can all work to become anti-racist and combat bias in our communities. One student was very active in Model United Nations competitions and another student was very interested in gender studies and animal rights.
Our robust dialogue made me nostalgic for the intellectual exchanges that happen in college and it made me grateful to have an opportunity to still engage in these sorts of vibrant conversations as a young professional. These students made me have even more hope for the next generation of Emirati leaders and they represented the progressive and tolerant values that are being intentionally cultivated in the UAE.
-Antonio Ingram
Today we had the privilege of visiting the American University of Sharjah, a private university in what is widely known as the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates. Sharjah is an Emirate, similar to a State in the United States, that is located north of Dubai. American University was founded in 1997 by his Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
Despite its common moniker, the American University is an independent institution and is not a UAE branch of the American University based in Washington, D.C. Nonetheless, all instruction is conducted in English and the university trains local and international leaders in both engineering and foreign policy. We had a great dialogue with both students and faculty who were affiliated with the international relations and foreign affairs department. The faculty hailed from a variety of backgrounds and had previously lived and studied in North America, Asia and Europe. The students were very insightful and passionately discussed current affairs such as the crisis in the Ukraine and ways that we can all work to become anti-racist and combat bias in our communities. One student was very active in Model United Nations competitions and another student was very interested in gender studies and animal rights.
Our robust dialogue made me nostalgic for the intellectual exchanges that happen in college and it made me grateful to have an opportunity to still engage in these sorts of vibrant conversations as a young professional. These students made me have even more hope for the next generation of Emirati leaders and they represented the progressive and tolerant values that are being intentionally cultivated in the UAE.
-Jeffrey Nahm
