The Department of Politics and International Relations (PIR) within the School of Social Sciences hosted an exciting educational session with the United Nations Migration Agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in November 2021.
The IOM is the leading global organisation promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all since 1951. With 174 member states and a presence in over 100 countries, the IOM has a significant weight in the global discourse and policy on development, migration and conflict.
The session, which was led by Anke Strauss from IOM and attended by nearly 70 students, introduced the organisation, its key mission, principles and functions in the field of international migration. As a major UN agency and an attractive global employer in the field, the session also focused on introducing the various entry points to IOM, from internships to consultancies and full-time employment.
Anke’s presentation was followed by a lively Q&A session that provided students with a unique opportunity to engage directly with the organisation on a range of issues, from the IOM stance on the refugee crossings across the Mediterranean, to its cooperation with other UN agencies, as well as the details of internship opportunities.
The session marked another step in strengthening the relationship between the University of Westminster and the UN Migration Agency. IOM hosted a session at an international fieldtrip for Politics and International Relations students in early 2021. The University is at the cusp of signing an important agreement with IOM which would facilitate closer collaboration between both institutions and provide our students with unique internship opportunities at this important UN agency.
Talking about the session, Dr Sahar Taghdisi Rad, Senior Lecturer from the School of Social Sciences who organised the event, said: “We are very excited to provide such opportunities to our students to directly interact with global institutions that tackle the most pressing issues of our time. We are very proud of our collaborations with the UN’s Migration Agency and look forward to supporting our students to take up unique internships at this UN agency.”
A student who attended the event added: “Attending the IOM session was a very essential and interesting experience, as migration is often misinterpreted. It was heart-warming to see the different internship opportunities available and how this generation can help migrants that are at a disadvantage.”
Find out more about Politics and International Relations courses at the University of Westminster.
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