Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) students have completed one week of field visits in Geneva, Switzerland this week as part of the Global Governance module of the Master’s program.

The field trip, which took place between September 19 and 23, included visits and briefings at eleven different international organizations and universities, including the World Trade Organization, the International Trade Center, the International Labor Organization, the United Nations Development Program, and the Food and Agriculture Organization as well as other UN bodies in Geneva. 

The participants, who were made up of nine female students, came from MBRSG’s, Master of Public Policy, Master of Innovation Management, and Executive Master of Public Administration programs, and also visited some Geneva academic institutions during the visit. 

His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG, said: “This field visit was key to reinforce classroom teaching through the enablement of students to learn more about Global Governance from practitioners, development of intercultural competencies and understanding, and develop hands-on knowledge of the international community with a sense of global understanding”. 

“Such trips aid in qualifying MBRSG’s students with the best and highest levels of education allowing them to gain experience from local and international institutions in Geneva including the International Labor Organisation, World Health Organisation, World Trade Organisation, International Trade Centre, Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue, UAE Permanent Mission, University of Geneva, Geneva School of Diplomacy & International Relations, United Nations HQ, Food & Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Development Programme. Furthermore, such visits provide insight into the best global practices of governance and provide an opportunity to share our experiences with the others,” said by the accompanying faculty, Dr. Immanuel Azaad Moonesar, Associate Professor, MBRSG.

The visit students addressed three key 'gaps' that are referred to in global governance discussions that were, jurisdictional gaps and the need for global governance in many areas, and the lack of authorities to take action.

The incentive gaps, between the need for international cooperation and the motivation to undertake it, and the participation gaps, refer to the fact that international cooperation, remains primarily the affair of governments, leaving civil society groups on the fringes of policymaking.