Student Partners Conference

Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are pleased to host an international conference titled Equipping Student Leaders as Partners for Sustainable Humanitarian Action, convened by International Students Overcoming War. The conference aims to bring together staff of higher education institutions, researchers, students, higher education networks, student organisations, and representatives of multilateral organisations. Through the conference we will collectively build a deeper understanding of the role of higher education institutions in engaging with response to humanitarian crises, enhance student-led action and research, and build a framework for partnership in higher education to engage more deeply across the humanitarian-development nexus.

I’m incredibly grateful to the Edinburgh Global team for organizing my participation from March 30th - April 1st in the “Students as Partners” Conference being hosted by the UNHCR, Wilfrid Laurier University and International Students Overcoming War (ISOW) as a representative of FGHR and the University of Edinburgh. Amongst the many different panels, workshops and impromptu performances I learnt about the numerous ways that institutional structures can be changed so that students may hold more active roles in their universities and communities. It was an honour to be surrounded by so many passionate and enthusiastic students and staff from many international NGOs and Universities. It is safe to say that I have come back with much to reflect on and grow from and I look forward to implementing what I have learnt about student partnership in our FGHR community - Jessica Motley (General Secretary)