Ten doctoral, graduate and undergraduate students from Gonzaga’s School of Leadership Studies are currently at the Brussels European Forum for a weeklong intensive global leadership experience. Along with 40 other international students, they are participating in simulations of the North Atlantic Council (NAC), Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and G-20.
Over the course of the week, these global leadership students will discuss key topics of transnational import, including climate change and energy reliance, migration policies and border control, global trade, human trafficking, women’s empowerment, economic recovery post COVID-19, cyber resilience, counterterrorism and stabilizing conflict zones, and NATO-Russia relations.
Media Coverage
- KHQ News: Gonzaga students attending Brussels European Forum
- The Spokesman-Review: ‘The importance of global literacy’: Gonzaga University students make trip to Brussels for leadership forum
- The Gonzaga Bulletin: GU students participate in week-long international forum in Belgium
- Spokane Public Radio: Gonzaga students learn about diplomacy, economics at Belgium conference
Daily Updates
Today, our Gonzaga students and their international partners excelled in crisis management exercises at Brussels European Forum 2022.
Additionally, BEF attendees heard from two guest speakers, both alumni of the BEF program who currently hold prestigious positions in international relations in Europe. In these sessions, students received exclusive briefs and in-depth Q&A on emerging trends and policy in the face of the Russia-Ukraine war.
- Marine Vessiere (Grotius Chambers), lawyer and advocate, partner and founder of Grotius Chambers in Hauge, specializing in international organizations and international law.
- Felix Moldovan, Energy Attache, Permanent Representation of Hungary to the European Union.
Faced with conflict and complexity, the team earned much needed time for reflection and recuperation in the midst of their intercultural immersion. Led by Sherri Lynch and Bruce Hough, some of our cohort ventured into the heart of Ghent for a canal tour in-between education sessions. Pictured (left to right) are: Bruce Hough (ORGL ’18), Elizabeth Schultz (ORGL ’22), Luke Haley (ORGL ’22), Haley Anderson (ORGL ’20), Haylee Lynch (GU ’24), Sherri Lynch (ORGL ’04), Kyle Denton (ORGL, ’18).
Today the Global Media and International Advocacy committees took center stage at the Brussels European Forum. The International Advocacy committee was called upon for their deep knowledge when a protest forcefully entered the G20 summit, demanding that world leaders commit to action. The Global Media committee was there to capture the drama and transmit the news to citizens. Ultimately, with the collaboration among groups, the issue was resolved.
In addition to the learning activities that present themselves here at BEF, students have also found time for solitude and reflection during the Lenten season. The grounds here are vast and peaceful, and there are plentiful signs of the Catholic Jesuit heritage of the Abbey, which now serves as a Jesuit retirement home in addition to hosting various conferences.
Upon return to Ghent, students resumed negotiations within their groups, with agreements being formed and finalized. The conference ended with an awards ceremony to wrap the rich and robust week.