Global Leaders Experience - UNITAR Geneva 2024

About the programme

We are once again partnering with UNITAR (United Nations Institute of Training and Research) to run a 5-day immersive programme focused on key themes and locations within the United Nations’ European Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland!

With an initial stop in Paris to spend your first day visiting the UNESCO headquarters at Place de Fontenoy, the trip will then travel to Geneva; giving you the chance to fully immerse yourselves in the host city of the main UN offices and gain first-hand experience of the United Nations.

UNITAR will host a number of activities in Geneva, mostly based within the historic Palais des Nations which can include but is not limited to:

Expert lectures from services such as the World Trade Organisation, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
Training workshops on public speaking, consensus building and UN career insights
Private guided tours
Career development sessions

All with the aim to help you gain insight and take steps into building a career within the UN.

No prior experience or specific degree programme is necessary to join, in fact, we particularly encourage applications from students without relevant experience!

Programme activities take place roughly between 9:00-17:00 each day with free time available in the evenings. Please take this time commitment into account when applying in regards to assessment deadlines.

When will it take place?

This programme will run from the 21st to the 27th April 2024.

We will travel to Paris on the 21st April and stay until the 23rd April. On the 23rd April we will take a train to Geneva to spend the rest of the week. Travel from Geneva to the UK will take place on Saturday 27th April.

Eligibility Criteria

You will be enrolled as an undergraduate student at the time of the programme
Students must meet one or more of the Widening Participation Criteria.
You can travel to and from the UK between the 21st and 27th April 2024
Not currently on a placement year or study abroad
Have an up-to-date passport with more than 6 months validity from date of return
Have not exceeded the 90 out of 180 days rule for travel in Europe by the date of the programme. If you are unsure of this please use this calculator.

Managing Expectations

The global travel sector remains impacted by well-publicised strikes, cancellation and disruption.
Please be ready to follow any national or local guidance in relation to travel, such as passport validity for France and Switzerland.
You are not currently required to provide proof of Covid-19 Vaccination to enter Paris or Switzerland, however, please keep this in mind in case of any changes in the lead up to departure.
Students are expected to travel to and from the UK as part of a group for the trip
Students will be sharing accommodation. Please see our FAQs for further information

There will be a pre-departure session taking place in the second week of April which you need to attend ahead of the trip

Cost

The University of Exeter will be booking return travel from the UK departure point and accommodation on your behalf; the cost of which will be covered by the University.

There will be a travel bursary available to those who meet the Widening Participation criteria. You will be able to claim travel costs to and from the UK departure point (for example from campus to an airport or train station) if student discounts are used; receipts must be provided.

Claims can be made up to a maximum of £100. This limit is for the whole journey, i.e. not £100 each way and claims above the limit will be rejected. Please note that the travel bursary cannot be used for additional accommodation unless in exceptional circumstances and must be checked and approved with global-leaders@exeter.ac.uk first.

How do I apply?

Applications for this programme are now closed. Please sign up to our interest list to be notified of future programmes.

Please note there may be a follow up telephone interview should we receive a surplus of applications. This would take place after Wednesday 13th March 2024 and we will notify you if this is happening in advance to find out your availability.

Further information

If you have any further questions, please feel free to email the team at global-leaders@exeter.ac.uk

Apply now!