30 April 2015

 

The Spring 2015 session of the Washington School on International Development and Politics took place from 10 to 24 April 2015 at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC. The purpose of the program was to provide young scholars (grad students), students, and young professionals with an opportunity to explore key topics in both of these fields.

WASHINGTON SPRING SCHOOL

International Development and Politics

10 - 24 April 2015, Washington, DC

 

Participating students stayed on Trinity Washington University's campus, attended daily 3-hour seminars, and visited key Washington, DC attractions during their stay. The lead instructor and program director was Mr. Faton Bislimi, a Doctoral Fellow at the EU Centre of Excellence, University of Alberta.

 

At Mr. Bislimi's request, the WWS students were received by several highly-ranked officials in Washington, DC and New York City. The students met with the Former Head of the OSCE Verification Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador William Walker, Albanian Ambassador to the US, Mrs. Toska, Johns Hopkins University Professor and Expert on the Balkans, Dr. Daniel Serwer, Senior Kosovo Desk Officer at the US Department of State, Ms. Christen Machak, Albanian Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Ervin Nina, and Kosovo Ambassador to the US, Mr. Ismaili.  In New York City, the students were received by the Albanian Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Hoxha, and Former US Congressman and President of the Albanian American Civic League, Mr. DioGuardi.  The students visited the US Capitol, including the US House of Representatives Floor, and were taken on a working breakfast with Mr. DioGuardi in the US Congress Members' Dining Room. They were also taken on an official tour of the US Department of State Historic Diplomatic Rooms.

 

The WSS 2015 participants were also honoured by a special dinner event hosted by the Albanian American Community of the Washington, DC area.

 

All of the students were very satisfied with the experience which they called "a life-time experience." Besnik Hoti, a PhD candidate in International Relations at the European University in Tirana, called the experience "an eye-opener and a must-do program for those studying IR and international development." "The program is so unique and so enriching in many aspects - academic, social, and professional," Mr Hoti added.

 

Burim Korqa, founder of the Kosovo Center for Business Support in Prishtina, Kosovo, said "the program went well beyond my expectations. I am very thankful to TBG Foundation for offering this opportunity to young professionals working in the field of international development."

 

Several Albanian language media outlets published news about the Washington Spring School 2015. Here are a few of them: Telegrafi.com, OraInfo.com, XLPress.tv, etc.
 

The following are some pictures from the WSS 2015.

 

Study materials...	Visit at the US Capitol
With Mr. Joe DioGuardi, US Capitol	Special Dinner with the Albanian-American Community in DC
Breakfast in the Members' Only Dining Room of the US Congress	At the US Dept of State Historic Diplomatic Rooms
Lecture by Professor Serwer	Meeting at the US Dept of State
Working Lunch with Amb. Walker	With Ms Citaku, Consul of Kosovo in NYC
With Ms. Toska, Albanian Embassy in DC	With Amb. Ismajli, Kosovo Embassy in DC
With Amb. Hoxha, Albanian Mission to the UN in NYC	Study time...
Visiting DC attractions...	Visiting DC attractions...
Certificates of Completion are handed out to students	Time to relax...
Participants receive a couple of books as presents with their certificates