Bonjour et bienvenue! My name is Léo and I’m happy to be part of the Alumni Coordinator team for Geneva Summer School 2015! I’m a political science student at the University of Geneva. I’ll be back from my exchange semester at McGill University for the next semester. I attended the “Investing in Microfinance 2014” last summer and I had an amazing time: being able to learn from practitioners in small classes, meeting students from around the world, visiting international organizations in Geneva is only a small part of the whole Geneva Summer School experience. You’ll be just amazed how much you can learn without noticing it. As Alumni Coordinators, we’ll try our best so you can make the most of your stay in Geneva. I hope to see you this summer, à bientôt! :)

Have you ever dreamed about getting to know like-minded people, interested and highly motivated in the same area of expertise? Are you looking for direct contact to internationally well-known experts, both professors and professionals from the field? Do you like studying hard but also partying hard and at the same time getting to know a multi-cultural, international city? Then Geneva is the place to be and the Summer Schools the programme you want to be part of!
My name is Paul, I study international relations and attended the Cultural Hertiage Law class. A remarkable experience that made me now write my Master's thesis in this field and even pursue a related career. One could say, the Summer School has changed my life. As a Alumni Coordinator I wish to pass my experiences on and support you in joining in 2015. Are you ready for an extraordinary experience? Well then, here you go...

Hi everyone! My name is Lorris and I'm very glad to be part of the Alumni Coordinator team for this academic year! I'm currently a Master's student in Asian Studies here in Geneva. Having participated at the Geneva Summer School "Global Environment, Energy and Risk" during the 2014 summer has been an amazing experience, both socially and academically speaking! I met great people and teachers, so great that I'm still regularly in touch with them. I definitely recommend you to come to enjoy the beauty of Geneva as well as deepen your knowledge next summer! Don't be shy, go to https://www.genevasummerschools.ch/ and have a look!

Having just finished a two-week tour de force on The Geneva Summer School of Criticism: French Literature in a Global Perspective, I can finally catch my breath. It was an experience that can only be called déroutant, for I was invited, along with 19 fellow students, to leave behind all preconceived ideas about what French literature is, especially the notion that it is essentially related to the French territory and nation, to French history and language. Luckily, we were in Geneva. It would be hard to imagine such an agenda to take place in Paris!

As a PhD student in French literature at New York University, it was an enlightening experience to compare Swiss approaches and intellectual traditions with my own background in the U.S. and France. Between the American tradition of discussion-based seminars and the French lecture-oriented cours magistral, the summer school achieved a compelling juste milieu between the two approaches. The organizer’s approach to literary
research also seemed to bridge the gap between theory-oriented practice of the U.S. with France’s tradition of the explication de texte. Classes thus often involved integrating close textual analysis with methodologies borrowed from sociology, philosophy, history, and anthropology.

Chronologically and geographically, it was an extremely expansive two weeks: leading from Marco Polo’s travels to fluttering Haiku; from the Sierra Morena mountains in Spain to the coasts of Chile; from Dadaist cabarets in Zurich to the first European description of the Taj Mahal. This diversity led us to question the evolution of literary and cultural forms. As the closing lecture by Franco Moretti made clear, our conceptions of literature itself change by using the genealogy of “trees” or the resonances of “waves”. In other words, simply by altering the scale of analysis – by utilizing the perspective of the globe rather than the nation, by deterritorializing literature, by re-reading the intellectual heritage of France against itself – literature acquires a new relevance in today’s techno-scientific and increasingly globalized world. All of these ideas were discussed with verve and insight from the professors and spirited questions and critique from the students, creating a truly dynamic intellectual space.

Indeed, the most appealing and lasting aspect of the program was the unique and unorthodox pedagogical experiment it provided. By gathering students from universities on four continents, from cities as diverse as New Delhi, Porto Alegre, New York, New Orleans, London, Paris, and Lausanne, among many others, the Summer School easily earned its “Global” moniker. It was fitting that Geneva is where this global diversity met, given the city’s history of international openness and its extremely cosmopolitan population. This international element enlivened collaboration in a distinctive setting of egalitarian learning, and it was truly an honor to share such an environment with the amazing scholars and thinkers that were part of this year’s program.

If there is any truth to the phenomenon of serendipity, it would have to be the experience that I have had this summer in the beautiful city of Geneva. When we think about eternal lights; we think of the stars, when we think about conversations; we reach out for a cup of tea and when I think of a perfect summer, without a doubt it would be the one spent learning about global health and human rights in Geneva.

It would take me a very long time if I were to iterate all the reasons that have made me enjoy and learn so much within such a short duration of time; but one of the main reasons that come to the forefront would be the exquisite and eclectic mélange of cultures, thoughts, knowledge interwoven with the diversity that the class brings.

To really understand what makes this city so beautiful, we need to delve deeper into the intricacies of its inception; the foundations of which are deeply embedded in morals of peace and mutual understanding. The feeling of being in such a city is reflected in the multifaceted functions it serves and more so in the people that reside within its aquiline confines. Every nook and corner is an instantiation of the ideas, morals and the ethos this
venerated city stands for. All of these aspects were seamlessly blended into our wellstructured discussions at the UN (United Nations), ILO (International Labor Organisation), IRC (International Red Cross).

Personally, for me my experiences at the roundtable discussion in ILO was a moment of personal catharsis, not only because of the issues of human trafficking, women empowerment being discussed at length, but also that I may have found some clarity in understanding my own passion in life. But the description of the summer in Geneva would be incomplete without mentioning the amazing people I have met and the friends I have made. One would feel the onus of forming new relations and bonds in such a setting would be on the people visiting the city, but the warmth and comfort level that we experienced with the was nothing short of wonderful. To a person on the outside, the whole fact that so many different people from so many different places that span the entire globe can connect on and intellectual and altruistic level can be confusing; yet straddling between the tunneled
views of society, sexist views of feminism, a society diseased by its own self-created flaws and the many faces of abuse was much easier with this eclectic mix of passionate people fields of study that were widely different from mine. The contrasting juxtaposition of diversity and mutual understanding during our discussion and class times were extremely fruitful and intellectually stimulating.

In conclusion, I would like to say that we as people and more-so as products of the millennial generation stand at a critical social, economic and moral juncture, where we need more and more experiences such as the one in Geneva provided to the youth so as to allow a proper forum and platforms for debates and arbitrations. It is only when the gap between the functioning system and the youth is abridged is when we can take the right steps in the proper direction that will lead to sustainable growth in all sectors of global health and human rights. As the famous Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi said ”I believe deeply in the ability of human beings to make and remake themselves for the better”, it is only with inclusion of
the productive youth can we reach unprecedented levels of equality and equity in all aspects of human growth and social development. I would like to thank all the professors, my fellow classmates and most of all Professor Astrid Stuckelberger for providing me this wonderfully enriching opportunity and hope that other students and prospective attendees make a note of how interesting and creatively satisfying an experience with the Geneva summer schools can be.

The Setting of the Program:
Studying in Geneva, Switzerland offered an opportunity to be at the heart of the action, when it comes to research, discussion, and decision-making at a global scale. As Geneva is the site of many international organizations, it offers a very unique setting to learn. The city itself is nestled among a number of spectacular geographic features. It sits at the southwestern banks of Lake Geneva, at the mouth of the Rhone River, surrounded by
mountains, with the Jura Mountains in the west and the Alps in the east. The flat that I was renting offered a view of the Arve River. Walking along the banks of the river every morning towards the University, alongside the early morning joggers, and looking up at the beautiful mountains on my way back was refreshing for both the mind and the body.

The Structure of the Program:
The course was structured such that we received the majority of our morning lectures from distinguished, knowledgeable, and inspirational professors that really wanted you to think outside the box. Despite how much you might actually know at a technical level, it was all about coming up with creative solutions to large problems. It wasn’t enough to just answer a question, there was typically always a follow up question that made you think about what you were saying and explain it with consideration for all stakeholders involved with the issue. Along with the main professors, we also had periodic lectures from guest experts in particular fields of research that complemented our studies. The afternoon lectures gave us an opportunity to visit and hear from employees of the many international and domestic organizations situated in Geneva, such as WMO, UNHCR, WEF, IFRC, and UNEP to name a few. The topics of the lectures at these organizations really gave us the full spectrum, from the theory that we learned in class to the actual strategic planning and implementation. It was beneficial to see how the organizations operate and what exactly they are doing in the areas we were interested in, from doing the research, putting people in the field, and providing the platforms that allow for stakeholders to interact. This mix of classroom lectures and site visits really opened a lot of eyes in my opinion, including my own. Finally, the program offered several opportunities for group collaboration. In a world of globalization, I think it’s crucial for our generation to be able to work as a team with people from many backgrounds. That leads me to third thing I want to talk about.

The Students in the Program:
What really makes the experience ultimately is whom you share it with. As this was a course open to international students, as expected, there was a diverse makeup to our class. Out of the approximately 20 students in our class, there were at least 13 nationalities represented! I come from a pretty diverse university to begin with, but even then, I don’t see this kind of mix. It was both refreshing and valuable to get thoughts on an issue with many perspectives, as everyone frequently used examples from their respective home countries. Having so many viewpoints made for very lively classroom discussions and debates that were beneficial to all. When you come from so many different backgrounds, you always learn something new with every conversation. As there were a number of activities planned outside of class, we really got a chance to bond and get to know each other. The dynamics of our group made for a lot of good stories and plenty of laughter. Naturally, getting acquainted out of the classroom made everyone more comfortable with each other and more likely to open up in class. I think overall we had a really special group, as everyone got along really well and genuinely wanted to hang out after class, whether it was going to our spot at Café de Rond Point or Mr. Pickwick’s Pub to watch the World Cup matches, going to Victoria Hall to see the One World Concert, or enjoying fondue in the Old Town. As an American, I never kept up with futbol/soccer, but I ended up watching every Germany game and surprisingly becoming a fan of the eventual champion, as one of my classmates was from Germany. Beyond just Geneva, many of us even had an opportunity to travel together to the many beautiful cities around Lake Geneva as well.

Final Thoughts:
When you first come to a new country, there is a good mix of anxiety and excitement. Will I be able to acclimate to my new surroundings? Will the program be worth it? I think the GSS program was designed so that all the students got to know each other rather quickly, which really enhanced the rest of the experience. They were able to make the most out of this short but nonetheless intensive program that really optimized its location by offering access to the many organizations. The balance of lecture, site visits, and group projects is more conducive to a student’s learning in my opinion. There were a lot of areas of my field that I didn’t know so much about that I am now very interested in. Geneva itself served as interesting model. In the end, while saying goodbye was hard on many of us, we are all still very connected. I think all of our class was able to make an international network of peers with the same field of interest. Even today, there is still a lot of activity in our Facebook group, we have started a
LinkedIn group, a WhatsApp group, and there has been discussion of joint ventures. I’m curious to see where we all end up.

It’s difficult to measure the value of the program, but I know that if I have more to think about in my field now than when I first started, it was worth it. I would highly recommend the program to anyone who is considering studying abroad.
Thank you ThinkSwiss, Geneva Summer Schools, and fellow students!

My name is Marina and I am an International Law and Human Rights graduate student at New York University in the United States. This summer I was blessed with the opportunity to participate in a three-week International Law course at Geneva Summer School (GSS). It was one of the most rewarding experiences and truly a life-changing program.

What made this experience so incredible? It was a combination of Geneva’s breath-taking beauty, kindness and hospitality of Swiss people, new friendships and of course, the program itself, which incorporated lots of interesting and challenging classes as well as site visits to the United Nations and World Trade Organization.

In three short weeks, the course enabled us to gain an in-depth understanding of International law. The curriculum and professors at GSS are all of high standard. I have never met people who enjoyed teaching others like the professors in my program. Everyday, I was stimulated academically. Despite the fact that I had a solid knowledge of International law prior to GSS, yet, every class I learned a great deal, because some of the topics covered during our course were contradictive, lightly touched upon or not addressed in the United States.

In particular, the second week of classes were devoted to counter-terrorism. As an American citizen, I found it sometimes challenging to hear my classmates’ opinions on the United States “War on Terror” policy. At the same time this helped shape a better understanding and different points of view on terrorism, human rights and international law.

Additionally, what made this program so unique was being truly diverse. We had people from all over the world, with different backgrounds and yet, despite our differences, we were able to become friends. From the first and until the last day of our classes we were always together and always on the run either hiking Mont-Saleve, having drinks by Jet d’Eau, swimming in Lake Geneva, traveling to neighboring cities, laying down at the park or of
course, enjoying fondue in Old Town.

During my three weeks in Geneva I learned not only about International law but life as a whole. Thanks to my international classmates I was able to gain so many different, but so important views on law, politics, culture, religion and life. Also, thanks to my professors and to their advice I was able to decide my next steps in life, such as pursuing my legal education further in Europe, which I never considered as an option prior to Geneva Summer
School. Needless to say, Geneva will be my first choice!

At the end, after receiving my Certificate of completion, it was the hardest “goodbye” I had ever said. I returned home to the United States and brought a lot with me, such as true friendships, knowledge, experience, memories and lots of Swiss chocolate, but a little part of my heart was missing….I left it in Geneva.

Thank you very much Geneva Summer School for everything!

I am a graduate of the Law School, Trinity College Dublin, having followed the Law and French Bachelor degree programme. I am currently on a year of cessation mixing work and travel, with a view to commencing Master study in September 2015. My short-medium term vision is to gain a professional legal qualification. I attended the Understanding Humanitarian Action course. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience; the location obviously is an added bonus in itself; the quality of CERAH and its specialist teachers, the varied programme on offer during the two weeks, and the networking possibilities.

I just wanted to say a giant THANK YOU for an amazing past three weeks! The whole program was truly terrific and I'm sad it is already over! Our class had such an amazing dynamic and we had such stimulating discussions because we had such a plethora of perspectives on energy and the environment represented. All the organized trips to companies and international organizations were amazing too because we able to see real-life applications of the material we would be talking about in lecture. It also gave us the opportunity to do some great networking! Overall, just a fantastic experience (...) Thanks again for all the incredible work you and your team have done and for introducing this course especially this summer!

Regardless your background; doctor, researcher, student in political science, psychology or law- this course suits everyone with an interest in the correlation between health and human rights. Lead by passionate professors and together with talented fellow students from a broad range of disciplines-you get a fantastic insight in these two areas. With a schedule filled with visits at UN agencies and external speakers from the field- the possibilities for you are endless to ask questions, debate interesting topics and create a solid platform to build your future career on. The fact that the course is located in the metropolis of the UN is just the icing on the cake.