BJBIE Meets With Osgood Center for International Studies

BJBIE explores opportunities to promote international relations programs with the Osgood Center for International Studies

Through invitation by the Osgood Center, BJBIE staff attended the first breakout sessions of the DC Model United Nations (NMUN-DC) program in Washington DC on October 21^st, 2011.  NMUN-DC brings more than 400 students from all over the world to discuss topics of importance to international relations.

BJBIE staff witnessed firsthand how students broke into issue-based caucuses to discuss real world issues, take positions based on their assigned country, and begin the process of formulating possible policies and regulations. BJBIE staff was very impressed by the student’s serious attention to policy details, presentation skills, and broad knowledge of international relations. Student ambassadors introduced staff members to each caucus, including one faculty leader from China who had grown the Model UN program at her school in Xi’an from its inception to become a perennial winner of the group’s top prize.  BJBIE also gained an appreciation for the possible benefits from and likelihood of expanding Model UN’s presence across China, in high schools and universities alike. 

In follow-up to NMUN-DC, BJBIE staff met with Shelton Williams, President of the Osgood Center, on October 27^th.  The Osgood Center – which partnered with NMUN to hold the DC forum – is an organization that offers educational programs centered on foreign policy for graduate, college, and high school students from all over the world.  Mr. Williams has an impressive background, having held a number of leadership positions at Austin College, and providing his expertise on nuclear proliferation to the Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton administrations.  Through it all Williams has been a supporter of the Model United Nations program, which led to his founding of the Osgood Center. 

BJBIE and Williams discussed future areas of collaboration between organizations, such as possibly developing more Model UN and Model APEC Forums in China, as well expanding upon programs held by Osgood in DC for higher numbers of visiting Chinese scholars.  Williams also expressed interest in potential cooperation with BJBIE to expand upon Pathway Programs around the US after their successful implementation this school year.

BJBIE looks forward to working with Williams and the Osgood Center going forward, and plans to attend the next NMUN conference in New York in April 2012.