A Manx student has recently returned from a two-week United Nations summer school in Geneva.

Patrick Phillips, aged 23, from Bride, is a postgraduate student of history at the University of Bristol.

Each year the UN Office in Geneva (UNOG) organises a graduate study programme at its European HQ, which provides an opportunity for postgraduates from all over the world to find out more about the United Nations.

This year the course was entitled ’Climate Change, Migration, Violent Extremism: the UN role in preventing conflicts spurred by the challenges of our time’.

There were 25 countries represented by more than 50 students. Among Patrick’s working group alone were students from Ghana, France, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Greece and China.

Patrick said: ’Working at UNOG was incredible. The building is beautiful, with fantastic views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc complemented by the permanent sunshine.

’We usually spent the mornings having lectures from individuals and organisations who work at UNOG discussing the work they do and how it fits into the wider theme of the course, while in the afternoon we worked in our assigned working groups for different UN departments.

’I was privileged to work for the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) helping them investigate the possibility and viability of launching a programme in Mali to help prevent young people from being drawn into violent extremist gangs.

’This was not just an activity for students either - we were regularly told that our final product would be going to head office at New York as well as UNMAS’ head of station in Mali. If we had any doubts, they were quickly dispelled by our conference calls with the Mali station head. Overall, I am very proud of what we produced and I’m eager to hear whether UNMAS decide to commence their programme.

’I was surprised by the level of speakers and lecturers we had: Syrian peace negotiators, envoys for migrants, directors of NGOs all came to talk to us about the impact of the UN (both positive and negative) as well as its impact on the wider world. We were given the opportunity to question the speakers on what they had spoken on, and I was surprised by the frank answers that we got in response.

’As the sole representative from the British Isles I naturally faced a lot of questions about Brexit! I’ve made countless friends from all over the world, and I’ve both received invitations to go all over the world. Perhaps I might even manage to get some of them to the Island one summerâ?¦â?¦.

’Getting to Geneva from Bristol (where I am currently studying) was very easy, especially thanks to the financial assistance for my travel costs from the IoM Government’s Department of Education and Children.

’My time in Geneva was a great experience and I got exactly what I needed/wanted to get out of it. I would definitely recommend it to any postgraduate student (of any discipline) to apply for it in the future.’

Phil Craine, a committee member of the UN Association of the Isle of Man, said: ’We are delighted that another Manx student has taken advantage of this superb opportunity. Past experience shows that it offers students a broad global perspective, as well as possibilities of careers on the international stage - and a network of friends from all over the world." Like Patrick, we are grateful to the Department of Education and Children for supporting his travel costs.

’We are proud that our IoM UN Association has national status, and encourage anyone with an interest in the UN to join us.’