Two second year students were recently chosen to represent the University at an education conference in Edinburgh, attended by government ministers from across the Commonwealth.
Christopher Kirkcaldy and Cheryle Sexton contributed to the first ever Education Youth Summit of the Commonwealth and also played host to two youth delegates from Papua New Guinea. Their contribution to 15th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (15CCEM), will help shape the future of education in countries around the world. The two Papua New Guinea students - Jeffrey Dissing (23) and Maylynne Yaruso (17) - stayed with the Dundee students in the week following the 15CCEM.
The Dundee pair - chosen by the University and Dundee City Council - and their guests spent the week of the conference in the Scottish capital. All four played an essential role in the Youth Summit, which is a new forum for young people from all Commonwealth countries to debate education issues and contribute to the final document of the 15CCEM - the Edinburgh Communiqué.
The Youth Summit enabled many young people to explore, debate and identify their vision of education and the Commonwealth for the 21st century and also to share ideas, experiences and skills which will map the way forward for education. Ultimately, it aims to inspire and encourage young people and organisations to celebrate the diversity of the Commonwealth and create further opportunities in education for future generations.
The University and Dundee City Council carefully selected the students, who have both successfully completed the University's Access Summer School.
During their week-long stay in Dundee, Jeffrey and Maylynne participated in a range of academic and educational activities, including visits to local schools to discuss higher education issues at home and overseas.
John Blicharski, Director of the University's Wider Access Study Centre, said, "Exploring how other education systems function and support students from different backgrounds is increasingly important, as education becomes more international. We hope that through greater understanding, such as this exchange, more potential students can contemplate earning a degree as part of their own life plan."
Cheryle Sexton added, "The conference was a great success and it was a great privilege to have the opportunity to attend as one of the UK's hosts. Hopefully, the work of the delegates will help improve the education of those less fortunate than ourselves."