Recently, the School of Foreign Languages organized an expert consultation meeting on the development of the International Organizations and Global Governance program. The meeting was attended by Ma Jian, former Deputy Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in China, and Ren Pengju, advisory expert at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Also present were Wang Yanan, Vice Dean of the Undergraduate School, Zhu Xianlong, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages, and all faculty members of the Department of International Organizations. Professor Zhu Xianlong, on behalf of the school, reported on the talent demand for the newly proposed program, the curriculum design, faculty development, and the resources available for program delivery. He highlighted the school’s self-developed database of international organization positions within the United Nations system (containing 32 million word tokens), which reveals that nearly 70% of the positions require an educational background in science and engineering, underscoring the urgent need to cultivate talent in this field for international organizations.
Ma Jian and Ren Pengju highly affirmed the necessity and feasibility of developing talent for international organizations with a science and engineering focus. Drawing from their own experiences working in international organizations and supervising internships, they provided detailed insights into the operational processes of key international organizations such as UNIDO and UNESCO, as well as the specific requirements for talent. Additionally, the two experts offered valuable suggestions on curriculum-based education, research-driven education, and practice-oriented education, tailored to the job demands of international organizations.
Overview of the Preparation for the International Organizations and Global Governance Undergraduate Program
Led by the School of Foreign Languages at South China University of Technology, the proposed International Organizations and Global Governance undergraduate program leverages the regional advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a global innovation hub and international exchange center. The program aims to address the structural demand for science and engineering talent in global governance, cultivating top-notch innovative professionals with strong cross-cultural negotiation skills and deep technical expertise.
In terms of the cultivation model, the program adheres to the philosophy of value-driven education, science and engineering empowerment, and think tank-driven development. It focuses on the reform and practice of cultivating talent for international organizations in science and engineering universities, establishing a four-in-one talent cultivation model that integrates university think tanks, practice bases, research centers, and teaching platforms.
Regarding platform development, the program promotes the establishment of a collaborative education mechanism empowered by science and engineering. Initiatives include founding the Joint Conference on Talent Cultivation for International Organizations among universities in the Excellence Alliance, creating flagship internship and training platforms such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Organization Youth Talent Training Camp and the South China University of Technology Model United Nations Conference, and establishing multiple joint training bases in collaboration with international organizations like UNESCO and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
In terms of program development, the university has already offered four consecutive sessions of the International Organizations and Global Governance micro-program and has published the New Era Global Competence Series of Textbooks, including Comprehensive English for International Organizations. Over the past five years, the university has facilitated internships and placements for more than 50 individuals in international organizations such as UNIDO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
