Diplomacy Society: President

My name is Adam Charef, i am a first year student in International Social and Political Studies, majoring in International Relations. As a potential President I know I already have some key guidelines for our society : 

• Networking, is a solid base of diplomacy, there’s no reason our society as a whole shouldn’t escape that. As such I want to link our society deeply with other diplomatic societies of universities in London, building a strong diplomatic community. Connected through a common contact database, and inter-universities events
• To broaden the range of our events, by inviting speakers and guests of all spectrums of the diplomatic world. Our society would organise events ranging from public health, to security.

My first-year experience in the diplomacy society taught me where lie the strengths and the weaknesses of our society, and I want to use my experience to pursue the past committee’s work in improving our society.  As a knowledge development director for impact initiative, I learned what it takes to work inside a UCL committee, while conforming to the Student union’s needs. Being president, demands to be united and be committed, to every member, not only the committee. My experience with that stretches from being secretary general of my high school UN society, to president of my city’s youth environmental society. As such I humbly position myself to represent all of you, in an effort to make next year, one to remember.

The world is in flux. The very basic assumptions of international relations as a discipline both academic and practical are daily being overturned. And we, as aspiring diplomats and politicians at the epicentre of global economic, political, and cultural power at one of the world's finest universities are right in the milieu. It is the role of UCL Diplomacy Society to carve out a place for us in the high-powered, quickly moving world of international relations and foreign policy.

As your president, I would ensure that UCL Diplomacy's events and projects keep up with the quickening pace of world events, ensuring that our society becomes London's premier organisation for facilitating public and private debate and discussion of international affairs. With a wide range of high-profile speakers, a new line-up of student debates, and greater inter-university and inter-society cooperation, UCL Diplomacy will be the buzzing heart of UoL's diplomatically minded.

Should I be elected, I will endeavour to create a series of regular panel debates between members of our society and our counterparts at other universities (within and without the UK) that would aim to shed light on relevant issues in international affairs with disputation and argument. Further, I will expand our society's networking events with diplomats and foreign policy practitioners globally to ensure that UCL Diplomacy is represented in international institutions around London and across the globe.  

As a Head of Events for the Diplomacy Society since November, I have had the opportunity to assist in the running of events, and am currently liaising with different speakers for upcoming events, giving me an insight into the administrative process. Having taken on leadership roles before while working at an Afghan NGO and as the leader of a school NGO for humanitarian assistance of refugees, I have become more adaptable when navigating uncertainties and have a high commitment to detail and organisation. 

I would love to apply these experiences, and nurture the constructive culture of this society by becoming your next president!  

If elected, I plan to, 

1) Tailor to members’ needs. More career focused events, more personal engagement with speakers, develop skills and networks in workshops, internship guidance 

2) Create new ways to explore diplomacy. More debate events of speakers and students, innovative panel themes with wider range of opinions (more in-person events!) 

3) Expand outreach. Establish partnerships, widen network both in UK and internationally creating new opportunities for members 

I would be honoured to direct this society forward, and will give it my all for it to work at the highest standard as an important footing in your diplomatic and political lives. Thank you, and feel free to get in touch with any questions about my plans or ideas you want to bring up at my email [email protected]/