University students from Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia had the opportunity to spend a day looking behind the scenes of many of the UN organizations based in Vienna, Austria, as part of the Shadowing programme which is in its 9 th successful year.
The young people were studying a diverse range of subjects such as International Relations, Business Administration, Public Policy and Management, Transcultural Communication, Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Diplomacy, Ecology and Biodiversity Protection, Applied Geology, Translation Studies and Biomedical Engineering. They accompanied staff at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) for one working day.
The "shadowing" experiences of the participants were as diverse as their study fields. Some of them had the chance to learn about the unique and comprehensive verification regime of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) to make sure that no nuclear explosion goes undetected. Others gained an insight into crime prevention, sustainable development, the peaceful uses of space technology, nuclear safety and security, environmental and natural resources, to name a few.
Kostin Vladislav, a Master's student in Public Policy and Management, learned about how the UN Information Service (UNIS) in Vienna carries out its public information and communication work: "The Shadowing Day was full of insights. I found the UN full of motivated staff, who are working to improve the world with well-defined values, goals and vision for global development."
Maike Sophie Rindler, currently enrolled in a Master's degree in Public Communication at Joanneum Research, added: "It was a really interesting day with so many helpful insights. I would like to thank UNIS Vienna for organizing this day and Mr. Nesirky for taking the time to show us around and introduce us to the UN."
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), CTBTO, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Office in Austria, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and UNIS Vienna opened their doors to approximately 60 Master and PhD students.
The Shadowing Programme takes place from 24 October to 24 November and helps mark United Nations Day. It is coordinated by UNIS Vienna and organized in cooperation with all participating Vienna-based UN organizations.
