VIENNA, 26 November 2024 – This year’s students were nationals from more than 39 countries, studying at universities in Armenia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. This highlights the diversity of the participants who were eager to take part in this programme coordinated by the UN Information Service (UNIS) Vienna and to learn more about the work and goals of the United Nations.
UNIS Vienna Director Martin Nesirky kicked off the programme with a virtual introduction to the United Nations and an online UN careers workshop, in which students could gain insights into UN career opportunities available for students and young graduates. These include the Junior Professional Officer Programme (JPO), the Young Professionals Programme (YPP), internships, and United Nations Volunteers (UNV). Other topics covered in the workshop included the UN’s priorities for 2024 and recent events such as the Summit of the Future.
The selected students represented a wide range of academic disciplines, including Business and Economics, Engineering, Informatics, International Relations, Law, Political Science, Media Studies, and Psychology. Each student had the opportunity to participate in a one-hour virtual meeting with a staff member from one of the Vienna-based UN organizations and entities, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), the United Nations Liaison Office for Peace and Security in Vienna (UNLOPS), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
During the encounters, the staff members provided the students with more information regarding the organization’s duties, mandates and responsibilities. In turn, the students were able to ask questions and find out more about the work of the United Nations.
This year’s Shadowing Programme has once again successfully inspired a new generation of professionals to be involved in tackling global challenges and fostering a sustainable future ahead.
