In 2009, President Barack Obama expressed his desire for “a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition.” Based on Obama’s call, a group of undergraduates at Rice worked with the Baker Institute to create the Public Diplomacy and Global Policymaking Program. The program links Rice undergraduates with their counterparts in the Middle East to discuss issues relevant to both sides ranging from healthcare and energy to foreign policy and media. Since its creation, the program has sponsored three cohorts of students to the Middle East. In summer 2010, 10 Rice students traveled to Cairo, Egypt, to engage students from the American University in Cairo. In 2012 and 2013, the Baker Institute coordinated with Qatar Foundation to host colloquiums in Doha and Houston in alternating years. In spring 2012 and 2014, Rice students traveled to Doha while in the intervening year, spring 2013, Qatari students visited the Baker Institute. For PDGP 2015, Rice students are again traveling to Doha to discuss issues of global policy. The goal of colloquiums is to demonstrate how public diplomacy has the potential to give countries the tools and direction necessary to inform, influence and engage the global society of which we are all a part as well as develop future leaders in the United States and Qatar to address these issues. Rice students will engage in discussions with Qatari students on key issues such as scientific diplomacy and modern research, interfaith dialogue, democracy, new media technology, knowledge-based economies and foreign policy. Through discussions, students can learn from each other’s cultures, histories and perspectives that can lead to mutually beneficial relationships, with the shared hope of preventing conflict. Application deadline is Thursday, October 23, 2014. Please submit all application materials electronically, preferably in PDF form, to [email protected].
*For any questions or concerns regarding applications, please email the program directors at [email protected].
