The Strategic Studies Institute Islamabad (SSII) is pleased to announce its completion of a summer workshop for high-school students from private sector academic institutions in Islamabad. The schools represented at the summer school included Beaconhouse Public School, Islamabad College of Arts and Sciences and Westminster School Islamabad. Our summer workshop was the first of its kind in Pakistan, dealing with a broad range of core issues to guide the future leaders of Pakistan. The topics addressed at the workshop included the changing global strategic environment, terrorism, regional dynamics, the global political economy, international law, arms control and disarmament and Pakistan’s nuclear policy.
SSII invited five experts in the relevant fields to give lectures and also engage in discussion sessions with the students. The lecturers included senior analyst and Member of the National Assembly (MNA), Dr. Shireen Mazari, economic analyst and MNA, Mr. Asad Umer, media anchor and analyst, Mr. Talat Hussain, research associate at the Research Society for International Law (RSIL), Mr. Oves Anwar, and DG ACDA SPD, Mr. Khalid Banuri.
Between 4th August and 11th August, the students were divided into discussion groups with Ms. Amina Afzal and Ms. Imaan Hazir Mazari to further engage with the topic areas. Simulation exercises were carried out focusing on the area of terrorism and strategic trade controls. Further, students were asked to prepare presentations on strategic trade controls which marked the conclusion of the workshop. In order to assess the performance of our students, SSII formulated a 50 mark exam to be completed by the end of the workshop.
The format of the workshop was rigorous in order to ensure students gained the maximum amount of knowledge within such a limited time span. The workshop would begin with 10 am discussions followed by guest lectures from 11 am till lunch at 1 pm. SSII would like to thank the wonderful restaurants in Islamabad that catered for the duration of the workshop: Subway, CGC, Savour Foods, Tehzeeb and Haleem Ghar.
SSII recognized the need to engage students at this level to ensure they develop a firm grounding in areas of national security and the global political economy. The response was impressive as students began researching the topic areas, formulating policies and opinions based on academic writings and international legal instruments. In light of the positive response and clear desire of the students to be enrolled in such courses, SSII aspires to arrange such programmes in the near future as well.
Press coverage links:
http://www.brecorder.com/general-news/172/1222428/
http://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2014-09-10&edition=ISL&id=1275204_48767424
