Press Release - January 28th, 2008

GLENDON STUDENTS BRING EGYPT TO TORONTO

As the oldest, and most populous country in the Middle East, Egypt has been a dynamic force in Middle Eastern Politics.  On Saturday, February 23^rd 2008 Glendon College's 13th Annual International Studies Symposium titled “Beyond Myths: Dialogues on Contemporary Egypt” will bring together distinguished guests and speakers from all over the world including: Emad Shahin professor from Harvard University; Nebal El Tanbouly, Consul Egyptian Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs; Habiba Hassan-Wassef, former director of the World Health Organization, and Farkhonda Hassan, Secretary General of the National Council for Women in Egypt.  The symposium will provide a full day of interactive panel discussions, keynote addresses, as well as Egyptian cuisine and entertainment.  It will also provide participants with the opportunity to become more informed of the religious, economic and political dilemmas faced by this modernizing state.

As it shapes its identity, Egypt must balance the demands of a modern state with its traditions rooted in ancient cultures and religions. This dilemma raises a myriad of issues. What are the challenges facing Egypt's modernization processes? What is Egypt's future role in the Middle East peace process? And what are the security dilemmas that resource scarcity creates for the booming population? Diverse perspectives and insights will explore the links between good governance, democratization and human rights.

The project is independently organized and run by a group of seven highly-motivated undergraduate students in the International Studies program at Glendon, York University’s bilingual campus. Past symposiums have received awards such as the Canadian Bureau for International Education’s Student Leadership in Internationalization Award, and the Internationalization Award from Scotia Bank and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.  Past student committees have studied Turkey, Mexico, the Great Lakes Region of Africa, India, Russia, and Brazil.

Conference sponsors include: York University, Glendon College, International Development Research Centre, Egyptian Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs, Banque Nationale, as well as individual donors.

Previous Symposia

Turkey                          2006-2007       

Mexico                          2005-2006     

Africa                            2004-2005

India                             2003-2004

Russia                           2002-2003

Brazil                            2001-2002

The Project

The Glendon's Student Annual International Studies Symposium is a project that was initiated during the 1995-1996 academic year by a group of highly motivated students, eager to deepen their knowledge and experience of foreign countries or regions and the relations between Canada and those countries or regions.  

What makes this project unique is that it is independently organized and run. The students involved are highly motivated and creative thinkers who consistently push the limits to improve the project year after year. Because of the independent nature of the project, the students acquire a rich skill set through which they are able attract prominent panelists from the academic, business, and policy sectors.

 

 

Across Borders: Diverse Perspectives                        on Mexico

On April 19th, 2007 Independent Study Committee on Mexico released Across Borders: Diverse Perspectives on Mexico, the compilation of essays submitted by ten of the distinguished panelists involved in the 2005-2006 Symposium.