Students Go to Morocco for Three-Day Negotiation Simulation

On April 5-10, a group of seven AGS students will travel to Rabat, Morocco to take part in a three-day simulation of a Francophonie Summit. This is part of the dual program in Diplomacy and Strategic Negotiation offered by AGS in partnership with Université Paris-Sud (Sceaux). Participating AGS students will be joining other students pursuing the program at Université Paris-Sud. Leading the group will be program directors Selim El-Sayegh - who is also former Minister of Social Affairs of Lebanon - and Michèle Guillaume-Hofnung.

During the three-day simulation, each student will represent a country that he or she was assigned, and defend that country's interests throughout the negotiations. A follow up simulation will take place in Paris on April 14-15 to finalize the negotiations and writing of a mock international agreement. Preparatory research and training has been an interal part of the experience. Andrew Dupre (class of 2014), who will represent Cambodia, explains: "The preparation has made me learn about a country in a new way beyond the historical background: its needs and interests today, and the way it interacts with the rest of the Francophonie."

A similar simulation trip is organized every year on a different theme and in a different location as part of this dual program. The goal is to provide students with highly transferrable negotiation skills at an international level. The diversity of the group enhances the experience in giving students the opportunity to interact in a multicultural setting. AGS students who will participate in this year's edition come from Russia, Germany, the United States, Mexico, New Zealand, and Trinidad and Tobago.

More information on the International Organisation of La Francophonie