Recognizing United Nations Day
United Nations Day commemorates the ratification of the United Nations Charter each year on October 24. At this time of war and unrest in many parts of the world, it is valuable to pause to consider the impact the United Nations has in promoting peace.
The United Nations (U.N.) was created in 1945 after the Second World War to maintain international peace and security and prevent devastating wars in the future. In keeping with this mission, the U.N. works to prevent conflict around the globe and deploys peacekeepers to help parties in conflict make peace and works to create the conditions that promote peace.
Our contemporary framework for international education at universities across the U.S. stems from this same post-World War II period when institutions and programs were established to promote peace around the world. The idea of “citizen diplomacy” emerged during this time and still undergirds international education today; people-to-people relationship-building helps promote cultural understanding across nations. Notable programs such as the Fulbright program also emerged at this time and champion these tenets.
The U.N. continues to impact international education across the globe as many universities have courses, programs, and initiatives that draw on the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At SCU, the U.N. SDGs are embedded in many programs including Global Engagement Student Fellowships for Global Innovation and Community Engagement.
Mark your calendars for more opportunities to celebrate international education in the spirit of the U.N. at SCU during International Education Week (IEW) 2024, including:
