Students and Professor Attend 2008 Athgo Conference
Athgo International (Alliance Toward Harnessing Global Opportunities) hosted its third annual Global Forum, "Miracles of Development: Good Governance and Capacity Building" at the World Bank headquartered in Washington, D.C. July 9-11, 2008. Five Cornell students and politics professor David Yamanishi attended the conference. The student participants were Brittany Atchison '10, Jeff Curran '09, Joanna Loewen '10, and Nic Wondra '09.
They explored issues such as the importance of international cooperation, sound legal systems, transparency and capacity building programs, as well as the harmful impacts of corruption on economic development. Speakers included ambassadors, senior executives from the private sector and civil society, and high level World Bank representatives. Students worked in groups throughout the event, with the objective of developing innovative new business models and policy proposals that addressed the themes of the Forum.
Student Perspectives
"The conference fit directly into my academic plan -- the intersection of policy and economics." Jeff Curran '09
"The conference was very busy and challenging, but also greatly rewarding. I was so impressed with the company around me; there were individuals from around the world, each extremely intelligent and completely dedicated to the purpose of the forum. It was one of the greatest experiences I have had since entering college. Attending the conference will, without a doubt, influence my everyday life." Joanna Loewen '10
"This conference fell perfectly in line with my politics major, especially my interest in poverty and hunger issues, as all participants were put into policy groups during the conference to propose and present new, innovative ideas that would aid in the alleviation of poverty around the world. This conference solidified my interest in pursuing a graduate degree in policy and/or international development after I receive my bachelor's degree from Cornell." Brittany Atchison '10
"Many of the other participants at the conference had already completed their undergraduate degrees and were pursuing Masters or PhDs. At first it was a little intimidating, but eventually I realized that they were still very interested in what I had to say and that I was able to contribute something valuable to the project. It was definitely a confidence booster. Also, the act of creating a policy and business model was very valuable experience to have. I learned some of the practical aspects of this process as well as the necessity of being innovative."