PSIA celebrates its 2020 graduates

PSIA 2020 graduates gathered online to celebrate the end of their journey at PSIA on July 8, 2020. The virtual celebration attracted PSIA graduating students from all over the world and served to bring the academic year to a close. 

>Graduates were addressed by distinguished faculty members, fellow students, and Dean Enrico Letta. Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO and PSIA faculty member, encouraged graduates “to be open, to share and to keep learning”. Staffan de Mistura, former UN Special Envoy to Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, and PSIA faculty member congratulated students for finishing their Master program in the face of three crisis this year: “environmental, multilateral, and Covid-19”. He helpfully added that each crisis creates opportunities. Graduates Lazar Karapandza (Master in International Energy) and Julia Codina Sariols (Master in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action) gave voice to the challenges that were faced, to the resilience and community spirit, but also the hopes and the opportunities in the year to come. Finally, Dean Enrico Letta encouraged students to “adapt (to change), trust (yourselves and others), and imagine”.

Congratulations to all PSIA 2020 graduates!

Watch the video of the celebration:

Above: Vice Dean Maloney asked participants to the celebration where they were joining from. PSIA is proud to welcome students from more than 100 countries every year. 

Above: Guest speakers during the celebration, from left to right: Julia Codina Sariols, Lazar Karapandza, Mark Maloney, Irina Bokova, Enrico Letta and Staffan de Mistura (on phone).