Four UBC students were appointed as VISION20 Fellows and joined Professor Yves Tiberghien at the 2018 Brookings-VISION20 Workshop on Social Cohesion. The workshop was held at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC on 18th April 2018.
Founded in 2016, the VISION20 initiative brings together scholars, think tank leaders, policy leaders, and societal leaders to identify concrete and innovative solutions to nudge the G20 towards its potential of facilitating and sustaining global economic integration.
The 2018 Fellows are Susanne Beilmann (MPPGA), Tommy Koh (MPPGA), Yingqiu Kuang (PhD, Political Science), and Adam Waitzer (BA, International Relations). The Fellows were selected through a competitive process from a pool of over 60 applicants.
Prior to the event, the four Fellows produced country memos capturing key trends in social cohesion, innovation, and economic growth across various key countries. They also played key roles in coordinating the organization of the Workshop and preparing a communications strategy.
While on the ground, the four Fellows participated in workgroup meetings and engaged with high-level decisionmakers including present and former Ministers, C-suite leaders of global governance organizations, and key thought leaders in the thinktank space.
The Fellows will subsequently produce a Blue Paper based on the takeaways from these engagements which will be shared broadly with the policy and think-tank community through the participants of the workshop and affiliate participants of the VISION20 initiative.
Student Testimonials
“Being a VISION20 fellow has been exceptionally beneficial for my research and future career. As a researcher, hearing the insights of those in the DC thinktank space such as Brookings and CSIS seeded new ideas for future research. Forming relationships with workshop participants has also quantifiably strengthened my network; I look forward to tapping on the expertise of leaders at organizations such as the Pew Center to inform my present and future research. As a future Civil Servant, hearing from policy leaders, former Ministers, and top-leaders of global organizations has provided me with invaluable insight into the perspective and considerations of those who have embarked on a similar professional path. I am excited for their continued mentorship and am grateful for the opportunity to have been inspired by these distinguished individuals through the VISION20 initiative.
I am thankful for the generosity of donors who support for VISION20 initiative and am certain that the continuation of this initiative offers a unique and unprecedented opportunity for students to engage in an academically and professionally invaluable opportunity.”
– Tommy Koh
“Participating in the Vision20 fellowship this year was one of the most stimulating and fulfilling experiences of my academic career so far. Hearing leaders discuss the social and economic challenges that plague society today and offer policy solutions was incredibly interesting and strengthened my understanding of the complexity of policymaking at the national and global level. Having the opportunity to actively participate in the preparation of the workshop as well as during the discussions made this experience all the more enriching. Interacting with experts in the field provided me with both inspiration and knowledge that will help me succeed in my graduate studies and future career as a policymaker.
I would like to share my sincere gratitude with the donors for providing me with this rewarding opportunity and for continuing to support this invaluable initiative.”
– Susanne Beilmann
“From putting together policy memos in advance of the workshop to participating on the ground in DC, the VISION20 fellowship has been an overwhelmingly positive experience. To glean insights from thought leaders in the private and public sectors was fantastic; to build working relationships with them was all the more invaluable. Throughout the week, I had the opportunity to hear from cabinet ministers, security analysts, leading economists, political pollsters, and capital markets experts. As student fellows, we were not only given a seat at the table, but also encouraged to add our perspectives to the discussion. Seeing as I will be joining Canada’s Department of Finance in May, my takeaways from the workshop feel particularly relevant and applicable. The fellowship gave me a sharpened sense of where my professional and academic interests lie as well as an excellent network of individuals working and studying at the cutting edge of those fields. I would like to thank the donors whose generosity enabled this wonderful experience for myself and the other students.”
– Adam Waitzer
“It is a great honour for me to be selected as a Vision20 fellow and participate in the workshop in the Brookings Institution. As a PhD student of political science studying in international political economy and global governance, I enjoyed this opportunity to learn from and communicate with world-class scholars, politicians, and business leaders the current state and challenges of global political and economic order, influenced by disruptive technologies. Their expertise in theory, perspectives, and policy-making has not just inspired my own research, but also illuminated the connections between academic debates and real policy outcomes. I am looking forward to more inspirations and mentorship from them in the future.
I am very grateful to donors for their generous support of this Vision20 initiative and to their caring of the world economy and social wellness. I am also thankful for the wonderful teamwork with other Vision20 fellows who have made this journey pleasant and fruitful. I believe that, the continuation of this initiative is a unique opportunity for students and young scholars both in academic elevation and in professional development.”
– Yingqiu Kuang
