The Current Affairs Nights are informal, interactive events where a group of speakers is brought in to discuss global and contemporary issues, ranging from recent natural disasters, elections, conflict and general ongoing political debates. Each of the speakers talk for a short 10 minutes, after which small scale discussion groups are held in which everyone is encouraged to speak up, ask questions and debate the various topics. The aim of the evening is to encourage both students and professors alike to gain new insights and understandings of events in the news through questioning each other and generally being exposed to different perspectives. It is a great opportunity for staff and students to interact in a more informal setting outside of the classroom, and so far all the evenings have continued long into the night, ending up in the pub after everyone is thrown out of the LUC building in the midst of heated discussion.
Speakers who joined us so far:
- Jaap de Hoop Scheffer– Situation in Libya during Arab Spring.
- Chris Goto-Jones– Politics in Japan after tsunami and nuclear crisis.
- Aernout van Lynden– Arab Spring
- Herman Quarles – Deputy Director for Middle East and North Africa
- Emiel de Bont – Director for Strategy
- Jean Pierre Kempeneers – Deputy Director for Human Rights)
Chair: Cecilia Diemont
