Kuwaiti students graduate as ‘NGO Leaders’ from France’s Sciences Po
In a solemn yet joyful ceremony Friday evening, some 18 Kuwaiti students received their diplomas and graduated - several with honors attesting to the ongoing commitment of the State of Kuwait to emphasize education as a cornerstone to youth development and the future of the nation. The ceremony was held at France’s world-renowned Institute for Political Studies (IEP), commonly known as ‘Sciences Po.’
The students took part in an intensive course here to prepare them to be future “leaders” in the non-governmental sector and continue Kuwait’s long tradition of charitable and humanitarian work at home and abroad. The graduation ceremony was co-presided by Kuwaiti Ambassador to France, Sami Mohammad Al-Suleiman and Vanessa Scherrer, Vice-Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po.
The graduating students “showed strong commitment to their courses”, Scherrer said, and “are now equipped to move forward towards rewarding careers.” In commencement remarks, she told graduates that “you succeed in life from hard work” but also “when you put passion into what you do. You are now NGO professionals and I am sure you will go very far in life.”
“I want to congratulate you on your graduation... You made it! This is your first link with Science Po. But I hope it won’t be your last,” Scherrer said. She emphasized that the current “batch of students” were not the only Kuwaitis at Science Po. and there were several others in graduate and undergraduate programs at the school, which is known in France as a springboard to high office and has been attended by most of France’s political elite and many others in senior positions in government administration and elsewhere. The program followed by the students was under the aegis of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and Scherrer expressed her thanks and appreciation for the collaboration established between her Institute and the Kuwaiti entity. “I would like to thank first of all our partner, the KFAS.