Susan Thompson, CEO, University of Winnipeg Foundation; Dr. Rey Pagtakhan; Ken Roth; President Lloyd Axworthy; Richard Graydon, Past-Chair Board of Regents; and Bob Kozminski, Chair, University of Winnipeg Campaign.
The University of Winnipeg has attracted some of the world’s brightest ambassadors, academics, and human rights advocates to serve as Global Advisors to its newly launched Global College. The Global Advisors will draw on their years of international experience and contacts to provide advice and expertise to help shape the future of the newly formed Global College and the development of its strategic and academic programs, as well as international outreach.
“We have struck a chord with some of the world’s leading authorities on human rights, international affairs, education and information,” said Lloyd Axworthy, President of The University of Winnipeg. “The Global College—with the University’s faculty and students—together with members of the local and global community will do their part as global citizens to help define Canada’s place in the world and map out a course for the future.”
The Global College also received its first major donation, $500,000 toward international internships for students, from distinguished alumnus Dr. Douglas W. Leatherdale, (United college), Class of ’57.
The Global College provides students, faculty, visiting scholars, dignitaries, and the community with a place to interact, to meet, to work and to share their diverse perspectives. It is a unique centre where issues of global citizenship, human rights, and issues affecting the planet can be researched, discussed, and debated by community members, students of all ages, government and NGO agencies, and the business community.
The new College will focus on issues of global significance affecting our local and international communities. This includes the transition of new immigrants and refugees into Canadian society and the struggle they face to find employment that recognizes their foreign credentials. Community involvement will be key to discussion and research on topics ranging from human rights and infectious disease, to global security and climate change.
The February 7, 2005 announcement was made by Dr. Lloyd Axworthy as part of a daylong series of events hosted by the Global College, featuring Ken Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch. Roth—a human rights worker since 1981, author of over 70 articles and chapters on human rights, and a former U.S. federal prosecutor in New York and for the Iran-Contra investigation in Washington—spoke on Three Human Rights Challenges: Darfur, Abu Ghraib, and UN Reform.
“Borders between cultures, between the haves and the have-nots, and between those caught in the crossfire of warfare and those living in peace must be torn down so that an understanding for the integrity of the human rights of fellow citizens can be built up,” said Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, Chair of the Advisory Board and Co-Chair of the Global Advisors, as he reiterated the importance of establishing a place for research, dialogue, and action on issues of human rights, health, security, and the environment.
