Twenty students and two academics building a Colombian connection

Twenty students and two academics left for South America on 3 November for an opportunity of a lifetime. They’re undertaking a programme delivered by University of Auckland partner the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. It’s a four-week intensive course on peace-building efforts across Colombia. The trip was enabled by the University receiving a Prime Minister’s Group Scholarship for Latin America that allowed the academics to select students to take on the trip. Most are working towards their Master of Conflict and Terrorism Studies (MCTS).

Dr Chris Wilson and Dr Thomas Gregory, senior lecturers in Politics and International Relations are leading the group. Chris is the coordinator of the MCTS programme.

Thomas says the trip is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to learn about the conflict and peace process in Colombia.

“They’ll study the causes and consequences of the conflict, meet with people involved in various peace-building initiatives and may even get to interview former combatants. We have also organised an exciting cultural programme for them, including a trip to the historic town of Cartagena and a game of Tejo with students from Los Andes University – it’s like ten pin bowling, but rather than hitting pins, the targets contain gunpowder!”

The relationship between New Zealand and Colombia is gaining importance, indicated by the opening in 2018 of the New Zealand Embassy in Bogotá. The agreement with Los Andes is the University’s first exchange agreement with a Colombian university.