PhD student wins a place on major international diplomacy program
A University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) student has been accepted onto a prestigious young leaders program which serves to train young professionals in international policy.
The Young Leaders program is part of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Pacific Forum, which provides informative and innovative analysis of political and strategic developments in the Asia-Pacific region. Priscilla Jung Kim applied for the program in hopes of participating in, and contributing to the discussions of, the Council for Security Cooperation in Asia Pacific (CSCAP) meetings. By participating in the program, Priscilla will be afforded an unparalleled opportunity to develop relationships, observe the foreign-policy making process and voice her viewpoint within elite circles of policy specialists.
"I look forward to building relations with other scholars and foreign policy professionals in order to further my knowledge of U.S. diplomacy with East Asian states."
Currently undertaking her PhD at UCLan, which focuses on non-governmental (Track II) diplomacy between the United States and North Korea, Priscilla is hoping that her prior knowledge will aide her in the CSCAP meetings. The CSCAP is a multifaceted Track II diplomatic process for communication on security issues in the Asia Pacific, and as the United States and North Korea are members of CSCAP, this will provide an excellent opportunity for Priscilla to gain a deeper understanding of her research topic.
Priscilla commented: “I look forward to building relations with other scholars and foreign policy professionals in order to further my knowledge of US diplomacy with East Asian states. I believe [the program] will lead to a great network of other participants in the Young Leaders Program and senior experts in Asia-Pacific security issues.”
Priscilla is hoping that the program, which currently includes 1,000 Young Leaders from 56 countries, will allow her to develop practical skills in her future career
When asked about her expectations of the program, Priscilla said: “While my doctoral program allows me to shape my own perspective concerning US foreign policy towards North Korea, the Young Leaders program allows me to go beyond theory and literature, as I learn how experts and leaders deal with issues that I am studying. I therefore hope to be able to test theories of international politics with empirical situations.”
"This is a major accolade for Priscilla, her research and for UCLan as the programme attracts applications from all over the world and is highly competitive."
Professor Hazel Smith, Director of the International Institute of Korean Studies at UCLan and Priscilla’s PhD supervisor, said: “This is a major accolade for Priscilla, her research and for UCLan as the programme attracts applications from all over the world and is highly competitive. Indeed, Priscilla may be the only doctoral student from a British university ever to be admitted to this prestigious programme.
“Over the years, the CSIS Young Leaders project has provided a springboard into the diplomatic world for all its participants and it is highly likely that it will also help Priscilla achieve her goal of representing the United States in policy-making in East Asia – one of the key strategic regions for US foreign policy.”