A group of Master’s and PhD students from the Bonn International Model United Nations (BIMUN) recently visited the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of International Affairs. The visit provided a valuable opportunity for interdisciplinary exchange between future practitioners and current researchers engaged in international affairs.
Following an introduction to the Academy’s mission and fellowship programme, the main focus was a dynamic “Fellow Speed Dating” session. Academy Fellows Anna Shpakovskaya, Chiung-Chiu Huang, Chisomo Banda, and Martin Weber presented their research—ranging from subnational diplomacy and youth migration policies to security perceptions and political communities.
The students posed insightful, critical questions that prompted stimulating discussions and new reflections for the fellows. Both sides benefited from the exchange, gaining broader perspectives on global challenges and scholarly approaches.
The visit concluded with a guided tour of the Academy building, highlighting its role as a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and research.
Featured Fellows and Research Projects:
Chisomo Banda
Youth Perspectives on International Migration Policies
Chiung-Chiu Huang
De/securitizing China: The Impacts of Security Community on States’ Strategic Assessments
Anna Shpakovskaya
The Changing Logic of China’s Strategic Subnational Diplomacy: The Case of the Sino-German City Partnership in NRW
Martin Weber
Solidarist Transnational Localism? Place, Ecology and Deliberative Political Communities