DePaul University: connecting schools with the United Nations - UN Videoconferencing Programme

UN Chronicle, June-August, 2003 by Patricia A. Szczerba

February 2003 marked the fifth anniversary of our wonderful collaboration with Mr. Kamal and the Ambassador's Club. A couple of thousand DePaul students have spoken with dozens of UN ambassadors and officials, videotapes have been played in other classes, articles have appeared in our school newspapers, and thousands of people have heard about the discussions. Our web site has received thousands of hits from all over the world, and we have presented our UN videoconference programme and video clips at technology conferences.

DePaul University supports a dialogue with the Ambassador's Club because its mission is in harmony with the UN Charter and the work of the United Nations. The University follows a mission of academic excellence, service to the community, access to education and respect for the individual. We strive to create opportunities for the disadvantaged and disenfranchised in society. Through our courses, centres, institutes, numerous conferences, forums and events, we support UN values of social justice, "faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and work of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women", and "promote social progress and better standards of life for all people". Our students are taking the information, skills, human values and concern for people and the planet, as promoted by UN dignitaries, into their personal lives and workplaces.

DePaul University was founded in 1898 by the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) Catholic Religious Community. With 23,227 students today, it is the largest Catholic university and the eighth largest not-for-profit private university in the United States. It has nine colleges, with classes at eight campuses in and around Chicago, plus the School for New Learning and MBA programmes in Hong Kong, Bahrain and the Czech Republic.

The part-time MBA programme at the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business is ranked fourth, placing it among the nation's top ten by U.S. News & World Report for eight consecutive years. The School for New Learning, accredited to the UN Department of Public In formation since March 1997, awards the BA degree to adults and has been named one of six "Best Practice" Adult Learner Focused Institutions in North America. In addition to the videoconferences, it supports an active Model UN programme, study-travel courses to the annual DPI/NGO Conference, and trips to UN offices in Geneva.

Patricia A. Szczerba is Manager of the United Nations Videoconference Program, Office of Distance Learning and Visiting Faculty School for New Learning, at DePaul University (Chicago, USA), where she has been teaching since 1996. She is a senior editor and writer for The New York Times Almanac, addressing such global issues as health, population, the United Nations and other related topics.