Xiaohui HAN, Harbin Institute of Technology
As a professor in a university, I profoundly realize the role of the youth in the process of globalization and in shaping a better world. They are ingenious; they are energetic; they are good at brainstorming; and most importantly, they have teeming minds and brimming hearts.
It helps students understand the major events in the history of the UN, the current status of the world’s employment market, the dynamic changes of the international labor market, and the significance of self employment in a globalized world. GYLA enhances students' ability to solve the problems from intercultural perspective and motivates them to study and work as intercultural citizens.
Innovation is the fountainhead of sustainable development. The program assists students in developing teamwork spirit, risk-taking spirit, the ability of project execution, the capacity for taking responsibility, and the capability to compete with the youth from all over the world.
There is knowledge which can be learned from textbooks and reference books, but there still exists something that cannot be learned from books. GYLA offers the students chances to learn from the experience shared by the UN officials, the UN consultants, and the professors from the prestigious universities. The experience may be a great asset for the students' future career planning.
An intercultural citizen needs to be resilient, resourceful and socially integrated, with the knowledge and skills to adapt to the ever changing world. Confucius once stated that "learning without thinking is futile; thinking without learning is perilous". Once a young man grasps the essence of life-long learning and systems thinking, definitely he/she will have a prosperous future.
Good leaders cast a vision and motivate others to achieve a goal, make a difference, bring improvements, embrace changes, and learn from mistakes. It is apparent that GYLA prepares the students for being qualified entrepreneurs and leaders.
"GYLA provides the students with an opportunity to perceive themselves in a deeper way, laying a foundation for their long-term development, empowering today's youth for a better future, and nurturing outstanding leaders from monocultural, multicultural to transcultural perspective. "
