MIKTA Young Leaders Camp

Whilst undertaking a semester abroad at Yonsei University in South Korea, Bachelor of Design (Architecture) / Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) student Kieran Maguire qualified for the 2016 MIKTA Young Leaders Camp. The Young Leaders Camp is a partnership between Mexico, Indonesia, ROK, Turkey and Australia where students from each country across a number of disciplines spend 3 days at the Hanwha Resort in Seorak, on the East Coast of South Korea.

The Camp gave students the opportunity, as potential future leaders of the 5 MIKTA Countries, to share knowledge, discuss creative strategies to address global issues and develop networks.

On day one the students meet and exchanged formalities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul and then embarked on a lengthy bus trip to their destination. Regrouping at the resort the 30 participants we were divided in to 5 separate groups and given the task of brainstorming policy ideas to be implemented in 2017. Students worked until late on the second day, broken up with a small hike to the breathtaking Mount Seoraksan. After finalising ideas, each group presented their proposal, and the event ended with a large banquet dinner complete with a private Jazz Band!

As well as getting the chance to meet new people, participating in this camp also opened the door for Kieran to successfully apply for the DFAT Australian – Indonesian Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP); a two-month exchange program where successful applicants will participate in volunteer projects, work experience placements and cultural activities in Indonesia. Congratulations Kieran!