For many, it can be difficult to devote time and attention to anything beyond the most pressing personal problems.
Students have finals approaching, a myriad of papers to write, and social lives to sustain that often cause them to pose the question “why should I care?” when faced with issues that might not seem relevant to them.
Although it can be difficult to realize, events outside of the direct Monmouth space have very real implications on the lives of ourselves and the people around us.
Over 20 years ago in the summer of 2001, Monmouth faculty recognized this problem and decided to take action. Initially known as the Global Understanding Project (GUP), Rekha Datta, Ph.D., Nancy Mezey, Ph.D., Karen Schmelzkopf, Ph.D and then-Provost Thomas S. Pearson, Ph.D., founded this institution with the purpose of fostering global engagement and achieving global understanding through an interdisciplinary approach.
Models from diverse subjects such as history, art and design, gender studies, criminal justice, and communication were utilized to achieve this focus.
A senior political science student said, “It is important for organizations like this to exist to promote equity and understanding during such a polarized time in both American and global history.”
The horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001 reinforced this directive, coming just weeks after the GUP was created. The event was traumatic for many and personally impacted much of the local and University community.
Those left without siblings, parents, friends, and partners were left asking questions as to how this could happen and why it had to happen to them. In order to provide some semblance of consolation and seek to answer these questions, the GUP hosted its first Global Understanding Convention (GUC) on campus in spring of 2002.
Since then, the event has recurred on an annual basis and features prominent public speakers ranging from UN representatives to national leaders, all of whom share their perspectives and experiences as related to the theme of each year’s event.
The GUP has since rebranded itself as the Institute for Global Understanding (IGU). It is also designated as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) recognized by the United Nations. This means that Monmouth students have the opportunity to participate in high level UN meetings, deliberations, and policy directives through the IGU and its partner programs.
As per its mission statement, the IGU helps students “realize their potential as leaders and to become engaged citizens in a diverse and increasingly interdependent world” by hosting events designed to engage with students and the local community in order to foster a more comprehensive global understanding.
Comprehensive programs on everything from animal protection rights to film series are sponsored under the auspice of the IGU.
Podcasts, interviews, and recorded lectures from prominent guest speakers are available on the IGU website.
More than 20 years after its inception, the IGU remains active and continues to engage with both students and the local community. Additionally, many of the faculty that founded the IGU as the GUP in 2001 are still teaching at Monmouth today.
A sophomore political science student said, “It is nice to know the department and school are able to offer us such programs. The fact it is sponsored by the UN and grants us access to higher level things proves that Monmouth as a school can be competitive despite its size.”
Alongside the IGU, Monmouth also offers the Sustainability in Teaching and Research (STAR) symposium, which operates in tandem with the directive of the United Nations regarding the importance of sustainability and climate change mitigation.
According to Monmouth University’s website, STAR is designed to be “A Symposium on Curricular and Scholarly Innovations based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Exploring National and International Efforts Toward Equity, Coastal and Climate Futures, Sustainability and Social Justice, and Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.”
It will be hosted between Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3 of this year and is free to attend and participate in.
