Major event to highlight the United Nations Outreach Programme  on Human Resources held in Tsinghua

An event on October 11 for United Nations Outreach Programme on Human Resources was held in Tsinghua University. Around 700 people, including undergraduates and postgraduates from 10 Beijing universities took part in the event.

The United Nations Outreach Programme on Human Resources is hosted by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS).  The Ministry will also be hosting similar outreach programmes in Hangzhou and Shanghai.

The participating universities for the event were Tsinghua, Peking University, Renmin University of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, University of International Business and Economics, Communication University of China, China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing Language and Culture University and Beijing International Studies University.

Prior to the event, Mr. SHI Zongkai, Vice chairman of Tsinghua’s university council, had a courtesy meeting with Ms. Martha Helena Lopez Rodrigue, Director, Office of Human Resources, Bureau for Management Services, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr. FU Yueqin, Director-General, Center for International Exchanges, and Mr. MA Hezu, Deputy Director-General, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

Mr. Shi Zongkai commented that Tsinghua University placed heavy emphasis on the construction of an internationalized talent development system. Tsinghua University strongly encourages students to take up positions in international organizations to contribute to the development of the world. He said that he was looking forward to strengthening the relationship between Tsinghua University, the United Nations and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security through the outreach programme.

Ms. Martha Helena Lopez Rodrigue said that the outreach programme was just the beginning, and the United Nations hopes to provide more career advancement opportunities for Chinese students.

Mr. FU Yueqin delivered a speech on behalf of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, commending the contribution of Tsinghua University in organizing this very important event. He commented that in order to encourage more Chinese young talents to work in the UN system, the Chinese Government has been placing more emphasis on cooperation with the United Nations Secretariat, entities and other specialized agencies through hosting outreach programmes, organizing training courses and Yong Professionals Programme (YPP) competitive examinations.

This will be achieved, he said, by publicizing human resource policies adopted by the United Nations, introducing career opportunities in international organizations, nurturing potential candidates for international organizations and assisting them in eventually securing positions of international organizations.

Human resource representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) shared topics related to the United Nation’s values, basic information, organizational culture, compensation and benefits, recruitment policy and future developments.

They also provided detailed accounts on how they select best talents for the United Nations through the entrance examination and the competitive recruitment process. This was followed by a lively discussion between participating students and representatives from the United Nations.

The United Nations is an international organization of sovereign states. It is committed to promoting cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights and the establishment of world peace. The United Nations currently has 193 member states with their headquarters in New York City. China was a founding member of the United Nations.

(edited by Li Huashan)