The keynote speech ? “Achieving World Food Security: The Role of the FAO” ? was presented by Dr. Sumiter Singh Broca, the senior policy officer of the FAO regional office for Asia and the Pacific. Dr. Broca spoke about the meaning of “food security” and current efforts and movements to achieve it around the world and in the Asia-Pacific. After the keynote, recruitment fair featuring each participating organization convened to attract potential applicants among UOS students. Dr. Mbuli Charles Boliko, a director in the FAO Liaison Office in Japan, Ms. Brigitte Elizabeth Melina, a Human Resource Business Partner at IFAD, and Ms. Uma Thapa, a Senior Government Partnership Officer with the WFP, each explained their institution’s work, trying to recruit potential workers from UOS.

One of the attendees, Seong, (Dept. of Environmental Horticulture, ’11) said, “Deeply related to my major, the lecture was a great opportunity to widen my view of the future. I could recognize the big influence of agriculture not only on yielding products, but also on the broader fields that agriculture affects, such as society and economics. I became prouder of my own major, and I was satisfied with the program.” Seong also expressed satisfaction at having an opportunity to learn more about international organizations from influential presenters who actually work in the field. Several UOS students participated and offered some passionate questions during Q&A time. It seemed that the session was beneficial not only to Seong, but to all listeners who are hoping to enter global development in the future.

By Hye-joon Suh