I am writing this post from the Graduate School of Governance of Maastricht University. I have discovered yet another country, and another institutions respectively, for which education matters. The University of Maastricht takes its role seriously. They are supporting the event that I am here for – that is the European Model United Nations. They are financing some brilliant studying facilities and their student body is composed out of international students. At least 2/3 of them.
At the opening session of EuroMUN, I listened to a speech delivered by the rector of the university. He spoke about the new role universities have in our world. That of delivering something more than knowledge. Of delivering education for sustainability. Of teaching attitudes and lifestyles. Once again, I realized the tremendous challenge that lies ahead Romania’s educational system. I suppose sooner or later Romanian universities will realize that more than one third of the best prospective students that are now in their last years of high-school will choose a university abroad rather than a Romanian one.
Going back the EuroMUN, the main reason why I was invited here was to talk about two lessons I’ve learned in the last couple of years:
1. How to set up an institutionalized framework for youth participation in decision-making through the “UN Youth Delegate” program (more details here)
2. The role of youth in civil society (Romania: A Case Study)
With respect to the latter, “Voice of a Generation” has genuinely taught me a lot… I will blog about lessons learned as soon as I wrap things up here in Maastricht.
I guess I should finish this entry in a less formal manner, by telling you that last night we enjoyed Maastricht night life (which, it turns out, is cheaper and more vivid than in other parts of the Netherlands), Maastricht itself (“the real heart of Europe”), and of course a re-encounter with friends from Europe. Later on today we will hold a workshop on how to set up a UN youth delegates program, and then enjoy a raggae night with Amnesty International. 
Podulet peste raul Maas