2008 Fellows arrive in Edinburgh for start of Fellowship Programme
On Friday 6th June 2008, twenty three young leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine arrived in Scotland to take part in the 2008 John Smith Fellowship Programme. The five-week Programme began in Edinburgh providing Fellows with an excellent introduction to issues such as devolution and local self-governance.
Fellows with their tour-guide en-route to a visit to St. Andrews
The Fellows work together during one of the team-building exercises
The 2008 Fellows were welcomed to the Scottish Parliament by the Presiding Officer, Alex Fergusson MSP. He gave a presentation in which he spoke about the Scottish Parliament, his role as Presiding Officer, and his election to that post. Fellows were able to observe First Minister’s Questions and attended meetings with a number of MSPs. Whilst in Scotland the 2008 Fellows were given a unique insight into the UK judicial system. They visited the Law Courts and Edinburgh Prison with Trustee and Former Solicitor General of Scotland, the Rt Hon Lord McCluskey. The Fellows also took part in a roundtable discussion on the effectiveness of the UK criminal justice system chaired by the Trust Chairman the Rt. Hon. Lord Falconer of Thoroton.
The first week of the Academic Programme, organised by Global Partners & Associates, also took place in Edinburgh. Fellows were given a fascinating introduction to 'Scottish Politics' by Stephen Maxwell, Associate Director of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). Emma Gray of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman led a session on The Role of the Ombudsman and Human Rights, and Alan Miller of McGrigor Rights spoke on the theme ‘Human Rights on Three Levels’.
The Fellows were formally welcomed to the Programme by JSMT Chairman Lord Falconer at the Trust’s Welcome Dinner. Trustees, Advisors, supporters and friends of the Trust spent an enjoyable evening with Fellows at Ristorante Librizzi. At the dinner Lord Falconer said:
'I am delighted to be welcoming this outstanding group of John Smith Fellows to Edinburgh – 23 young leaders all of whom are committed to John Smith’s ideals of democracy and public service and who represent a living memorial to the values he personified.'
The dinner was co-hosted by the Director of the British Council Scotland Roy Cross, and was attended by Baroness Smith. Other guests included former Presiding Officer George Reid, Former Solicitor General Lord McCluskey, the Governor of Edinburgh Prison Nigel Ironside, and Kevin Dunion the Scottish Information Commissioner.
Fellows and guests at The Leadership Trust
The 2008 Fellows departed Edinburgh on 13th June to attend a weekend conference in Herefordshire at The Leadership Trust – a charity dedicated to the development and enhancement of leadership skills in individuals and organisations. During an interactive session with Paul K Winter (CEO of the Leadership Trust), Fellows looked at the values and behaviours of leaders and the challenges that future leaders will face, focussing on examples from the Trust’s seven Fellowship countries. Phillip Dunne MP and Lewis Baston (Electoral Reform Society) led a session on ‘The Mechanics of Winning Elections’, chaired by Trust Advisor Lord Dubs. Professor Alan Johnson spoke to Fellows and guests about ‘The Future of Democracy’, and a panel of experts led a discussion on the positive and negative aspects of British Democracy. The final session of the weekend, chaired by Simon Fanshawe, looked at the level of democratic development in the Fellows own countries.
During the 16th-26th June the Fellows spent two weeks on an attachment period, pursuing a programme of individual meetings and work placements tailored to their particular expertise and interests. The Fellows then completed the second week of the Academic Programme in London organised by Global Partners and Associates.
The 2008 Fellowship Programme concluded with a Final Day at No. 11 Downing Street. Each Fellow delivered an action-plan presentation to Trustees, Advisors and invited guests by kind permission of The Lord Chancellor, the Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP. To read more about the Final Day, please follow this link: 2008 Fellows meet the Prime Minister
