Scotland's First Minister welcomes John Smith Fellows to Edinburgh
15th June 2011
The 2011 John Smith Fellows arrived in Edinburgh this week to take part in the prestigious John Smith Fellowship Programme the fourteenth programme of the John Smith Memorial Trust, bringing young leaders from the Former Soviet Union to the UK for an intensive four week programme on good governance, leadership, the rule of law, social justice, and democracy. This year, the Trust also welcomes two leaders from Iraq as the Trust develops its work in the Middle East.
Elaine Smith and Rt Hon George Reid welcome Fellows and guests to the Scottish Parliament
The 2011 Fellowship Programme began on 11th June with introductory sessions led by JSMT Director Brian Brivati and Trustees Lord McCluskey, Dennis Sammut OBE, and Paul K Winter, and included team building sessions facilitated by Paul Jamieson of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
The 2011 Fellows question John McTernan, Dr Paul Cairney, Kezia Dugdale MSP and Sarah Chisnall on Scottish politics
The week continued with a series of workshops, lectures, visits and events designed to engage the fellows on three levels. Firstly, to allow them to explore experiences of leadership in challenging circumstances with leading figures from British public life. Secondly, to provide them with an introduction and analysis of the nature of contemporary British politics, and finally to provide time and guidance for Fellows to reflect on their own leadership qualities. On Monday 13th June, Fellows were privileged to hear personal accounts of leadership from the former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament the Rt Hon George Reid, Chief Executive of Standard Life Sir Sandy Crombie, and Head of Oxfam Scotland Judith Robertson. The complexities of contemporary UK politics were explained and analysed by Professor Charlie Jeffery. Later that evening, Fellows were welcomed to the Scottish Parliament by Deputy Presiding Officer Elaine Smith for a reception and dinner attended by a number of Scottish MSPs, public figures, and members of the Smith family.
2011 Kyrgyz Fellow Uluk Kydyrbaev thanks the Scottish Parliament on behalf of the 2011 Fellows
The Fellowship Programme continued on Tuesday 14th June with workshops and lectures delivered by Donald MacLaren, Siemon Scammell-Katz, Bryan Beattie, and Crawford Gillies. On Wednesday 15th June, Fellows were taken on a tour of the Scottish Supreme Court by the former Solicitor General for Scotland, Lord McCluskey. The Fellows were then welcomed to Bute House, residence of the First Minister, by Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP who was delighted to meet Fellows for the second year. Their stay in Scotland also included a tour of the Scottish Parliament, observation of First Minister's Questions, and meetings with MSPs and with the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Tricia Marwick. Their time in Edinburgh concluded with sessions on leadership led by the Rev. Norman Drummond.
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond MSP with the Rt Hon George Reid and the 2011 John Smith Fellows
On completion of the Edinburgh week, the Fellows travelled throughout the UK to attend a series of individual meetings and work placements tailored to each Fellow's particular expertise and interests. Among others, Etibar Kerimov (Expert on International Affairs at the Council of State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan) will attend meetings at Oxfam HQ, whilst Hovhannes Nikoghosyan (Armenia), Ghassan Kadhim (Iraq) and Aziz Ahmad (Kurdistan Region of Iraq) will travel to the Northern Ireland Assembly, and Sergii Andrushko (Ukraine) and Giorgi Abashidze (Georgia) will attend meetings at the BBC News Channel.
To read more about the Fellows' work placements, action plans, and concluding week in London please use the following links:
2011 Fellows hosted throughout the UK by top experts and institutions
2011 Fellows Action Plan Presentations
2011 Programme Finale
Photos courtesy of John McConville
For regular updates on the 2011 Fellowship please follow us on Twitter (#JSFP2011)