On February 25, His Excellency Kamrul Ahsan, former Ambassador of Bangladesh to Russia, joined first-year MA in Global African Studies students for a virtual guest session as part of Diplomacy Studies, taught by Zaynab El Bernoussi, Associate Professor of Political Science at The Africa Institute, and a distinguished scholar specializing in dignity politics, international relations, and the international political economy. The session, part of the Diplomacy and Africa’s International Relations specialization—one of three specializations in the MA program—provided students with firsthand insights into international diplomacy.
Ambassador Ahsan, who has served in Canada, Singapore, and beyond, discussed his 35-year diplomatic career, highlighting key challenges in international relations, the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution, and the shifting dynamics of global power structures. He commended the students for their thoughtful questions, remarking that their level of inquiry reflected a strong grasp of global issues.
MA student Mantate Queeneth Mlotshwa reflected on the session, highlighting the Ambassador’s insights into the skills required for effective diplomacy. “Former Ambassador H.E. Kamrul Ahsan discussed the challenges and necessary skills of diplomacy, providing a valuable perspective on Bangladesh’s transformation, particularly in the textile industry. I appreciated how he integrated Africa into his reflections, challenging us to think critically and differently. Engaging with diplomats in this way gives us a real-world view of diplomacy in practice, offering us an invaluable opportunity,” she said.
Mlotshwa also found one of the Ambassador’s responses particularly impactful, “He emphasized that for a country to grow globally, it must first invest in its own community. Using Zimbabwe’s economy as an example, he explained that any effort to elevate sectors like agriculture must start with initiatives such as farmer training.”
This session is part of the university’s commitment to bringing distinguished experts into the classroom, fostering critical discussions on international relations and diplomacy.
The Africa Institute’s MA program offers an interdisciplinary approach to studying global Africa, combining academic rigor with practical engagement to prepare students to address the most pressing questions facing the region.
On February 25, His Excellency Kamrul Ahsan, former Ambassador of Bangladesh to Russia, joined first-year MA in Global African Studies students for a virtual guest session as part of Diplomacy Studies, taught by Zaynab El Bernoussi, Associate Professor of Political Science at The Africa Institute, and a distinguished scholar specializing in dignity politics, international relations, and the international political economy. The session, part of the Diplomacy and Africa’s International Relations specialization—one of three specializations in the MA program—provided students with firsthand insights into international diplomacy.
On February 25, His Excellency Kamrul Ahsan, former Ambassador of Bangladesh to Russia, joined first-year MA in Global African Studies students for a virtual guest session as part of Diplomacy Studies, taught by Zaynab El Bernoussi, Associate Professor of Political Science at The Africa Institute, and a distinguished scholar specializing in dignity politics, international relations, and the international political economy. The session, part of the Diplomacy and Africa’s International Relations specialization—one of three specializations in the MA program—provided students with firsthand insights into international diplomacy.
Ambassador Ahsan, who has served in Canada, Singapore, and beyond, discussed his 35-year diplomatic career, highlighting key challenges in international relations, the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution, and the shifting dynamics of global power structures. He commended the students for their thoughtful questions, remarking that their level of inquiry reflected a strong grasp of global issues.
MA student Mantate Queeneth Mlotshwa reflected on the session, highlighting the Ambassador’s insights into the skills required for effective diplomacy. “Former Ambassador H.E. Kamrul Ahsan discussed the challenges and necessary skills of diplomacy, providing a valuable perspective on Bangladesh’s transformation, particularly in the textile industry. I appreciated how he integrated Africa into his reflections, challenging us to think critically and differently. Engaging with diplomats in this way gives us a real-world view of diplomacy in practice, offering us an invaluable opportunity,” she said.
Mlotshwa also found one of the Ambassador’s responses particularly impactful, “He emphasized that for a country to grow globally, it must first invest in its own community. Using Zimbabwe’s economy as an example, he explained that any effort to elevate sectors like agriculture must start with initiatives such as farmer training.”
This session is part of the university’s commitment to bringing distinguished experts into the classroom, fostering critical discussions on international relations and diplomacy.
The Africa Institute’s MA program offers an interdisciplinary approach to studying global Africa, combining academic rigor with practical engagement to prepare students to address the most pressing questions facing the region.
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