BAFUNCS Career Paths Event at Kings College London, February 2024

In February 2024, the BAFUNCS Career Paths Programme organised an event with King's College London (KCL) United Nations Association (UNA). About sixty students attended, including visitors from other colleges. There was a mixed panel with Sarah Papineau (LON) and Nicholas Rosellini (LON) from BAFUNCS (who both served with UNDP in Bhutan but twenty years apart), and also Ramona Popescu from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). A member of the KCL UNA executive moderated the panel. After the panellists talked about their respective career paths, there was a lively question and answer session focusing on the competencies and experience relevant to a career in the United Nations. The contrast between the experiences of international and national civil servants provided some interesting comparisons between the two forms of public service. Several students approached the speakers afterwards to discuss career prospects, and some have since followed up for further guidance on their careers.