A group of aspiring university students were given a rare insight into global affairs during a Chancellor-In-Conversation event led by our Chancellor, the renowned foreign policy expert, Dr Fiona Hill.
The students, who are studying A-Level Politics at Gosforth Academy in North East England, heard first-hand accounts of international diplomacy from Dr Hill.
She was joined by panellists Professor Barbara Keys from our Department of History and Professor Anoush Ehteshami, Senior Fellow from our Global Policy Institute.
The discussion, ‘The End of American Hegemony? The Trump Administration and the Future of American Power’ saw Dr Hill share her expert insights into the process behind President Trump’s decision-making.
After the event, Dr Hill spent time with the Gosforth Academy students, answering questions and discussing politics.
Originally from Bishop Auckland in North East England, where she attended a state comprehensive school, Dr Hill graduated with a degree in Russian and Modern History.
She went on to become a leading expert in Russian affairs, advising US presidents George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump during his first term in office.
For the Gosforth Academy students, listening to Dr Hill’s first-hand experiences of working with and meeting world leaders such as President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was both inspiring and enlightening.
Student Dan McAlone said: “I found it really beneficial as somebody who wants to study international relations at Durham.
“Listening to Fiona, who has actually been in the room with Trump and Putin, is so much more illuminating than hearing about politics on the news and in the mainstream media.
“It has been really insightful, and it has been great to be here.”
Isobel Colegate intends to study politics at university after her A-Levels and is considering Durham as one of her options.
She said: “I feel like I learned a lot from the event, I enjoyed the way that the conversation was split between the panellists, and hearing their different viewpoints was very insightful.
“It’s also very inspiring to see a woman reach the position that Fiona has.”
Student Adam Stout is considering a career in the Royal Marines after attending university. He was particularly interested in the military aspects of the discussion.
Adam said: “I enjoyed the discussion and actually found it quite easy to follow, I liked the way that the experts made the topic interesting and easily understood.”
Gosforth Academy teacher Keith Wood, who himself studied politics at Durham as a mature student between 1991 and 1994, said the Chancellor-In-Conversation event was a good way to expose his students to a top-level university environment.
He added: “Events like this help to raise aspirations and encourage our students to believe that a place like Durham is open to them and that they belong here.
“For our 17-year-old students to get the chance to meet Fiona, who is world-leading in her field of knowledge, is something that I’m sure they’ll reflect on in years to come as something really quite special.”
Dr Hill said: “It was a pleasure to meet the students. I hope that sharing my experiences helped them see that global affairs isn’t a distant world - it’s one they can be part of.
“It’s vital that we continue to open the doors to University and inspire young people to see themselves shaping the future.”
Panellists Professor Barbara Keys from our Department of History, Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill and Professor Anoush Ehteshami, Senior Fellow from our Global Policy Institute.
Gosforth Academy students listening to the Chancellor-in-Conversation event
Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill talking to Gosforth Academy students and teacher Keith Wood.
Chancellor Dr Fiona Hill talking to Gosforth Academy students and teacher Keith Wood
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