Employability Bursary: Alastair Nicol
Unlock your future: How the Employability Bursary made Alastair’s Model NATO conference unforgettable.
In this blog post, we bring you a firsthand account from a student, Alastair Nicol, who used the bursary to attend a Model NATO conference in Berlin. Discover how this opportunity not only enriched his academic journey but also set the stage for future success.
In late November 2023, a group of students from the School of International Relations (IR) embarked on a journey to the snow-covered city of Berlin. Our purpose? To attend a Model NATO conference hosted by the Federal Academy for Security Policy. After a taxi ride to Edinburgh Airport and a late arrival in the German capital, our first negotiation began: deciding where to get our first döner. Thankfully, it was an easy choice. Start as you mean to go on, after all.
Diving into diplomacy
Each of us was grouped into small delegations representing different NATO signatories. I had the honor of representing Romania, while others took on France, Türkiye, and Slovakia. We were divided into various committees focusing on Public Diplomacy, Military Advice, and overall policy suggestions. Before the official ceremonies began, some pre-conference networking was in order. Naturally, this took place at the birthplace of most agreements and arguments: the pub. There, we met fellow students from as far afield as Canada and various parts of Germany, sharing our stories and backgrounds. The stage was set for an exciting conference with ambitious and like-minded students eager for their next LinkedIn post.
To understand our countries’ aims at the conference, the organizers arranged visits to our respective embassies. These visits proved insightful, giving us firsthand experience of cultural diplomacy as we were handed leaflets about Timisoara, the European Capital of Culture 2023, by the smiling embassy staff.
Intense negotiations and unexpected alliances
What followed were three days of intense negotiations as the various states of NATO grappled over policies and responses to Russian aggression. The spirit of NATO is one of consensus, so middle-power states attempted to broker agreements between the US, the UK, our friends in France, and countries like Hungary, which were particularly agitated over Russia’s actions. Meanwhile, smaller states tried to weave their policies into memorandums, resolutions, and amendments, forming unlikely alliances in the process.
By the last day, we were all running on little sleep and sick of döner. It seemed like the US was about to wreck the entire memorandum, causing the room to fill with weary groans and despairing gazes. But backdoor negotiations saved the day at the last minute.
Beyond the conference
Despite the bleak climate, Soviet-era architecture, and tense negotiations, the conference was an exciting place to network, test our public speaking and research skills, and collaborate with diplomats. Amidst German Christmas markets and the occasional glass of Glühwein, we found that, in the face of all challenges, it very much could be worse.
St Andrews is a great place to gain credibility, but it’s also a great place to leverage that credibility and look further afield for opportunities. The Employability Bursary was crucial in making this experience possible. It covered accommodation, travel expenses, and other essential costs, allowing me to focus on making the most of this incredible opportunity.
Since the conference, I have maintained contact with several attendees who are now pursuing Master’s degrees at prestigious institutions like Sciences Po and are on track for careers in policy. Getting to know them, collaborating with diplomats, and developing crucial professional skills have all boosted my CV and my confidence about my future.
Your turn to shine
Whatever your career ambitions, the Employability Bursary is here to support you. Whether you’re looking to gain practical experience, further your studies, or start a new project, this bursary can provide the necessary support. Take the first step towards unlocking your future—apply for the Employability Bursary today and set yourself on the path to success.
At the Career Centre, we aim to provide students with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed professionally. The Employability Bursary is one of our key initiatives, offering financial support to students keen to enhance their career prospects through unique experiences.