Image: Nuffield Ireland 2024 Scholars travel for GFP 2024
Nuffield Ireland 2024 Scholars are travelling the world on the Global Focus Programme
Our 2024 Scholars have been travelling on their five-week Global Focus Programme (GFP), in groups of up to 13 international Scholars.
This is the opportunity to discover the cultures and agricultures of the world, understand differences and commonalities in production systems, policies, levels of supports for farmers, societal issues and food cultures. It is also a chance to develop one’s ability to manage the logistics of group travel over a long period and collaborate with often very different others, to develop leadership skills, and learn the humility, respect, and the continuous learning mindset values which underpin the Nuffield ethos.
Molly Garvey and Michael Martin, with another 10 Scholars from Australia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Brazil and Chile took off in June and July for Indonesia, then France, Denmark, California and Chile.
Niall Hurson, around the same time, joined a group of 12 international Scholars from the USA, Brazil, Australia, the UK and the Netherlands and travelled to visit agribusinesses, farms, policy officials and more to Australia, India, Qatar, Ireland and Mexico.
As we write, Nick Cotter and John Keane are heading to New Zealand to start their own five week GFP with their international group, their stint concluding with the Nuffield Australia Conference in Tasmania in early September.
Next for all Scholars come their personal travels. While the GFP discoveries can, and often do, include relevant countries, production systems or contacts, Scholars generally need to travel in a more focused way to research their topic.
Nuffield Ireland is one of a relatively small number of Nuffield organisations to make the GFP compulsory for our Scholars. We know it is a key aspect of the Nuffield International programme, and leaves the greatest impression on Scholars, and arguably does most to open their horizons and their minds. It also helps cement life-long friendships and is the greatest building block which makes the global Nuffield network the organisation’s greatest asset.
