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Introducing the inaugural BISA/BFPG Undergraduate Network committee

A welcome sign in the foreground with a blurred group of people behind

We are excited to announce the inaugural BISA/BFPG Undergraduate Network committee.

The committee will be chaired by Beccie White. Beccie is in her penultimate year studying French and International Relations at the University of St Andrews. Jack Keen, a second year Politics and International Studies student at the University of Warwick, will be Vice-chair.

Beccie said:

“I'm very excited and honoured to be chairing the first committee of the BISA/BFPG Undergraduate Network! This is a really exciting opportunity to bring together undergraduate students from all across the UK, who share a keen interest in International Relations. We will focus on delivering high-quality speaker events, and the Network also aims to provide networking opportunities to meet new students from other institutions who share their love for International Relations.”

Beccie White stood by a window

Image: Beccie White

The full committee comprises:

  • Beccie White (University of St Andrews): Chair
  • Jack Keen (University of Warwick): Vice-chair
  • Aliza Dufournet (University of Manchester): Committee member
  • Julia Brown (University of St Andrews): Committee member
  • Sarah Barnouin (University of Aberystwyth): Committee member
  • Maddie Brown (University of Strathclyde): Committee member

Juliet Dryden, BISA CEO/Director, said:

“We received so many high calibre applications that deciding between them was difficult. However, we are confident that we have a brilliant group of students, led by Beccie White from the University of St Andrews, who will lead the Undergraduate Network through its first year.”

The new BISA and British Foreign Policy Group (BFPG) Undergraduate Network is designed exclusively for undergraduates across the UK who are interested in international relations, diplomacy, and foreign policy. It will provide a unique space to:

  • Hear directly from experts working in international affairs
  • Gain insights into real-world foreign policy challenges
  • Build connections with students from universities across the country.

Evie Aspinall, Director of the British Foreign Policy Group, said:

“Both BISA and BFPG are looking forward to collaborating with the UGN committee to connect students from across the UK, and to deepen their understanding of politics, international relations and foreign policy by complementing classroom theory with insights from practitioners engaged in real-world challenges.”

The UGN committee are busy planning events for the current academic year, with details to be released shortly. It is expected that most UGN events will be held in person within the UK.

If you are an undergraduate student, you can join the Network by joining BISA with Undergraduate Network membership for just £10.50. This includes access to all open events alongside other benefits such as book discounts with Cambridge University Press. Non-members will be able to attend events by paying a small registration fee.

Julia Brown, Aliza Dufournet and Maddie Brown

L-R Julia Brown, Aliza Dufournet and Maddie Brown

Top image: Nicolas Hoizey on Unsplash