A core value of the United Nations, multilingualism has been recognized by the UN Secretary-General as "an essential factor in harmonious communication among peoples and an enabler of multilateral diplomacy." At UNGSC, staff members can avail themselves of the UN's language programmes; Laura Marrocchi, a student of Chinese, and Procurement Assistant, shared her experience:
"In procurement, we attach great importance to multilingualism to better study market trends, be attuned to cultural differences that impact communication, and to speak with vendors. My managers have always been very supportive of my interest in studying Chinese. The UN Chinese Language Programme (CDOTS – DOS) offers a three-week intensive summer study programme at Nanjing University in China, sponsored by the Chinese government. I had the opportunity to participate in the 18th edition of the Programme, which brought together over 50 staff members from UN entities and duty stations worldwide! It was an extremely enriching experience, which allowed me to improve my Chinese language skills, experience Chinese culture firsthand, meet new colleagues, and represent UNGSC!"
Learn more about the United Nations Strategic Framework on Multilingualism and about eligibility for language programmes.
