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Political heavyweights to deliver uni lectures

Alexander Downer. Photo by Jennie Groom.

Natasha Stott Despoja. Photo by Brett Hartwig, courtesy of The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n.

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Two former ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n political heavyweights - and - will jointly deliver a course on contemporary ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n politics at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide this year.

ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s longest-serving Foreign Affairs Minister and the former Leader of the both have strong connections with the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s .

In a first for the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, Mr Downer and Ms Stott Despoja will join forces to give students a unique, first-hand perspective on the factors that shape policy initiatives in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥.

Enrolments are now open for the intensive 36-hour course, titled "", which will comprise lectures and seminars offered over a three-week period from June 28.

The course is open to everyone, including domestic and international students, people not currently studying at university and those from other institutions.

Mr Downer was appointed a Visiting Professor at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide after his retirement from politics in 2008. He is the current United Nations' special envoy to Cyprus and also runs a lobbying firm with former political rival and ex-Labor Senator, .

In 1995, at the age of 25, Ms Stott Despoja was the youngest female politician in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s history to be elected to the Federal Parliament. She was Leader of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Democrats from 2001-2002 and retired from the Senate in 2008, four months after becoming a Visiting Research Fellow at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide.

Ms Stott Despoja is a 1991 graduate from the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide and a former President of the Students' Association.

The political course also forms part of a packaged program for Northern Hemisphere students and has been heavily promoted in that part of the world.

For more information about the course, including fees, visit: or call (08) 8303 5208.

A wide range of other courses are offered as part of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s 2010 Winter School, including lectures and seminars in architecture, engineering, humanities, health, economics, law and science.

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