Student Appointed to Prestigious Position

Carnegie Mellon student - Ms Xiayun (Sandy) Tan

One of Carnegie Mellon’s Masters in Public Policy and Management students Ms Xiayun (Sandy) Tan, has been selected as a member of the World Student Organizing Committee (WSOC) for the 5th Biennial Education Without Borders (EWB) Conference 2009 in Dubai, UAE.

The Higher Colleges of Education (UAE) is hosting the Conference From 29-31 March 2009.  Xiayun joins a very small number of outstanding student leaders chosen from throughout the world to be appointed to this prestigious position.  She will work with student leaders from the United Arab Emirates and undertake a number of promotional, organizational and public relations tasks before, during and after the conference to ensure its success.  On hearing the news Xiayun said she was “Excited and looking forward to such a challenging and rewarding project”. Xiayun's primary focus area will be the Asia-Pacific region.

Xiayun was nominated by the University based on her commitment and outstanding performance (academic and non-academic) not only at the Heinz School to date but throughout her formative student years.  Following nomination she proceeded with an extensive submission to the WSOC which was universally acclaimed by the panel as being a well researched and considered proposal.

Coming from Shanghai, Xiayun completed her degree at one of China’s most prestigious Universities - Shanghai International Studies University, where she studied and excelled in International Politics.  Not only was Xiayun President of the Student Union Law School and won a place out of 6,000 hopefuls as a candidate of the Future Leadership Selection, but she and her team won the ‘Most Contribution Award’ for their efforts at the China Model United Nations.

During her studies at Carnegie Mellon Heinz School Australia, Xiayun has become a member of an initiative called the Youth A-Team.  Organised by the Government of South Australian and run in conjunction with the next phase of the residency of Adelaide Thinker in Residence, members meet Government Chief Executives, who are charged with implementing high level policy, and hold discussions regarding the recommendations.  Dr. Geoff Mulgan, whose previous position, was adviser to former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is the Thinker in residence and is an expert in developing social innovation policy.  Discussion will focus on policy solutions and innovations around the South Australia’s Strategic Plan.

In early November of this year Xiayun will travel to Dubai for a pre-conference planning workshop before ultimately attending the conference in March 2009.  The conference will consist of Committee Members only and as an Asia Pacific advocate, Xiayun will be expected to present “Innovative Solutions for Global Challenges”.

When asked what she will be looking forward to at the Conference in March 2009, Xiayun’s enthusiastic response was “Networking and meeting outstanding students and leaders throughout the world and to let more people know Carnegie Mellon Heinz School Australia. I’m also hoping that the conference will aid my academic improvement, particularly on policy innovation”.  She also expressed her gratitude to her peers at Carnegie Mellon Heinz Australia for their help, and looks forward to representing the University in Dubai and for many years to come. 

The objective of the EWB is to create networks across cultures in order to understand, and generate solutions for some of the world's greatest challenges.  At EWB in 2007 over 1,000 of the world's most innovative students and leaders in business, technology, education and the humanitarian sector participated in this collaborative forum.

For further details on our programs click here for MSIT and here for MSPPM. For more information about the Conference click here for 2007 and 2009.