Keith Ryall-- Group Study Exchange (GSE)
GSE is a flagship program of District 9800. Information about the District’s involvement can be found at http://www.rotarydistrict9800.org.au/group_study_exchange. According to this webpage, GSE “is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 and in the early years of their professional lives. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships and exchange ideas.”
GSE started in New Zealand in the 1950s. Kiwi Rotarians saw it as a way to get their people to the UK for vocational development, with exchange back from the UK to New Zealand in return.
GSE is no longer an official program of the Rotary Foundation. It was dropped because some people felt that it was a bit of a junket and not really of much value in the longer term. Keith disagreed with this view. He argued that District 9800 does GSE well and focusses on the vocational side, not just the social aspect.
Keith gave some reminiscences of GSEs he had been involved in in the past, in particular two that occurred during his year as District Governor—one to India and the other to California.
Keith also reflected on the value of the most recent GSE that Carlton Rotary was involved in with people from Mississippi and New Orleans. He asked three club members who had been hosts to briefly speak on their experiences and what they personally got out of it. The hosts spoke about the value of learning about the way of life of people from other parts of the world, the pleasure of mixing with such nice people and the satisfaction of participating in a worthwhile Rotary program.
Keith reported that the current District Governor, Julie Mason, wants to continue with GSE, but have a strong vocational emphasis. This Rotary year, there will be two GSEs that the District is involved in. The first is in January 2016 and involves a ‘Vocational Training Team’ going to Cambodia to help train teachers in schools. This will involve less contact with families and clubs than previous GSEs. The second GSE will be a ‘Group Vocational Exchange’ to the Philippines. This will be more like the old GSE, but with a stronger vocational rather than social emphasis.