The Injebreck (West Baldwin) reservoir in Isle of Man.

Issues that have particular consequences for small countries, including those in the Caribbean, will be the focus of a new program at the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½.

The Isle of Man Small Countries Program aims to develop greater awareness about small countries; encourage the exchange of information about their security, political, economic, social and environmental issues; and facilitate links between ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ and those countries. Toward those ends, it will present public discussions involving prominent speakers, panels and other meetings; encourage scholarship; and work with partners from the United States, the Isle of Man and the Caribbean.

The program is a cooperative undertaking of ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s Global Perspectives Office, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s Political Science Department, the Small Countries Financial Management Centre (SCFMC) on the Isle of Man, and the Global Connections Foundation. It is supported by the Ellan Vannin Fund of the Global Connections Foundation, in association with the Isle of Man business community.

β€œThis small-countries initiative represents yet another step in ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s efforts to sharpen its international focus and bring more global content into the regional mainstream,” said John C. Bersia, special assistant to the president for Global Perspectives at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½.

Tim Cullen, executive director of the SCFMC, said the program will build upon the work of the center β€œin underscoring and addressing the unique challenges facing small countries, which are disproportionately affected by global forces.” Cullen added that the SCFMC β€œwas established with the purpose of contributing to the growth and prosperity of small countries through education programs that provide improved skills in government financial activities.”

Kerstin Hamann, chair of the Political Science Department at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, said β€œthe program represents an excellent opportunity for cooperation in light of our new Ph.D. program in security studies, as well as many of our other global interests.”

Because of ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s proximity to and connections with the Caribbean, the program will have a special focus on that region, but it will also promote awareness and discussion of small-country issues throughout the world.