In October, the University of Iowa will host scholars, experts, and researchers from around the world as part of the 2016 Provost’s Global Forum, “The Nation, the State, and the Global Redefinition of Self-Determination.” The goal of the Provost's Global Forum is to inspire discussions of global affairs and build relationships between the university and the state of Iowa.

Organizers Adrien Wing, associate dean for the International and Comparative Law Programs and the Bessie Dutton Murray professor, College of Law, and Nathan Miller, assistant director of the UI Center for Human Rights and director of the International Legal Clinic at the College of Law, will host a three-day academic conference comprised of lectures, presentations, and panel discussions to help raise awareness about concepts concerning contemporary self-determination and statehood.

Opening the conference, H.E. Dr. Valon Murtezaj, deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, will deliver the Joel Barkan Memorial Lecture on Thursday, October 13, at 6 p.m., in the Senate Chamber in the UI Old Capitol Museum.

The forum continues on Friday, October 14, at the Senate Chamber, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with expert-led panel discussions of self-determination in the areas of South Sudan, Israel, and Kosovo.

The third and final day of this year's forum, Saturday, October 15, will take place at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center (JMPEC) in Des Moines with a multifaceted event. A panel discussion on the role of Iowa in Kosovo's path to independence will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a reception from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and a live production of WorldCanvass from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. This televised discussion is hosted by Joan Kjaer, and will feature many of the forum’s keynote speakers and scholars.

All events are free and open to the public.

The Provost’s Global Forum is made possible through the generous support of the Stanley-University of Iowa Foundation Support Organization. Other UI sponsors include: International Programs; Office of the Provost; Division of World Languages, Literatures & Cultures; Department of Communication Studies; School of Journalism and Mass Communication; Department of Political Science; Department of Religious Studies; Libraries; and the Center for Human Rights.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in these events, contact Sarolta Petersen in advance at sarolta-petersen@uiowa.edu or 319-335-3862.