Ronnie Rabena of Philadelphia travels with Widener University to the Netherlands for EuroSim 2014, a simulation of the EU governing process

2014 Feb 4

Ronnie Rabena from Philadelphia, PA is one of six Widener University students to attend EuroSim 2014, a four-day simulation event of the European Union. Rabena is a sophomore political science major.

This year's EuroSim was held at the University of Twente in Enschede, Netherlands. EuroSim is the only simulation of its kind in the U.S. to involve European students. Host sites alternate each year between European and U.S. institutions. At EuroSim, students simulate the governing process of the EU, tackling a different topic each year that is predetermined by the conference's faculty advisers. Students come into the conference with assigned roles and must act in accordance with those roles throughout the event's proceedings.

This year, the Widener team took on the prestigious task of representing the European Commission and led discussions on the topic of minimum wage and minimum income. As the commission, the Widener students wrote the legislation that was proposed to the member states and then discussed during the four-day simulation event.

"Faculty organizers always choose a topic that relates to the real-world policy agenda of the European Union to help students deepen their knowledge of the EU," said Dr. Rebecca Jones, an associate professor and chair of political science at Widener. Jones accompanied the Widener students to Enschede and planned a side trip for the students to Amsterdam.

Widener University is a private, metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, leadership development and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience. A comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener is comprised of eight schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional and pre-professional curricula leading to associate, baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees. The university's campuses in Chester, Exton, Harrisburg, Pa., and Wilmington, Del., serve some 6,500 students. Visit the university website, www.widener.edu.