LIFE student had coffee with the Prime Minister - 05.05.2010

The Danish Prime Minister invited international students who have been given the so-called COP15 scholarships to his office for coffee. Among them were LIFE student Denisa Cupi from the US who was impressed with the informality of the Prime Minister and his office.

 

On Friday 23 April, a group of international students from all over world, including LIFE student Denisa Cupi from the US, met for a special appointment with the Danish Prime Minister. Smartly dressed and full of expectations, they waited in the elegant surroundings outside the Prime Minister’s office at Christiansborg Castle.

 

After a short, and slightly tense, wait, they were received by Lars Løkke Rasmussen who invited them into his office and served coffee. The slightly formal atmosphere, however, quickly dissolved into smiles and talk, and several of the students afterwards remarked that the meeting had been relaxed and cosy.

 

Denisa Cupi, a student of Environmental Chemistry and Health at LIFE, said:

- Mr. Rasmussen asked us about our studies and experiences in Denmark, including social life involving the Danes. The conversation was so laid back that I even forgot I was in the Prime Minister's office. This is something leaders from other countries should learn from.

 

The meeting between the students and the Prime Minister was arranged as a result of a letter from Komal Habib, student at Aalborg University, who wanted to express his appreciation of the scholarship.

 

The students were generally surprised by the, in their view, rather modest surroundings of the Prime Minister.

 

In the words of Denisa Cupi:

- I must admit this is the most humble Prime Minister's office I have ever seen. The table, chairs and everything else was very simple. The most expensive piece must be the China set from which we had tea and coffee.

 

 

The COP15 students together with the Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Denisa Cupi is standing on the far left.

 

 

Denisa’s accounts of her experiences in Denmark can be followed on her blog and those of the other COP15 students at my.studyindenmark.dk

 

Read more about Denisa, her studies at the Environmental Chemistry and Health programme and what she thinks about student life at LIFE.

Facts about the COP15 Scholarships:

In line with the overall aim of securing an environmentally-friendly Climate Change Conference, COP15, in December 2009, the Danish Government decided not to give any gifts or conference-kits to COP15 participants. The around DKK 4 million saved were instead used to create the ‘COP15 Climate Scholarship', which has given 11 international students the opportunity to pursue a Masters degree within climate change studies at a university in Denmark. The students will study in Denmark for two years.