About Academy of Young Diplomats

The Academy of Young Diplomats (AYD) is a top-tier postgraduate diplomatic Program, which empowers a new generation of global leaders, through an innovative year-long training experience, ending with an Executive Diploma in the Art of Diplomacy (EDAD).

Established in 2004, the AYD prepares future diplomats, civil servants and social entrepreneurs for international careers. The Program is known for its world-class faculty, practitioners-oriented approach and a network of more than 3000 graduates from over 60 countries. It is also accredited with the Ministry of Education of Poland.

A selected cohort of approximately 100 promising talents from around the world will take part in over 140 hours of stationary lectures, workshops, practical exercises, study-visits and personal leadership development groups. In the academic year 2020/2021 the program will be enriched by online modules connecting the groups with world leaders from all around the world.

Program Structure & Highlights

5 Three-days sessions in Warsaw (December 2020 – June 2021)

1 Two-days workshop session in Cracow (January 2021)

1 Full participation in the world-renowned 2021 Warsaw Security Forum

1 Official Graduation Ceremony (Winter 2021)

3 Specializations: International Organizations, International Security, Polish Foreign Service

140 Hours of hands-on diplomatic training

10 Study-visits to Embassies, international organizations and government agencies in Warsaw

3 Online Meetings with inspiring world leaders

5 Meetings of the Leadership Development Groups

1 Executive Diploma in the Art of Diplomacy issued by the European Academy of Diplomacy

1 Class network of over 100 leaders coming from over 45 countries

1 Alumni network of more than 3000 AYD graduates from 60+ countries

Specializations – click to discover the classes

The AYD specializations are designed to accommodate the various interests of our participants. The aim of these tailored workshops is to prepare our participants for the career path they chose.

Why join us? 

Unique Methodology & Highest Quality of Education: emphasis on the development of practical skills; carefully selected instructors with extensive experience ranging from diplomacy to international business ; lecturers evaluated on session-to-session basis while working with multinational groups; a number of special guests like former Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Presidents, Prime Ministers, and senior diplomats.

Extraordinary Student Profile & Group Diversity: AYD participants come from over 60 countries; guided by the Program values of global openness, social involvement and professional development; international, diverse network and friendships lasting well beyond the graduation date.

Openness & Collaboration: The European Academy of Diplomacy is always eager to strengthen its cooperation with AYD Participants, both during the Program and after its completion, through assisting with their initiatives, conferences, as well as other activities and the Alumni Club.

AYD 2020/2021 Schedule*

I Session 11/13 December 2020 – Commencement Ceremony

II session 15/17 January 2021 – Cracow Workshop Session

III session 19/21 February 2021

IV session 26/28 March 2021

V session 07/09 May 2021

VI session 11/13 June 2021

Warsaw Security Forum 2021

Official Graduation Ceremony December 2021

*Please note that the schedule might undergo minor modifications.

AYD Guests & Educators

Thorbjorn Jagland

Secretary General of the Council of Europe (2009-2019), Prime Minister of Norway (2000-2001)

Aleksander Kwaśniewski

Prezydent Polski (1995-2005)

Jeffrey D. Sachs

Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary General, Professor at Columbia University

Radosław Sikorski

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland (2007-2014)

Jan Wojciech Piekarski

Przewodniczący Rady Ambasadorów, Ambasador w Pakistanie (1984 - 1989), Belgii & Luksemburgu (1998 - 2002) & Izraelu (2003 - 2006)

Linos-Alexandre Sicilianos

PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Jamie Shea

DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL FOR EMERGING SECURITY CHALLENGES, NATO (2010-2018)

Dr. Rania Al-Mashat

MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF EGYPT (SINCE 2019)

Vuk Jeremić

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF SERBIA (2007-2012), PRESIDENT OF THE 67TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY (2012-2013)

Prof. Paweł Kowal

MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (2011-2014), SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (2006-2007)

Dr. Michael Carpenter

SENIOR DIRECTOR AT THE PENN BIDEN CENTER FOR DIPLOMACY AND GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

Hanna Hopko

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, HEAD OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS (2014-2019), UKRAINE

Dr. Marcin Walecki

CHIEF OF THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND GENDER UNIT AT ODIHR, OSCE

Dr Milo Jones

VISITING PROFESSOR, IE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Brian Whitmore

SENIOR FELLOW & DIRECTOR OF THE RUSSIA PROGRAM AT THE CENTER FOR EUROPEAN POLICY ANALYSIS, US

Urszula Gacek

Polish Senator (2005-2007), Member of the European Parliament (2007-2011)

Students’ Opinion

The Warsaw Sessions include the following elements:

» Study Visits – meetings with diplomats, public servants and government officials combined with a tour of the institution they work in.

» Global Talks – a series of lectures which cover current themes in the international arena.

» Diplomatic Practice Simulations – scenario based practical simulations, case study group games.

» Leadership Lectures – Ted-X presentations, followed by Q&A sessions with inspiring global leaders in diplomacy, politics, business and the non-for-profit sector.

» Diplomatic Skills Workshops – offered to all three specializations, the workshops help grow the necessary skills necessary to successfully pursue international careers in chosen fields.

» Specialization Classes – tailor-made to each of the three specializations, the classes offer a practitioner’s view of the most important issues in the field of international organizations, international security, and foreign policy.

» Leadership Development Groups – meetings in small groups (5-6 peers), with monthly assignments. The LDGs help build self-awareness and a sense of purpose – both necessary to develop true leadership potential.

The Cracow Workshop Session offers a choice of two selected one-day trainings on the topics below:

» Negotiation Skills and Techniques

» Public Speaking and Presentation Skills

» Leadership Skills

The Online Modules:

» In the academic year 2020/2021, the Warsaw and Krakow sessions are complemented by monthly, afternoon online discussions with world-class leaders, which AYD participants can join regardless of where they are.

Click to discover 2019/2020 agendas

Participants about AYD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXlC8TYw-c4

AYD Strategic Partners