Emirates Diplomatic Academy opens inaugural Future Diplomats

The Emirates Diplomatic Academy hosted the opening day of the Future Diplomats PeaceGame, which is being organised by the Academy in collaboration with the Foreign Policy Group and Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, with the generous support of the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Twice each year, Foreign Policy convenes leading minds in national security policy, international affairs, academia, business, and media to "game" out how to bring violent conflicts to a peaceful conclusion. This exercise offers a chance to address the challenges of diplomacy and peacebuilding with the same creativity and focus as has been traditionally devoted to war games.

This year, and for the first time ever, the Future Diplomats PeaceGame engages the next generation of foreign policy leaders. Twenty-eight exceptional trainee diplomats and students of international affairs have been selected from 24 of the world’s leading diplomatic training institutions in 21 countries across 5 continents, to participate in the Future Diplomats PeaceGame.

The Future Diplomats PeaceGame was held today at the campus of the Emirates Diplomatic Academy - the UAE’s leading international relations and diplomacy, education, executive training and research institution - and the second day of the Future Diplomats PeaceGame will commence tomorrow at the InterContinental Hotel Abu Dhabi.

The agenda features includes discussions on several topics, including challenges of cybersecurity and information security, diplomacy, geopolitics, norms and international law, and multilateral negotiations.

Bernardino Leon, Director General of the Emirates Diplomatic Academy, highlighted the impact of the PeaceGame, saying, "At the Academy, we understand the importance of strengthening and refining the skills of future diplomats, not only in terms of academic education, but also the skills of applying classroom lessons to practical situations. And through this prestigious programme that we are proudly co-hosting, we have brought together our distinguished students with their peers from the world's most prestigious institutions and experts from all over the world, to engage, interact and learn from one another and explore innovative ways to resolve conflicts."

Leon added, "I would also like to thank the Foreign Policy Group, Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and all participants in this PeaceGame, for giving our students this unique opportunity to learn best practices of negotiations. We are confident that this programme will contribute to honing the skills of trainee diplomats, to become the most efficient and best diplomats in the world."

The Emirates Diplomatic Academy provides a holistic and streamlined educational experience that supports and enhances the diplomatic capabilities of the UAE with advanced teaching methods, through lectures and interactive discussions by leading diplomats and decision makers. EDA’s comprehensive study programmes train students in all aspects of diplomatic practice, empowering them to become worthy representatives of their country abroad.