Abu Dhabi: A new cohort of Emirati students and future diplomats were welcomed by Mr. Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and member of the Board of Trustees of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) at the Academy’s orientation event.
30+ young Emiratis have joined the Academy’s Post-Graduate Diploma program in UAE Diplomacy and International Relations for the academic year 2022-2023.
The motivating orientation provided an overview of the Academy, its departments and faculty members, as well as a thorough introduction to 21st-century diplomacy and what it takes to become a top-skilled diplomat.
The students began their 9-month journey to obtain knowledge and skills to become future diplomats of the UAE, as well as meet and interact with diplomats and influential figures from around the world, who for their part will provide the students with their expertise and unique insight on diplomacy and global affairs.
The wise leadership of the UAE believes in the importance of investing in the UAE future diplomats, those who will help enrich the nation towards a promising future. Their work will advance the UAE’s ten principles for the next 50 years, and in particular, the Tenth Principle, which calls for peace, harmony, negotiations and dialogue to resolve diplomatic disputes.
Mr. Zaki Nusseibeh shared in his address to the new cohort.
The Cultural Adviser to the UAE President further added that, “Diplomats are among the pillars of a sustainable society, as they play an essential role in strengthening the status of their nation to allow it to advance its interests. You will thus be serving your nation by choosing to take on this exciting and rewarding journey – and I believe that you will become deserving diplomats who will proudly represent the UAE at home and abroad, all while striving to establish global peace and stability, which is a fundamental driver of our foreign policy.”
In his address to the students, Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, Director-General a.i. of AGDA, emphasized that, “You have embarked on a pivotal and life-altering journey, as future diplomats. The UAE is a nation that plays an instrumental role in advancing regional and global peace and prosperity and is ranked in the top 10 most powerful countries in the world. The UAE thus demands only the best of the best, when it comes to the diplomats that represent it.
“As AGDA is the starting point for UAE’s aspiring envoys, it combines the best of academia, research and practice to enable students with exceptional knowledge and skills, in order to fulfil their roles as diplomats who strive to consolidate the UAE’s global status,” Mr. Mladenov elaborated.
THE PROGRAM
During their academic studies, the students will be introduced to various essential topics, including global diplomatic history, theory and practice of international relations, international law, UAE’s foreign policy, history and government, as well as economy.
The students will also gain skills in research methods, negotiation, diplomatic communication, protocol, and etiquette, as well as consular diplomacy and crisis management. In addition, the students will complete a mandatory module in a third language of their choice, including Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish.
OTHER COURSES
The Academy has also induced more than 35 new students into its Master of Arts Program in Global Affairs and Diplomatic Leadership, which was opened to the Emirati public for the first time.
The program is expected to solidify the knowledge of students on global and regional issues, particularly those relevant to the UAE, while enhancing their diplomatic leadership skills.
Next week, AGDA will welcome the second cohort of students of the Master of Arts Program in Humanitarian Action and Development. The program emphasizes the development of practical skills and knowledge of the major theoretical trends that are shaping the delivery of humanitarian aid and development studies.