Sharjah24 – WAM: The Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) has concluded the second Summer Academy Programme, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC), to enhance further the knowledge, skills and diplomatic methods of UAE's serving diplomats.

During the past week, the Academy welcomed 55 Emirati diplomats that joined the programme, both virtually and at its campus.

The programme was exclusively designed for diplomats and was organised by the Academic Department, in line with its role of providing the finest continued education and experience. The participants took part in stimulating in-house sessions taught by AGDA's renowned faculty members and leading experts working in the field of 21st-century diplomacy and foreign affairs.

The programme offered participants a platform to discuss variety of topics relevant to modern diplomacy with distinguished experts and academics. The programme covered lessons learned from Expo 2020; China-Middle East Strategic Partnership; Negotiations; Space Diplomacy; Peacekeeping, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief; Russia-Ukraine Crisis and the Changing Global Order, as well as Geoeconomics.

Diplomats were also taken through theoretical and practical based sessions in the fields of diplomacy and international relations, and discussed environmental challenges, during interactive sessions titled Environmental Diplomacy and Road to COP 28.

Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali, Assistant Minister of Economic and Trade Affairs and Head of Human Resources Diplomatic Committee at MoFAIC, said, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is committed to continuing its mission as the driving force of UAE's international strategic initiatives that seek to enhance and strengthen the country's global status and flourish its global diplomatic presence."

He pointed out, "We are proud to continue our key partnership with AGDA and launch the second Summer Academy Programme that provides our world-class diplomats and elite ambassadors with insight, extensive knowledge and skills that are crucial for modern diplomacy, particularly during testing times, geopolitical shifts and global fluctuations."

Nickolay Mladenov, Acting Director-General of AGDA, said, "Today, the knowledge and skills required in conducting foreign affairs and managing international relations can be seen as a great contrast to 'traditional diplomacy'. The swift developments in geopolitics, unforeseen global challenges, and humanitarian crises mean that current serving diplomats are required to continuously enhance their knowledge and skills according to the accelerating developments – to aid their country's progress and help achieve its foreign policy objectives."

In August 2021, AGDA and MoFAIC held the first Summer Academy Programme for UAE's diplomats. The programme aligns with AGDA's Executive Training Programme, which focuses on merging up-to-date theoretical approaches with relevant practical training.