International Junior Diplomats Training Programs

“International Junior Diplomats Training Program” of the Diplomacy Academy is a significant milestone of the practical means of Türkiye’s inclusive, human-oriented diplomacy. This comprehensive training program is organized annually by the Diplomacy Academy gathering together junior diplomats coming from various countries all over the world. It constitutes an important forum for international junior diplomats in a multicultural setting and has a significant function in terms of enhancing the global presence, prestige and public diplomacy of Türkiye. In that regard, the Program is an important initiative depicting the multi-faceted aspects of Türkiye in terms of its civilization, history, art, music, literature, foreign policy and diplomacy.

The history of the training program dates back to 1992 when it was initiated with the purpose of providing support to the newly independent Republics of the Central Asia and the Caucasus. Over time the Program has extended its content and geographical scope to different developing countries around the world. The Training Program has gradually encompassed 5 continents and 135 countries welcoming 1255 junior diplomats under the age of 35 since its inception.

Junior diplomats from the Balkans, East Europe, Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucasus, Latin America, South East Asia and Africa meet every year for a month in Türkiye within the context of this Program.

The training, by combining academic perspectives with practical issues and insights in a multinational setting and at the same time offering opportunities to discover the culture, history and art of Türkiye, can be regarded as unique in this sense.

The program covers disciplines of foreign policy, diplomacy, politics, society, economics, history, art and literature. With a specific focus on Türkiye in these fields of study, the participants also have the opportunity to take lectures on the current trends of world politics, society and economics as well as the global issues within the context of conflict resolution and mediation, and environmental diplomacy. The lectures are given by academics from prominent universities, experts from think-tanks/ NGOs and high level bureaucrats. In addition to these lectures, briefings are also given by the Turkish diplomats concerning Türkiye’s bilateral relations in a regional and global perspective in order to give an overview of Turkish foreign policy in practical terms. In that respect, the participants of the Program are trained based not solely on academic terms but also on practical terms, which would give them an insight to see Türkiye’s perspective on several foreign policy issues. The Program provides a multinational setting for a free and dynamic discussion and interaction among the participants.

Within this wide-ranging framework of the Training Program, the contributions of international participants are not left aside. Each representative of the participating countries presents his/her country report. This improves the professional capabilities of junior diplomats, and also enhances the interaction among the participants. This interactive mode of the Training Program has opened new channels for life-long professional and personal ties and networks among junior diplomats, which on the whole is very much appreciated by the participants as well. This intercultural learning has made the sessions of country reports the most vivid and joyful parts of the Training Program.

The intercultural academic training is facilitated with visits paid to various public institutions, think tanks, civil society organizations and universities contributing to different elements of foreign policy making process such as the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Prime Ministry Public Diplomacy Coordination Office, Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, Yunus Emre Institute and Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK). Through this way, junior diplomats not only figure out the basic state structure of Türkiye but also have an overview of the basic mechanisms of Türkiye’s multi-faceted foreign policy.

Türkiye, which is a cradle of civilizations located in a unique geographical location, has a profound historical and cultural legacy to discover for junior diplomats. In that regard, historical, cultural and social visits to different cities and regions in Türkiye such as Cappadocia, Konya and Istanbul are essential parts of the Training Program. Through this way, the participants have the opportunity to get first-hand information about the deep historical and cultural background of Türkiye and also have social and economic field experience through exploring the different cities of Türkiye.

Thanks to the Program, junior diplomats have the opportunity to improve their intellectual and professional capabilities. They also create a good network with their colleagues from different countries.

International Junior Diplomats Training Program, which has gradually expanded its scope and content, has become a multi-faceted initiative of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is one of the best expressions of the Turkish diplomacy with a global reach. In this multicultural platform, junior diplomats learn from and understand each other, set a common ground for further international cooperation and intercultural dialogue and establish long lasting relationships among each other for a much more peaceful global environment.

Program Content

General Courses

  • Principles of Turkish Foreign Policy
  • Regional and Global Framework of Turkish Foreign Policy
  • Foreign Policy Making
  • Political Economy of Turkish Foreign Policy
  • Soft Power in Turkish Foreign Policy
  • Development Policy of Türkiye
  • Global Trends: Politics, Society and Economics
  • Society and Politics in Türkiye
  • Government Structure in Türkiye
  • Türkiye and the United Nations
  • Globalization Perspective of Türkiye
  • Conflict Resolution and Mediation
  • Mediator Role of Türkiye in Foreign Policy
  • Negotiation Techniques
  • Transformation in the Middle East
  • Türkiye and the Arab Spring
  • Cyprus Dispute
  • Türkiye – Africa Relations
  • Türkiye – the USA Relations
  • Türkiye – Latin America Relations
  • Türkiye and the Balkans
  • Türkiye – Russia Relations
  • Türkiye – EU Relations
  • Türkiye – Asia Relations
  • Türkiye – Central Asia, Caucasia Relations
  • Türkiye’s Energy Policy
  • Environmental Diplomacy
  • Transition from Empire to Nation State: Transformations in Turkish History
  • History from the Ottoman Empire to Modern Republic
  • Civilization Heritage of Türkiye
  • Anatolian Civilizations
  • Music and Civilization
  • Turkish Literature
  • Classical Turkish Music
  • Turkish Fine Arts throughout the Ages
  • Traditional Arts and Examples: Calligraphy (hat), Illumination (Tezhip), Paper Marbling (ebru)
  • Traditional Turkish Art: Ottoman Miniature
  • Sema Performance

Visits

  • Visit to the Parliament
  • Visit to Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency
  • Visit to Yunus Emre Cultural Institute
  • Visit to Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities
  • Visit to Coordinator of Public Diplomacy within the Office of Prime Minister
  • Visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
  • Visit to Universities
  • Visit to think tanks

Cultural Trips

Ankara

  • Ataturk’s Mausoleum
  • Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
  • Ankara Castle
  • Rahmi Koç Museum

Antalya

  • Kemer
  • Perge-Ancient City
  • Aspendos Theatre
  • Düden Waterfall
  • Antalya Museum

Çorum

  • Alacahöyük
  • Hattusa/Boğazkale

Cappadocia

  • Ağzıkarahan Caravanserai
  • Kaymaklı Underground City
  • Uçhisar Castle
  • Güvercinlik Valley
  • Göreme Open-Air Museum
  • Aşk Valley
  • Avanos
  • Paşabağlar Valley
  • Zelve
  • Devrent Valley
  • Üç Güzeller

Konya

  • Çatalhöyük
  • Karatay Museum
  • İnceminare
  • Alaaddin Museum
  • Mevlana Museum
  • Mevlana Culture Center

Istanbul

  • Topkapı Palace
  • Hagia Sofia Museum
  • The Blue Mosque
  • Grand Bazaar
  • Dolmabahçe Palace
  • Calligraphy (hat) Collection at Sabancı Museum