Clingendael Diplomatic Studies Programme CDSP

Training

Training and Development

The Clingendael Diplomatic Studies Programme has a record of international excellence in the field of training of developments in international relations. Tailor made courses for foreign policy professionals are adjusted to the specific wishes of a variety of target groups. CDSP translates the main issues and aims in foreign policy-making into professional diplomatic training programmes.

Philosophy behind the training programmes

In the development of the courses CDSP has the following guidelines:

The courses must give a broader understanding of the background of the current international dilemmas;
The courses are policy related;
Knowledge building is combined with international skills trainings;
The courses focus on personal development.

Target groups

In the development of the training programmes, CDSP cooperates with various actors within international relations. These actors are:

The Netherlands government

CDSP develops training programmes for Dutch civil servants, especially from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (EL&I). These courses include specialized trainings, such as a transfer programme for Dutch diplomats in multilateral issues or a complete course in international policy for civil servants from EL&I.

Foreign diplomatic services

CDSP maintains warm contacts with diplomatic services and Foreign Ministries in Europe and the rest of the world. Foreign diplomats are being trained at the Clingendael Institute in several courses, varying from 4 to 8 weeks. Young diplomats of at least 30 countries from the Central, South Eastern and Eastern European and Central Asian countries come to the Clingendael Institute to be trained in one of the 4 main multilateral courses for these target groups. Recently, CDSP has developed courses for diplomats from Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Jemen, Pakistan, Sudan/SPLM, Mozambique, South-Africa, Cyprus and Malta.

Private target groups

Post-academic programmes for young academics and private participants play an important role in the amount of courses offered by CDSP. The Foreign Relations Course (Leergang Buitenlandse Betrekkingen LBB) will have its 65th anniversary this year. The three months course deals extensively with various aspects of international relations.

Since 2004 The Clingendael organises in cooperation with the Leiden University, a Masters of Arts Degree in International Relations. This two year programme is fully in English and therefore, foreign students can participate as well.

With both programmes, the Clingendael Institutes provides training and courses for both Dutch and English speaking participants, who prepare themselves for an international career. Individual participants who would like to take part in shorter programmes, are offered a Seminar International Negotiations (in English), Course in International Politics (Cursus Internationale Politiek, course in Dutch).

Development of the Courses

The courses focus on different areas of international relations: European integration, international economic relations, sustainable development, humanitarian issues, security and conflict management. The specific focal points of the courses will be adjusted to the particular needs of the target groups and translated to practical modules of a course.

In these modules, substantial lectures are integrated with interactive skills training. This integration takes place in two ways: through seminars in effective reporting, international negotiation and intercultural communication skills on the one hand, and through several practical exercises related to international working areas on the other hand. Examples of this latter form are case studies on policy coordination and simulations on multilateral negotiation processes.

Besides these extensive courses, CDSP offers short, specialized courses as well. These short courses focus on one area of expertise or one specific skill. Finally, the CDSP staff invests a lot of time in the substantial and social guidance of the Dutch and foreign target groups. The staff has developed, throughout the years, substantive expertise on guiding non-Western participants.

Consultancy and institutional reform

CDSP's expertise extends the development of training programmes. Organisations can use this expertise of the CDSP staff to develop internal courses in international policy. The CDSP staff can also assist in processes of internationalisation within organisations.

CDSP has assisted in the development of several foreign diplomatic institutions, such as diplomatic academies. These activities include the development of a documentation centre, management development, curriculum development, and train the trainer programmes. At this moment, these activities take place in the diplomatic academies of Romania and Bulgaria.

Networks

CDSP has developed an extensive network of lecturers and experts from various areas of expertise, such as the diplomatic corps, the national government, the national politics and NGOs. Ties with Dutch and foreign universities and academic institutions play an important role in this field as well.

In the European level, CDSP is represented in the European Diplomatic Programme. Through this programme CDSP develops a European course for young diplomats from the 25 member states of the EU. In close cooperation with the Clingendael European Studies Programme, CDSP participates in the European Diplomatic Training Initiative. This initiative is an alliance of over 10 European diplomatic academies, offering courses to European institutions. On a global level, CDSP and the board of Clingendael are represented in the International Forum on Diplomatic Training.