Geopolitics and policy have become increasingly complex and relevant for private and public actors. This programme unpacks contemporary practices in international relations and gives you the knowledge, skills and abilities to engage with governments, businesses and nonprofit organisations. This course uses an applied learning approach with real-world case studies, foresight projects, policy papers, simulation practice and networking.

<Back to course catalogue

Objectives
 

  • Gain a solid understanding of the changing diplomatic and policy spheres to become a key player on the international stage

  • Develop your contextual intelligence to analyse global issues in a new international order

  • Strengthen your intercultural persuasion skills to influence specific policy areas

  • Develop an agile, creative and forward-looking mindset to shape contingency-proof policy responses

  • Expand your professional network in international Geneva to build bridges with experts from business, civil society, academia and governments

  • Experiment with innovative tools to sharpen your negotiation and mediation skills in complex situations

 

Who is this programme for?


This programme is particularly relevant for mid- to senior level practitioners from various organisations working or aspiring to work as:

  • Professionals in the fields of governmental affairs, compliance, corporate social responsibility, environment, social and governance and sustainability

  • Policy and governance officers and head of programme

  • Diplomats and members of permanent missions

 

Related SDG
 

SDG 17 - Partnerships for the goals

Module 1

Multilateralism in a new international order - E-learning

  • Global governance for global issues

  • International regulation and standard-setting

  • Discovering International Geneva

  • System thinking for global issues

  • Anticipation in international relations

  • Technology in international relations

  • AI for negotiation (2 full days)

 

Module 2

Diplomacy in a changing world - In person

  • Diplomatic protocol and networks

  • Corporate diplomacy, lobbies and businesses

  • Public diplomacy and civil society participation

  • City diplomacy

  • Persuasion and Influence

  • Cyberspace, hackers, intelligence and warfare

 

Module 3

Policy-making amidst transformation - In person

  • Policy analysis, drafting, and outreach

  • Policy-making in practice (including global health, trade, AI and internet governance, Africa)

  • Mastering storytelling and messaging

  • Strategic foresight for policy-making

 

Module 4

Negotiations and new contexts - In person

  • Power and racism in international relations

  • Mastering public speaking

  • Complex multi-actor negotiations

  • Leading crisis mediation

  • Peace mediation

 

Throughout the year

  • Final paper to advance your professional objective

  • Online webinars on global issues and emerging risks

Entry requirements
  • Professional experience, motivation, and applicability for your career:

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent in any discipline

  • Minimum eight years of professional work experience

  • English language

Degrees Awarded

Executive Diploma in Diplomacy, Negotiation and Policy
Diploma of Advanced Studies (30 ECTS)
Requires successful completion of Modules 1,2,3 & 4 assessments and final paper

This programme counts towards the Executive Master in International Relations

Terms and conditions

Programme assessments
  • Final research or policy paper on a subject of your choice

  • Mandatory class attendance

  • Successfully complete module assignments

Class Experience
  • Peer-to-peer learning - highly diverse participants from various sectors, countries and professional experience

  • Interactive teaching - engage with influential practitioners and experts

  • Lead Faculty and speakers - available for guidance

  • Close to the real-life of a professional through practical sessions, case studies and simulations

  • Critical thinking, thanks to analytical sessions by faculty members

Alumni benefits
  • Executive Education graduates join the Graduate Institute alumni network of 20,000+

  • 10% discount on future Executive Education programmes

  • Networking and professional development opportunities

  • Alumni regional chapters in 20+ countries

Grégoire Landry

 

Grégoire Landry '21

Head of Legal of a sovereign institutional investor

"INP is a meaningful and powerful program. I have been particularly impressed by the diversity and the backgrounds of the participants and speakers. The facilities and support the Institute provide make life easier at every stage of the learning journey. All along the modules, kindness and respect facilitate the exchanges, and from the first day, every participant feels comfortable and benefits from the various experiences of fellow students. The spirit of INP is, as that of the Institute, incredibly international. I warmly recommend to all experienced professionals and leaders to apply without hesitation to this exciting program which will feed their development and boost their global impact."

Grégoire has 25 years of experience in legal, financial and governmental services. He is currently Head of Legal of a sovereign institutional investor.

Ivan Ng

 

Ivan ng '18

General Manager & Director, Johnson & Johnson Asia Pacific, Singapore

“I work in a transnational company with multiple stakeholders, global, regional and local and multi-functional teams from marketing, supply-chain, sales, legal and more. The INP programme has taught me how to navigate around this internal complexity towards a common consensus in multi-stakeholder environments.”

Ivan Ng is a Singaporean, with 13 years of working experience throughout Asia Pacific markets at Procter & Gamble, Unilever and Johnson & Johnson, as well as founder of 2 start-ups. Currently General Manager and Director for Johnson & Johnson Haircare Business Unit Asia Pacific.

Catherine Thompson

 

catherine Thompson '18

Senior Secretary, World Meteorological Organisation, Switzerland

"The teachers were dynamic and available for any questions we had. I encourage you to find the time to take the INP programme. It's one of the most fulfilling things I've ever done."

Catherine Thompson recently joined the Climate Risk Early Warning Systems initiative of the WMO, the UNISDR, the World Bank and the GFDRR. In 2015, she was recruited by the WMO's Communication and Public Affairs team, beginning a professional reconversion into the IO's community. Previously, she had pursued a career in contemporary art, working for several prestigious galleries in New York and Geneva.

Rogier Van Den Berg

 

rogier van den berg '18

Programme Manager, UN Habitat, Kenya

"The best thing about the INP programme is the people and the backgrounds of the people it attracts. The fact that participants come from different backgrounds says much about the course. It cuts across disciplines and attracts people from all sectors, providing the methodologies to shift between disciplines and professional expertise and enabling you to provide direction for change."

Rogier van den Berg has worked for over 16 years as an architect, urban planner, consultant, and academic at the UN. He has broad experience in 'making cities' and advises national governments, city leaders and the private sector in planning processes and design. He set up the Urban Planning and Design Lab at UN-Habitat in Nairobi in 2014. Now the Lab operates in 50 cities across 40 countries.

our community

 

Join a diverse alumni network of 20'000+ Graduate Institute alumni, 110 nationalities for Executive Education alumni alone, and 180+ alumni of the International Negotiation and Policy-Making programme.

Alumni of the programme come from all regions, sectors and backgrounds. Entering its 13th year, join a growing community of negotiation and policy-making experts and practitioners, including:

  • Programme Manager, UN-Habitat, Kenya

  • First Secretary, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations, New York, USA

  • Programme Officer, UNHCR, Turkey

  • Minister, Embassy of Columbia, Switzerland

  • Deputy Director, HR, ICRC, Switzerland

  • Protection Team Leader, ICRC, India

  • Deputy Head of Media, WEF, Switzerland

  • Senior Advisor - Vice President, Santander Bank, Switzerland

  • Principal International Auditor, Coca-Cola, Kenya

  • General Manager & Director, Johnson & Johnson, Singapore

  • Independent Consultant, International Sports Federations, Switzerland

  • Emergency Doctor, Switzerland

Upcoming events

Week 51
16 Dec - 22 Dec
Week 52
23 Dec - 29 Dec
Week 01
30 Dec - 05 Jan

Subscribe to our newsletter


By completing this form, you agree that the Institute may store and use your e-mail address to send you the newsletters you have chosen. To learn more.

* indicates required

I'm interested in

Applications

Applications for the 2024 edition are now closed.

Calendar

DATES 2025

Module 1
15 Sep. to 31 Oct. 2025 (e-learning)

Module 2
24 Nov. to 05 Dec. 2025

Module 3
17 - 27 March 2026

Module 4
26 May to 05 June 2026

Calendar

DATES 2024

Module 1
16 Sep. to 01 Nov. 2024 (e-learning)

Module 2
25 Nov. to 06 Dec. 2024

Module 3
25 Feb. to 07 March 2025

Module 4
13 - 23 May 2025

Fees

Fees
CHF 22'000

Discounts

Discounts
Alumni
Early bird (10%) before 15 June 2025
Come with your colleagues

Chèque de formation
ref. number: 2211

Contact us

Location

Maison de la Paix
Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2A
1202 Geneva

Location

Language
English

For organisations

Our open enrolment programmes can be adapted to fit the needs of your organisation.

Contact us

Johnson Jimmye (Mrs.)
Admissions Officer
+41 (0)22 908 57 28
ee.programadvisor@graduateinstitute.ch

Facebook logo   Linkedin logo   Instagram   Twitter   Youtube   Blog