Specialised Training Programmes

5 min readSep 30, 2021

Summer School A one-week intensive summer course on international affairs is offered to high school students ages 16 to 19. During the week the participants engage with peers from different cultural backgrounds and learn from the real-world diplomatic experience of the GSD renowned Faculty, through dynamic and interactive learning activities. The students discuss compelling and inspiring topics of diplomacy and international relations in the mornings, while visiting the major international organizations in Geneva in the afternoons.

Executive Winter School The Executive Training is a one-week programme, which focuses on the most recent trends in personal and organizational leadership and provides participants with powerful tools essential for dealing with the problems of the rapidly changing world, its challenges, uncertainties, and risks.

During the Winter School, participants are exposed to the experiences of remarkable leaders and world-class experts and gain insight into the vibrant world of political, diplomatic and business leadership.

After successful completion of the Winter School, a certificate of completion is issued, allowing to earn 5 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).

Case Study Weekends Participants willing to know more about one particular topic, can choose to attend a Case Study Weekend programme.

During the practice-oriented case study weekends, participants are provided with advanced in-depth knowledge and skills to grasp and navigate the complex realities of international relations and deal with practical situations encountered by diplomats in their everyday practice. At the same time, they can focus on a variety of the most important global challenges and governance solutions, while developing practical skills such as negotiation, working in team work, problem-solving, conflict resolution, decision making, and leadership.

Short Term Certificate

The Short Term Certificate Course Programme offers candidates the option to audit 3 core courses of the Master’s curriculum. The candidate first has to apply for the program and once admitted — he or she is informed of the classes to choose from, which are offered during that particular intake.

Whether the student background or interest lies in private, public or the non-profit sector, GSD aims at guaranteeing an increase in knowledge and due awareness of contemporary issues. This, through a range of seminars and guest lectures from high level experts and officials from the international environment.

STCC programme participants receive an Official Certificate of Completion at the end of their semester. Participation in the STCC programme does not result in any European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credit points, as there are no mandatory exams for candidates auditing classes.

Tailor-made Training Programmes

Tailor-Made Training programmes are catered to meet the training needs of organizations. Participants are able to pick and choose the courses, ‘à la carte’, to suit their needs and time schedule. The training programmes are for professionals from public, private and non-profit sectors.

President[edit]

Dr Colum de Sales Murphy has over 30 years’ experience with the United Nations as a human rights officer, a political officer with the Security Council, and a member of peacekeeping missions. He served in the field of peace negotiation in several wars, including those of Somalia, Liberia, the former Yugoslavia and numerous other conflicts. As a senior UN official in Bosnia, Murphy negotiated the Winter Ceasefire of 1994 and was the architect of the subsequent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. Dr Murphy is also an established writer. Some of the books he has written are “In Courage-Dreams Caught” (poetry); “Sarajevo: Snapshot by Candlelight” (novel); “Aza Beast”: Attacking the Roots of War — A Bosnian War Journal” (Pandora/Smisao, Bursinel, Switzerland, 2004).

Dean[edit]

Professor DR. Athar Sultan-Khan is currently the Special Advisor on Diplomatic Matters to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Prior to that, he served as Chef de Cabinet to three consecutive High Commissioners at UNHCR and held a succession of positions in UNHCR in the field and at Headquarters. His progressive experience with UNHCR provided him with an authoritative knowledge of diplomatic protocol, keen political awareness and skilful use of multilateral diplomacy in politically complex and sensitive situations of forcibly displaced people. Dr Sultan-Khan’s renowned contribution to humanity is based on his unique mastery of refugee issues garnered over the last three and a half decades.

Specialised Training Programmes

President[edit]

Dean[edit]

Written by Caxec