Diplomatic Academy’s modern skills, tools offer added value in new diplomats’ qualifications

The Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Diplomatic Academy has multidisciplinary particularities that blend diplomatic, historic and cultural stimulations to offer the most suitable environment for people who want to become diplomats, the executive director Dr. Shaikha Muneera bint Khalifa Al Khalifa has said.

The academy through its programs is keen to provide its members with theoretical and practical skills that deal with international relations and foreign policy as well as with written skills, different languages and follow-up during their career in diplomacy, she said.

The academy prepares and qualifies diplomats through foundation programs, starting with the “Foundation Program for New Diplomats”, which provides those working in the diplomatic field with all required academic curricula and diplomatic skills, Dr Shaikha Muneera said.

“The academy is committed to providing an intensive training and improvement program for the diplomats before they are assigned abroad. The diplomatic qualification includes the languages of the host countries, training in negotiation and in dealing with the media as well as basic needs that prepare diplomats for their mission,” she told Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

All the programs that the academy is currently implementing or will introduce in the future are based on the main needs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such as training in public speaking and political analysis, which is offered to all levels of staff in the ministry, she added.

Dr Shaikha Muneera highlighted the special care and attention given by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to diplomacy in Bahrain, and his keenness on a sound training of  young Bahrainis to become representatives of the Kingdom and its culture and diplomacy in various regional and international forums and to ensure that their aptitudes and capabilities are a source of pride for all Bahrain.

“There is an immense pride with the decision of HM King Hamad to transform the Diplomatic Institute into an academy and to name it after His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak. The academy is an essential part of the integrated progress in the Kingdom of Bahrain, especially in the field of diplomacy, to which HM the King accords great  and care attention. The progress of the academy is in line with the requirements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare new generations of Bahraini diplomats according to the highest international standards in this field,” she said.

The training plans and programs to qualify new diplomats are being developed in accordance with the directives of Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and in harmony with the ministry’s overall objectives, she added.

“HE Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa is keen on creating a rich multicultural environment by hosting influential local, Arab and international personalities with experience in the diplomatic field. We benefit from such an environment by the organization of seminars and workshops that lead to building a generation of aptly-educated diplomats who are able to deal with all forms of work pressure, multiple challenges and various conditions,” she said.

“The diplomatic field overlaps with many others, such as culture, history and art, which it considers among the important and major tools in the modern diplomatic work. Therefore, the academy is keen to organize cooperative programs with all parties that overlap with the diplomatic field.”

Dr Shaikha Muneera stressed the International Diplomats program, organized by the academy and in which it hosted diplomats from 17 countries with the objective of expanding international cooperation between the Bahrain and the world and furthering the Kingdom’s position as a thriving civilization model in the region.

The program, which had won first place in the Government Innovation Competition (Fikra), sheds light on the Kingdom’s values and international status by inviting diplomats interested in the region’s affairs and history.

The international diplomats last week visited the parliament, the office of the First Deputy Premier, ministries, places of worship, heritage houses, and historic monuments and had a meeting with the foreign minister who talked about Bahrain’s policies and international relations.

Dr Shaikha Muneera said the academy had signed MoUs with several countries to boost cooperation and the exchange of expertise.

As member of the International Forum on Diplomacy Training (IFDT), the academy is looking forward to benefiting from direct partnerships with members academies and institutions and to publishing research and studies. The academy will also highlight Bahrain’s diplomacy and its achievements, she added.

“Diplomatic work in Bahrain has deep-rooted traditions. This year it celebrated its 50th anniversary. Initiated by a group of men and women whom we hold in high esteem, it has been enriched by various experiences and significant events accumulated over decades.

 This special status of Bahrain’s diplomacy had encouraged us to delve in its history that is recorded and highlighted in books, booklets and films in order to ensure it remains a beacon of principled commitment, determined success and great hope for future generations. This history shows the true role of the Kingdom of Bahrain and we want it to be a great model and a rich compendium for the next generations,” she said.

Dr Shaikha Muneera insisted that while the academy proudly celebrates the past, it is also keen on reaching out to today’s general public, even those who are not working in the diplomatic field, through a host of activities that target mainly young people.

“We have recently experienced an overwhelming response from people who had shown great and genuine interest in the academy and in diplomatic work. Such a response has prompted us to put forward new and varied programs for various sections of the community that we will announce soon,” she said.