Yunus Emre Institute has launched the most comprehensive training ever designed to shape the practical, impact-oriented national cultural diplomacy policies and raise the Cultural Diplomats of the 21st Century.

With its academic knowledge and practical experience in the field of cultural diplomacy, Turkey's leading cultural diplomacy institution, Yunus Emre Institute, creates opportunities for those who want to work at international organizations and civil society organizations with its comprehensive training program organized by its Cultural Diplomacy Academy.

Both theoretical and practical training in five modules

In this special program, cultural diplomats of the future will learn the intricacies of cultural diplomacy by taking both theoretical and practical training through a five training modules for three months. The national and international participants will have a chance to build their careers at many international organizations and civil society organizations thanks to this training program.

More than 100 participants who have passed the written exam and interview process will study the emerging issues and topics  under the supervision of distinguished instructors employing innovative, integrated learning methods and using seminars, panel discussions, workshops, cultural and artistic events, laboratory studies, social media management and other tools during the training program. The trainees will attend the training sessions at the Cultural Diplomacy Academy of Yunus Emre Institute at weekends while attending the training remotely via digital platform on weekdays.

Ethical and aesthetic values in cultural diplomacy

Yunus Emre Institute President Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş delivered a keynote speech and gave the first lecture during the opening of the Cultural Diplomacy Academy's training program. "The most important characteristic of cultural diplomacy is that it is the blending of ethical and aesthetic concepts. The approach that is ethical and that systematizes coexistence for everyone is the aesthetic perception and conception. If you can instill trust in other people and nations, this helps to enhance your prestige and credibility. This is of great value for the brand value of your country. We, as Yunus Emre Institute, will proceed through five training modules, namely Diplomacy, International Relations, Cultural Diplomacy, Project Management and Business Skills, and Anatolian Civilizations, Identity, Style and Culture in this precious program that will add value to the participants," he said.

"Cultural interaction is important"

Retired ambassador Prof. Dr. Kenan Gürsoy, one of the instructors, referred to Yahya Kemal's motto, "Man is the horizon of man" in his speech. "Cultural interaction is important. People have a chance to know each other's cultures through interaction. This serves to the goal of existing and exploring together. Therefore, this training program is about 'getting acquainted'. It seeks to ensure coexistence and interaction of diverse cultures based on common values of humanity," he said.

Interest in cultural diplomacy on the rise

The prospective diplomats will learn basic concepts and contemporary practices under the mentoring of the most competent scholars in the fields of public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy and international relations, and examine the processes of national and international project development and implementation. During the workshops to be held as part of the training program, the participants will have an opportunity to turn what they learn into practical projects. They will have a chance to know different international organizations closely and meet their senior representatives, and they will be able to make a high-level entry into the world of culture and diplomacy.

Cultural Diplomacy Academy

Established in 2016 within Yunus Emre Institute, the Cultural Diplomacy Academy makes significant contributions to the field with its original activities in the field of cultural diplomacy at the national and international scale and works toward the expansion of the specific implementation areas of cultural diplomacy.