Director General's Message
His Excellency Nickolay Mladenov
Director General of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy
Modern diplomacy and international relations are constantly evolving. The realities of the interconnected world we live in, make it imperative to continuously update the instruments of diplomacy through learning, training and development.
The character of diplomacy has undergone a fundamental transformation. Modern diplomacy is more innovative and multidirectional in approach than ever before, thanks to challenges that are increasingly complex, interrelated and even unpredictable.
These phenomena also affect aspects of domestic and international politics that were once of no great concern to diplomacy. Technical developments such as digitalisation affect how the work of the diplomat is understood, while the public is more aware of foreign policy issues and seeks to influence diplomacy through social media platforms.
Today’s diplomats need to absorb these trends to be able to identify opportunities and risks to function effectively as representatives of their respective states. It is imperative for aspiring diplomats to gain insights into the contemporary practice of diplomacy, in particular public, cultural and economic diplomacy.
Over the past 50 years, the UAE has created an awe-inspiring story of unrivalled growth – reflecting economic, scientific and diplomatic success. The country has also invested in people and provided them with necessary tools to succeed. It has equipped Emiratis with skills and instilled awareness in them, which will not only help them thrive and prosper, but also give back to their country.
Since its establishment in 2014, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) has reflected these core principles, as it committed itself to instilling knowledge and skills in aspiring diplomats. The Academy’s ultimate aim is to enable them to contribute to the nation and the world.
AGDA welcomes distinguished diplomats and leaders, as well as renowned faculty and respectable thought leaders, as it seeks to produce diplomats who understand and articulate the objectives of the UAE’s foreign policy and who are thus able to build bridges and strengthen relations between the UAE and the international community.
