Conclusion of the 9th Diplomatenkolleg
“The Diplomatenkolleg has been like a window through which we have gained many valuable experiences and much expertise about Germany,” one participant described the last ten months. During the closing ceremony, participants reflected on impressions and experiences they gained throughout the program. Representatives of the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the Federal Foreign Office, and the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) emphasized the significance of the Diplomatenkolleg for establishing trust-based networks within international diplomacy, highlighting the strength of this public-private partnership. Keynote speaker Thomas Krüger, President of the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, BPB), underlined how important a critical handling of history is, especially with regard to politics and diplomacy.
Dealing with Germany’s past constituted a significant theme in the program’s most recent events; participants visited, for instance, the Memorium Nuremberg Trials and Courtroom 600, while a conversation with the Head of the City of Nuremberg’s Human Rights Office offered an opportunity to reflect on the impact that coming to terms with the past has had on life in the city today.
Participants also looked at the topic of migration to and integration within Germany. Apart from lively debates with representatives of the Expert Council of German Foundations on Integration and Migration as well as with Dilek Kolat, the Berlin Senator for Labor, Women’s Affairs and Integration, they visited concrete projects concerned with these issues. A visit to the DiTiB Mosque and the Education and Exchange Center and a talk with teachers and pupils from the Albert Schweitzer High School in Berlin Neukölln highlighted the successes and challenges of intercultural cooperation and coexistence. Additionally, a debate with the director and producer Züli Aladağ presented an artist’s perspective on the issue.
The Diplomatenkolleg is an advanced training program organized by the Federal Foreign Office and the Robert Bosch Stiftung, aimed at young diplomats who are accredited in Germany. The program is carried out with support from the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).
For more information, please contact Senta Höfer, senta.hoefer@diplo.de, 030/18 17 48 38, or Corinna Blutguth, Corinna.blutguth@diplo.de, 030/18 17 19 14.