MGG Academy 2024

The MGG Academy is a training and dialogue format for highly qualified young professionals from rising powers and Europe. It supports future change makers who are dedicated to global cooperation and a transformation to sustainability. Addressing global challenges by building trust, learning from diverse perspectives and co-creating solutions form core assets of the MGG Academy.

The diverse, full-time programme brings together participants from governmental institutions, think tanks and research institutions, civil society and the private sector in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa.

Structure and set-up of the MGG Academy

We believe that future change makers need profound knowledge of global challenges and the ability to analyse complex interdependencies, as well as personal and social skills.

The Academy thus combines knowledge components on global challenges with the development of the participants’ leadership competencies. In an action-oriented component, participants apply the knowledge and competencies they have acquired and develop a change maker project.

Knowledge

The academic modules provide a space for dialogue and mutual learning. They address current global governance challenges and focus on the overall question of how a transformation to sustainability can be fostered in times of crisis. This includes the discussion of topics such as climate change, digitalisation and inequality.

Study Trips to Brussels and Berlin add first-hand practical insights into policy making. In Berlin, the module “International Futures” is organised jointly with the Federal Foreign Office. It explores opportunities and challenges for diplomacy in the age of globalisation.

Leadership

The leadership modules aim at strengthening individual and collective leadership competencies, including strengthening dialogue skills, problem solving, exchanging perspectives, teamwork, reflecting on one’s values, and building strong and trustful relationships, which will also benefit the participants’ home institutions.

Individual coaching sessions complement the development of leadership competencies.

Action

The change maker projects provide a free learning space. The participants work in small teams and develop a change project addressing a globally relevant challenge.

The change maker projects include three levels of learning:

1. Exploring a concrete topic and developing a hands-on solution
2. Applying the design thinking method for innovative problem solving and
3. Practicing and enhancing competencies to collaborate in highly diverse teams

Methods and didactical approach

The MGG Academy is based on didactical principles drawn from leading constructivist and neuroscience theories. The core assumption is that knowledge cannot be transferred from one person to another. Instead, people acquire knowledge by creating it for themselves through processes of receiving, experiencing, applying and reflecting.

The MGG Academy combines a range of working methods, including practical experiences and participatory approaches, training, inputs, visits to institutions and discussions with professionals working in the field of global governance.

Throughout the course, special attention is placed on supporting the learning process of the participants. Participants will be supported in their individual development paths by professional coaching and peer coaching.

The course requires active participation by all participants and an openness to dialogue, critical thinking and collaboration. Participants are expected to engage in an individual and collective learning journey that includes the reflection of experiences, personal and cultural values and worldviews as well as the reflection of individual and collective leadership challenges.