Training Course “Challenges and Perspectives of Science Diplomacy in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe”

The course is co-organised by the CEI, the Department of Political and Social Sciences of the University of Trieste and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (FVG). It is funded by the latter in the context of the CEI-FVG Joint Work Programme 2024-2025 – with the support of the European Union Science Diplomacy Alliance and the FVG Scientific and Innovation System.

The course aims at building capacities on Science Diplomacy, its evolution in the European and global context and applications to real-world examples and case studies. In line with goal 2.10 of the CEI Plan of Action 2024-2026, it promotes the involvement of practitioners and other stakeholders from CEI countries in the growing debate on Science Diplomacy, which has been fostered in 2025 through the publication of important reports - such as “A European Framework for Science Diplomacy – Recommendations of the EU Science Diplomacy Working Groups”, by the European Commission, and “Science diplomacy in an era of disruption”, by the Royal Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

During the activity, participants will have the chance to interact with top-level speakers and lecturers in the framework of 16 teaching modules, 3 interactive workshops, 1 study visit and 1 panel discussion.

The course will admit a maximum of 25 participants by selecting the following candidates who are affiliated to organisations based in CEI Member States:

• Diplomats and other civil servants working on international relations who want to explore Science Diplomacy as a field of professional practice.
• Scientific officers and administrators in research institutions who have a role in developing the international portfolio of their organisations.
• Journalists, non-governmental organisations’ employees, business professionals, graduate students, and anyone else who professionally engage with diplomats, or seek to enhance their comprehension of topics related to Science Diplomacy.

Contents and study programme

The course has five parts:

1. an introduction to Science Diplomacy (SD): the module will introduce SD as a field of policy and study, presenting a comparison of main national approaches to SD in Europe, as well as the evolution of SD in the EU and global context.
2. An overview on the knowledge and skills needed in SD: the module will focus on skills’ development for training the new generation of “science diplomats”, as also envisaged in the recent report “A European Framework for Science Diplomacy”. It will also examine training needs and knowledge gaps to be addressed for fostering SD in CEI Member States. Finally, it will illustrate how research can feed science advice in international policymaking.
3. A focus on SD in the current geopolitical context: the module will cover a set of policy areas which are impacted by SD and which SD can help manage. Topics discussed in the module will include disaster management, cultural heritage, sustainable agriculture, energy transitions, research security, international development.
4. A visit to research infrastructures: the module will be dedicated to the connections between SD and research infrastructures as key actors in the domain of international scientific cooperation.
5. An Italian perspective on SD in the target region, featuring panellists from key government offices and research institutions on Italian strategies for engaging partners from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe in this field of activities.

Overall, the course will include 16 teaching modules, 3 interactive workshops, 1 study visit and 1 panel discussion, for a total of 25 hours.

Teaching modalities and practical information

The lessons will take place for 4 consecutive days from 25.11.2025 to 28.11.2025. The teaching methods will include:

• introductory lectures for various teaching modules.

• Interactive sessions and open discussions with professionals and practitioners in the field of Science Diplomacy.

• Analysis of case studies.