ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

In September 2024, UNRCCA Academy of Preventive Diplomacy (PDA) organized three lectures for the class of 2024 and two additional events for the PDA regional alumni network to resume its activities after the summer break (the second block of this successful educational program).

On 4 September, Ms. Maya Meretkulieva, PDA trainer, held a session on leadership - an important skill for young people who aspire to be successful in diplomacy and have conflict prevention skills. Through interactive exercises, students learned about different leadership styles and common mistakes made in this area. Ms. Meretkulieva continued her interaction with students on 17 September, conducting training on the importance of intercultural communication to enhance preventive diplomacy efforts. Participants improved their skills in effective intercultural interaction, establishing trusting relationships and finding mutual understanding in difficult situations.

The last lesson of the month under the official program was conducted on 23 September, by Ms. Elina Larina, PhD in Philology, Associate Professor of the South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushinsky (Odessa). During the lesson, PDA students received theoretical knowledge in the field of effective communication, considered different types, principles, strategies, and tactics of effective communication, and learned ways to overcome speech conflicts. Knowledge of different cultures, mentality of peoples will become a reliable tool for future diplomats, politicians, businessmen from Central Asian countries. Effective communication is inextricably linked with preventive diplomacy and is a vital link in the UN efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts. The PDA UNRCCA team is constantly expanding interaction with PDA students and graduates, offering new training formats, inviting external speakers to study new topics that go beyond the curriculum.

In June 2024, PDA introduced the peer2peer format, where students and alumni share their experiences of academic and professional life with their peers. Such informal exchanges strengthen the sense of community among alumni and students of the Academy and open up new opportunities for their activities. PDA successfully continued the third peer2peer session on 25 September, focusing on academic opportunities abroad.

To conclude the month, on 30 September, PDA students from Turkmenistan visited the French Institute in Turkmenistan, where Mr. Romain Gouvernet, Director of the Institute, gave a lecture on cultural diplomacy. During the informal discussion, PDA participants learned about the links between cultural and preventive diplomacy and the speaker’s personal experience in this field. Similar sessions will be held in other Central Asian countries in the coming weeks.