DAN signs MoU with BDA to deepen cooperation in diplomatic education

KATHMANDU: Diplomatic Academy Nepal (DAN) and the Brussels Diplomatic Academy (BDA) of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in diplomatic education, executive training, academic exchange and joint research.

Under the agreement, the institutions will establish a formal framework for joint programmes and short courses covering diplomacy, international relations, foreign policy, international law, global governance, security, economic diplomacy, ICT diplomacy, leadership and negotiation. It also provides high-level executive education and capacity-building workshops for diplomats, government officials, negotiators, experts, and private sector leaders, along with faculty and expert exchanges to develop shared policy insights.

Meanwhile, DAN said the partnership will link South Asia’s geopolitical perspective with BDA’s European institutional expertise, offering Nepali professionals greater international exposure through practitioner lectures and access to networks centred in the European Union. The BDA is noted for an educational approach where "diplomacy and business meet," while DAN highlights the intersection of policy, technology and diplomacy in its programmes.

The collaboration will be integrated into DAN’s existing professional development calendar, including specialised diplomatic training modules, public policy seminars, short certificate courses and executive leadership workshops. The arrangement is intended to allow local participants to gain international benchmarks and networks without leaving the region, while preparing them for global negotiation and competition.

DAN, based in Kathmandu, is a non-partisan institution that provides education, dialogue and professional training in diplomacy and international affairs. Operating under the banner "Where Policy, Technology, and Diplomacy Converge," DAN offers executive workshops, short courses and capacity-building initiatives for ambassadors, diplomats, government officials, corporate executives, security experts and scholars.