The Visegrád School of Political Studies is a joint venture of the European Academy of Diplomacy, the Council of Europe, and the International Visegrád Fund. It aims to bring together young minds from the political as well as social spheres in an effort to encourage the ideas of functional democracy, facilitate the exchange of practical knowledge and skills and to strengthen cooperation among the Visegrád States.

The Visegrád School of Political Studies comprises of two, 4-day sessions, (18 - 21 September, 23 - 26 October 2013) each with a specific themes. Participants will engage in discussions, case study analyses, and work groups focusing on thematic issues facing the VSPS and the European Union:

• Identifying main challenges to the democratic process in the Visegrad Group
• Strengthening the democratic process in the Visegrad countries
• The Visegrad Group and the future of the European Union.

Participants will have a chance to work together and with experts on contemporary challenges commonly facing Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

Overall each of the sessions will be divided into three modules that will give participants practical knowledge & insight, as well as master their level of practical diplomatic skills:

• Thematic lectures
• Skills training (The Activist Toolkit)
• Study Visits & meetings with VIP Guest Speakers
 

The participants of the Visegrád School of Political Studies will also take part in the Strasbourg World Forum for Democracy (November 2013), which will provide them with the opportunity to meet their peers from the other Council of Europe Schools of Political Studies.
 

For more information on the Visegrád School of Political Studies, please contact EAD International Program Coordinator Kasia Waksmundzka at kwaksmundzka@diplomats.pl