Every Best Diplomats conference follows the same arc, whether it is held in Dubai, London or New Jersey: a symposium, a full day in committee, the ceremonies and awards, and the city.
Airport assistance and hotel check-in, then the evening opens the conference: the opening ceremony, the grand symposium with serving and former diplomats and guest speakers on the theme the conference will negotiate, the diplomatic dinner and the ice-breaking night.
A full day in the United Nations format, from 08:30 to 19:00. Each delegate represents a country, opens with a position speech, lobbies in unmoderated caucus, drafts working papers with allies and votes on a resolution, chaired by an experienced dais.
The flag ceremony and the oath of a Best Diplomat open the last conference day, followed by the cultural ceremony, where delegates present the dress, music and colours of the countries they represent or come from.
Awards go to the delegates judged best in committee by the dais and by the delegates they led. Delegates who attended at least 80 percent of the Day 2 committee sessions receive their certificate, and the conference closes with the farewell gala lunch.
The afternoon belongs to the city: the desert safari in Dubai, the Bosphorus cruise in Istanbul, the city tour in London, Kuala Lumpur, Geneva and New York, and dinner together. Day 4 is check-out and airport assistance.
Each conference page carries its own day-by-day programme with times; New Jersey adds a guided visit to United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Every conference teaches three modules through the committee work itself, not from a lecture hall.
Strategy and technique for win-win outcomes: building relationships, managing conflict and holding a position under pressure. Practised in every unmoderated caucus.
About the negotiation module
How international relations work in practice: cultural sensitivity, geopolitical strategy and conflict resolution, taught by serving and former diplomats.
About the diplomacy module
Decision-making, public speaking and influence, practised in committee and judged by the delegates you lead. The Best Diplomat awards go to the leaders the room chose.
About the leadership moduleEvery conference theme is drawn from the UN Sustainable Development Goals, from climate resilience and food security to AI and the future of work. Delegates represent a country, research its position and negotiate a resolution with delegates from more than 120 nationalities.
This year's conferences and themes
Students and young professionals aged 18 and over who register on their own; schools and universities that send a delegation with a teacher; and government and company teams on a leadership programme.
Choose a conference and register. Fees are payable in instalments once your application is accepted.
