Emirates Diplomatic Academy Signs MoU with University for Peace to Enhance Future Collaboration

In partnership with the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the United Nations in Geneva, the Emirates Diplomatic Academy (EDA) signed an MoU with University for Peace (UPEACE) to set up a shared platform to launch several projects aimed at strengthening research and academic collaboration between both entities, and to support EDA’s efforts to train and empower future Emirati diplomats.

Her Excellency Lubna Qassim Al Bastaki, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the United Nations – on behalf of EDA, and His Excellency David Fernandez Puyana, Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the UN University for Peace to the UN Office at Geneva and the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. 

Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Mariam Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, EDA’s Deputy Director General said: “At Emirates Diplomatic Academy, we are committed to providing the highest standards of academic education to our future diplomats. In enhancing our collaboration with a prestigious academic and research institution like UPEACE, we are taking a significant step towards achieving our strategic goals and actively contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

For her part, H.E. Al Bastaki said: “I am proud to celebrate the partnership of EDA and UPEACE out of the UN in Geneva. The UAE Mission to UN in Geneva has worked closely with UPEACE to contribute to the realization of peace and a sustainable future and advancement of 2030 Agenda for SDG. This partnership brings the UAE closer to the UN as we continue to work within the multilateral space and shares goals to develop knowledge and skills for our UAE diplomats.”

For his part, Prof. Francisco Rojas Aravena, Director of UPEACE, said: "The MoU signed today will allow us to train new leaders for peace, hailing from diplomacy and society. It also opens up new opportunities for collaboration that strengthen multilateralism and make it possible to generate better knowledge of the international system, as well as opportunities for global and regional cooperation.”

Additionally, H.E. David Fernandez Puyana highlighted in the ceremony that he was delighted over this agreement, considering that it will advance education and training for UAE diplomats based on best practices in peace building. 

Set up in 1980 by UN General Assembly Resolution 35/55, UPEACE is a Costa Rica-based global academy. Dedicated to training leaders for peace, UPEACE boasts over 2,000 alumni hailing from more than 120 nations. Through its master’s and doctoral degree programmes, UPEACE trains future leaders to explore and formulate strategies and practices in various contexts to address the causes of issues affecting human and global wellbeing.