His Royal Highness Prince Constantijn fittingly opened the annual ‘Leergang Buitenlandse Betrekkingen’. In his capacity as Special Envoy of the Startup Delta, he delivered the opening speech of Clingendael’s unique post-grad course. He spoke about the role of start-ups in the modern economy and deliberated on how technological progress has far-reaching consequences for governments and companies alike. The Special Envoy further highlighted that technology can also positively contribute to achieving global initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

The ‘food for thought’ speech - which was received by current participants and alumni of the course - was the perfect kick-off to the Leergang Buitenlandse Betrekkingen (LBB). Over the course of 12 weeks, the training programme covers the most important developments in the area of international relations. Participants will gain in-depth knowledge about themes such as European integration, human rights, international security, economy and trade, and sustainability by engaging with academia, practitioners, NGO’s and the private sector. They will also have the opportunity to strengthen their skillset by undertaking trainings in negotiation, intercultural communication, debating and policy advise.

Nineteen partipants will partake in the Leergang Buitenlandse Betrekkingen. The group is comprised of professionals that are already working in the international field or are working towards pursuing an international career. Furthermore, Clingendael has granted a number of scholarships to recent graduates with international ambitions. The strong focus on connecting knowledge and practical know-how makes the LBB the ideal stepping stone towards an international career path.

The 'Leergang Buitenlandse Betrekkingen' takes place from 12 September to 30 November at the Clingendael Institute.