ASEF Public Diplomacy Training 2025 in Singapore for diplomats in departments dealing with Asia, Europe, or ASEM in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
By: Muhammad Arif, Editor NSN.Asia
Islamabad: Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) is an intergovernmental not-for-profit organisation which brings together the peoples of Asia and Europe to address common global challenges by advancing mutual understanding and collaboration between the people of Asia and Europe through providing opportunities that enable an exchange of ideas.
BACKGROUND
The ASEF Public Diplomacy Training programme (ASEFPDT) was set up in 2013 to help promote and facilitate skills training for diplomats and civil society actors. The programme aims to improve public diplomacy efforts between the countries of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process.
ASEFPDT combines participatory online learning and face-to-face interactions facilitated by public diplomacy experts and trainers. The modules are designed to keep participants abreast of new developments in the field through peer-to-peer learning, analysing case studies and designing strategic campaigns.
Since its inception, ASEF has co-organised 12 tutored Online courses and 10 Face-to-face collaborations, across Asia and Europe, benefitting more than 400 diplomats and civil servants from 53 ASEM Partners.
OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of the online course is to enhance the participants’ skills to listen, understand, exchange views, collaborate and deliver an effective message to shape public perception and opinion in the context of Asia-Europe relations.
After completing the online course, participants are expected to:
- Increase their understanding of contemporary public diplomacy.
- Gain deeper knowledge of public perceptions of Asia and Europe, bi-regional dynamics and relations, and how these affect their work as diplomats and civil servants.
- Identify, map, and engage with key decision-, policy- and opinion-makers and shapers (state and non-state actors).
- Gain practical skills to formulate, develop and deliver effective public diplomacy campaigns.
- Enhance their people-to-people connections and networks across the ASEM membership.
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ASEF Public Diplomacy Training 2025 in Singapore for Diplomats NSN Asia 25
STRUCTURE & CONTENT
Online Course (15 September – 20 October 2025)
The online component of ASEFPDT13 is designed and managed by DiploFoundation. Participants will read the provided lecture text, adding questions, comments and references in the form of textus annotations on an online training platform. The course methodology is based on collaborative approach to learning, which means that the trainers and other participants will read and respond to these entries, creating interactions based on the lecture text.
The majority of activities are asynchronous so that participants can take care of these activities whenever it is convenient for them. The only fixed activity is the one-hour-long live class meeting where trainers and participants will meet in either a chat room or a Zoom meeting room to discuss the weekly topic. Focus time required per week over the course of 5 weeks: 5-7 hours (including the class meeting).
This year, the course will also introduce participants to various AI-assisted tools Diplo developed in-house and tested in the delivery of its regular course entitled E-Diplomacy as they can be used in drafting and conceptualising public diplomacy campaigns.
For more information on the individual online training modules, please refer to the Training Leaflet.
NOTE: Only participants who have successfully completed the online course will be admitted to the 13th Face-to-face training. This approach will boost participation and a greater exchange of information among participants as the training is desired to be highly interactive.
Face-to-Face Training (1-5 December 2025)
Face-to-face training functions as an intensive skills-oriented module that focuses on the practical interaction between the selected participants. Over the span of 5 days and with the help of professional trainers with a background in public diplomacy, the participants will expand the knowledge they acquired through the online course.
As part of the program, a cultural tour will also be arranged to allow participants to learn more about the host’s history and culture.
ASEFPDT13’s Face-to-face component will be hosted by the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1- 5 December in Singapore.
More information on the individual physical training modules will be shared with the selected participants closer to the event dates.
TARGET PARTICIPANTS
Early-/mid-career diplomats in departments dealing with Asia, Europe, or ASEM in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs or equivalent of the eligible Asian and European countries*
Early-/mid-career diplomats posted by eligible ASEM Partners to ASEM countries* who are dealing with public diplomacy.
EXPECTED PROFILES OF CANDIDATES
MA degree, or equivalent, or BA degree with at least 3 years of diplomatic working experience
Currently working in the Asia-Europe context
High proficiency in English
Interest in public diplomacy, public affairs, or communications
NOMINATION PROCESS
Submissions of nomination(s) should be sent to ASEF’s contact via e-mail, stating the name, designation and e-mail address of the candidate. Please also copy the Governance & Sustainable Development Department (governance@asef.org) in your message. The deadline for submission is Friday, 1 August 2025.
Candidates are then requested to complete an online application form, which includes an official endorsement letter, a CV and a motivation letter outlining their interest in and reasons for participating in the Training. Please note that the motivation letter is a key component in the participant selection process.
There is no registration or participation fee, and the organisers cover travel (subject to a ceiling) and accommodation expenses of the selected participants.
The places in the training are limited.
CANDIDATES WILL BE INFORMED ABOUT THE SELECTION OUTCOME STARTING FROM THE WEEK OF 15 AUGUST 2025
*Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Laos PDR, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, Vietnam
All ASEF projects are implemented in line with the decision of the ASEF Board of Governors.
Also, ASEF is acting as the civil society outreach of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and works as a platform for Asia-Europe dialogue to stimulate permanent networks that reinforce Asia-Europe bi-regional relations.
The foundation works as an interface between civil society and ASEM governments and consequently, contributing to the ASEM process by generating unique recommendations for officials’ consideration.
