Diplomatische Akademie Wien Vienna School of International Studies

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Current Issues

Graduate programs at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien-Vienna School of International Studies (DA) prepare students to excel in a range of international careers. Located in the heart of Vienna, the DA is near international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, diplomatic missions, and cultural institutions. With its vast alumni network in over 120 countries and 14 active alumni chapters worldwide, the DA offers an excellent balance between theoretical and practical approaches.

How is the role of technology in geopolitics and international affairs changing? How is this reflected in your curriculum or ways of teaching?

Technology developments have always affected geopolitics and international affairs: as history teaches, they play a major role in both armed conflicts and social changes. The speed at which discoveries and products are nowadays developed and made accessible to the public has increased exponentially—effectively speeding up the process to a previously unimaginable tempo. The curriculum at the DA is designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to comprehend and engage with these transformations in a timely and effective manner, by implementing a holistic interdisciplinary approach through a wide and varied course offer.

What skills are needed to help students prepare to understand and manage crises?

As the oldest professional school in the world, the DA has prepared students throughout the centuries to understand and manage crises, as attested by its numerous distinguished alumni throughout history and all over the globe. The current curriculum focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to support the development of the skillset needed to educate adaptable and capable professionals. Particular attention is reserved for multilingualism and intercultural dialogue, further fostered by the various cultural and interest-based societies, which allow for advocacy and independent student activities. The DA’s students and alumni distinguish themselves for their sound academic background, think-outside-the-box mentality, and flexible approach to complex issues—all skills honed with their training.

How do you best prepare a student to be adaptable in a fast-changing global environment?

The DA focuses on state-of-the-art education, offering three post-graduate courses that cater toward different demographics: the Diploma Program, a one-year course aimed at preparing professionals for the international arena, with the Class of 2023 as its fifty-ninth graduating class; the Master in Advanced International Studies, a two-year master’s degree hosted in cooperation with the University of Vienna; and the Master of Science in Environmental Technology and International Affairs, hosted in cooperation with the TU Wien. A Master of Science in Digital International Affairs is currently being established.

The curriculum offered at the DA is diverse and wellbalanced, spanning from digital diplomacy to trade law, international history to crisis management, environmental economics to ethics of technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. The choice between theoretical and practical courses is well-balanced, allowing students to seek out and tailor their education to their professional objectives and personal academic interests. The DA prides itself on expanding its curriculum every year, hosting visiting academics and conferences to focus on current issues and keeping in stride with all recent developments and discoveries.