OYED Young Leaders´ Forums

About the Weeklong Seminars

About the Weeklong Seminars

Every 4-6 months the OYED will organize a Weeklong Seminar, which offers individuals the opportunity to join a forum by participating in a 5-day program.

The Weeklong Seminar is an international and interdisciplinary gathering of students, young professionals, and cultural practitioners from across the world. The seminar provides an excellent opportunity for young people to expand their knowledge of current and future developments in relevant fields, meet with current and former key cultural players and politicians, build sustainable networks with each other, and experience the rich and diverse cultural life of a European/American capital.

In addition to the academic components, participants will take part in a range of social and cultural activities that will allow them to experience a European/American capital's unique cultural landscape. These activities will include group dinners and drinks, trips to artistic performances, concerts, literary readings, and visits to important cultural and artistic landmarks.

Certificate of Attendance - All weeklong seminar participants will be awarded an official certificate of attendance upon completion of the program, which will provide details of the speakers who took part and the topics discussed. Each certificate will be signed by members of the ICD's Advisory Board (The ICD Advisory Board list can be found (here).

Seminar Methodology

Weeklong Seminars are weeklong inter-disciplinary programs that include the following components:

Lectures & Discussions - A range of lectures will be held by experts from the fields of politics, culture, economics, diplomacy, academia, civil society, and the private sector. These components will inform the participants about key perspectives related to the themes of the Weeklong Seminar, raise their awareness of other salient issues and introduce them to the field of cultural diplomacy. Each lecture will usually be followed by a question and answer session with the speaker.

Workshops & Role play - The timetable of each Weeklong Seminar will include interactive workshops that offer participants the opportunity to take part in structured discussions on subjects related to the Seminar themes. Workshops provide a valuable counterbalance to lectures by providing an opportunity for participants to express their own opinions and learn from each other.

Round Table Discussions and Debates - These discussions offer a more intimate setting for speakers and participants to converse and debate openly. They also allow the participants to interact more directly with the speakers and their fellow participants in a more neutral, equal, and interactive manner. Not only are participants able to pose questions to the speakers in these discussions, but the speakers may also pose questions to the participants, all while enjoying a more comfortable, informal, and interactive setting.

Group Visits - During the events, participants are able to see the city from a different perspective. They will be able to experience all that the capital has to offer, as well as partake in visit including: Foreign Offices, City Halls, Parliaments, and various embassies throughout the city.

Leadership Initiatives - Leadership initiatives are cultural exchange initiatives organized by members of the Forums with the support of the OYED. These initiatives are the foundation of the OYED´s  work, as they allow the principles of cultural diplomacy to be spread beyond the members of the Forum. At the beginning of the Weeklong Seminar participants will be given guidance on how to plan, develop, and execute leadership initiatives that have a constructive, sustainable influence on intercultural relations. The participants will then have the opportunity to present their projects to the group at the end of the weeklong seminar. In addition, the OYED will outline how it can help to support the realization of these initiatives through its network and resources.

Networking, Social & Cultural Activities

Each Weeklong Seminar will include social and cultural activities for the participants. These components give participants the opportunity to see a different side of the city, helping to provide a more informal environment for the participants to get to know each other, and allowing the participants to see cultural exchange initiatives that are already being organized. The OYED offers an expansive social agenda including: interactive panel discussions, roundtable discussions, workshops, debates, parties, film nights, conference concerts, embassy receptions, group dinners, and visits to cultural and historical sites:

Embassy Receptions - The OYED partners with embassies for every conference in order to offer evening receptions as well as lectures and events during the day. These receptions are held both at the ICD House, when in Berlin, and at various embassies, and offer the opportunity to network with foreign diplomats. Participants are able to fully immerse themselves in the culture of the host embassy through the traditional song and dance performances, traditional cuisine, and a uniquely international atmosphere.

Film Nights - In addition to running a weekly Film Night the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy often invites representatives of the film industry to participate in events. These individuals are then able to share their expertise and productions with the audience. It is through these Film Nights which the participants are able to visually and acoustically experience the cultures of others.

Conference Concerts - Conference Concerts are a way for participants to experience the culture and art of foreign countries. In the past, the OYED has sponsored world-renowned performers who have shared their artistic mediums and talents with the audience. These concerts vary in nature, and include: traditional dance, interpretive dance, violin concerts, choir performances, piano concertos, symphonies, hip hop and jazz performances, and more.

Group Dinners - Conference participants are able to dine with fellow participants and speakers at a wide assortment of restaurants, where they are exposed to new and exotic cuisines, including: German, British, Greek, French, Russian, Italian, Oriental, Baltic, African, Indian, Turkish, Latin American, Spanish, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and more.

Parties - The OYED hosts a large number of parties in different indoor and outdoor locations each year, to which all the conference participants are invited. These parties include themed evenings, embassy receptions, cultural celebrations, language exchanges, historical commemorations, film nights, conference concerts, boat parties and more. Each of these events allows the OYED participants to casually interact with fellow participants and speakers in a more relaxed and informal manner, as well as meet others from the international community.

During seasonal events, participants will even have the opportunity to join in on the festivities of major activities, such as: Notting Hill Gate Carnival, New Year's Eve celebrations at the Brandenburg Gate, Green Week, Long Night of the Museums, International Festival of Media Art, Berlinale International Film Festival, ITB Berlin, March Music Festival, May Day, Annual Berlin Theater Event, The Carnival of Cultures, Heimatlange: World Music Festival, Literature Festival Berlin, Art Forum Berlin, Religious Cultural Holidays, Festwochen, Berlin Jazz Festival, and visiting the world-renowned Berlin Christmas Markets.