International Academy for Leadership
IAF 2024 Program List

Announcement

11.01.2024

12.5 Minutes

The International Academy for Leadership (IAF) is still accepting applicants for its 2024 seminars for the rest of the year. The programs are designed to build the capacities of interested individuals in international and political dialogue.

The FNF Philippine office sends nominates and sends local applicants to the IAF Academy in Gummersbach, Germany as well as other German and European venues where these seminars are held. If you are interested in participating, please follow the guidelines below:

Apply online via the link in the seminar description
Attach the following to your online application
Updated Curriculum Vitae
Letter of intent (addressed to the FNF PH Country Director, Dr. Almut Besold)
Scanned data page of your valid passport
Forward your confirmation email to Sofi Atanacio, Project Officer at sofia.atanacio@freiheit.org stating that you have completed your application
Include the same attachments to your email

Due to the current pandemic situation, this program may be subject to change and details will be adapted according to the given situation. Please contact us in case of any questions

Program List:

(Note: This page will continue to be updated once information for the other programs becomes available.)

Liberalism vs. Populism: How can Liberals win? January 21 - February 02, 2024

This seminar will attempt to deconstruct populism in a holistic manner: We will analyze populism from the perspectives of its philosophical foundations, its political strategy through international case studies to ultimately its current-day political communication strategy. Hence, we will mix theory with practice...with a particular focus on the aspect of political storytelling. Because at the end of the seminar, participants will be able to let their creativity go wild and draft a counter-story to the attacks on liberalism that we see all over the world.

Target Group:
The seminar mainly aims at liberal thinkers and political strategists from political parties, think tanks and NGOs who are currently facing populist forces in their respective countries.

Download abstract below

Application Form: https://fnst.dvinci-hr.com/en/jobs/30504/intro

Philippine Deadline: 20 October 2023

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Empowering Women in Politics, March 03 - March 15, 2023

At various times of crisis, strong, inspirational women have stood up, pushed for rights, demanded recognition, and changed the world. We would like to see a world in which women are on equal footing to step into the leadership roles they desire, and to make a much-needed contribution in the world.

This seminar invites female leaders who are passionate about leadership, about making a contribution, and committed to building an active career in politics or public service, to join on a journey of connection, development and transformation as we explore the many aspects of female leadership in 2024 and beyond

Target Group:
Purpose-driven female leaders who are currently in office, or with political or public service aspirations from Political Parties, Think Tanks and NGOs are encouraged to apply. Applicants can be elected officials or appointed staff members, provided they are in leadership, or aspire. Applicants should have a strong English-language ability, and be willing to share their experiences in the group, as the programme relies on interaction and active participation.

Download abstract below

Application Form: https://fnst.dvinci-hr.com/en/p/iaf/jobs/30510/intro

Philippine Deadline: 24 November 2023

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Moderation: Facilitation and Program Design, April 14 - 26, 2024

In this seminar, we’re on a mission to transform liberal events, and to equip the people behind these events to combine their own personal approach with the practical design and facilitation skills needed to make every gathering they are involved with extraordinary. Liberal events have the potential to create a temporary alternate world in which participants do not just engage on liberal topics, but in which they have an experience of what a liberal world is because of how the event feels.

Through the deliberate use of innovative, participatory methodologies and platforms, and through an engagement that is attentive, choiceful, open and relational. In this seminar, we will explore what it takes – in way of being, in skill, in approach, and in methodology – to create events that are designed to be and feel truly liberal, creating an experience that inspires and transforms its participants, and thereby also changing our world.

Target Group:
This seminar is aimed at public representatives, staff members, volunteers or members of liberal NGOs, Political Parties, Networks and Think Tanks who are actively involved with, or responsible for the design, planning, facilitation and implementation of liberal, organisational events. Some experience in facilitation or event design is strongly encouraged as a pre-requisite for participating in this seminar.

Download abstract below

Application Form: https://fnst.dvinci-hr.com/en/jobs/30526/intro

Philippine Deadline: 05 January 2024

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Strategic Planning for Political Parties, May 12 - 19, 2024

This seminar will focus on conveying profound understanding of the strategy planning process. After unpacking the foundational terms "strategy" and "strategic planning", participants will discuss the overall process and get grips with the methodological steps: from goal definition and situation assessment to strategy formulation and implementation planning, and then evaluation and control. A special emphasis will be laid on the step of ‘strategy formulation’, which constitutes the core idea for a successful strategy. Alternative and context-specific methods for the different steps will be illustrated and applied on the basis of case studies provided by participants themselves. We will also introduce external experts into the mix to learn from their well of experience both in-person in Gummersbach, on a half-day excursion or virtually.

Target Group:
Leadership representatives of political parties and also party staff members involved in strategic planning or management. Participants should have some first-hand experience in (or be tasked with the implementation of) strategy development and political leadership.

Download abstract below

Application Form: https://fnst.dvinci-hr.com/en/jobs/30532/intro

Philippine Deadline: 02 February 2024

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Safeguarding Freedom in a Digital World; June 02 - 14 2024

Digitalization has given rise to new and powerful threats to democratic processes, human rights, and the rule of law. And the solutions to such challenges are far from obvious from a liberal perspective. Hence, it is on us to strike a balance between recognizing the positive disruptions of the Internet age and the concerns about its impact on inclusive liberal democracies. That is why participants will develop a joint vision of how the Open Society™ translates from the physical to the digital world. Because Adam Smith, JS Mill, and FA Hayek had many interesting to say; but they didn’t own an iPhone with ChatGPT.

Target Group:
This seminar targets technologists, cyber security experts, privacy advocates, journalists, content creators, liberal politicians, and policy-makers from liberal think tanks. Participants should have a good grasp of current trends and contemporary debates around technology and digitalization, as well as a firm understanding of liberal principles and public policy. Ideally, they have backgrounds in information technology, software engineering, digital media, or public policy — and are working on topics, such as digital rights, transparency, privacy, content moderation, and regulation.

Download abstract below

Application Form: https://fnst.dvinci-hr.com/en/p/iaf/jobs/30549/intro

Philippine Deadline: 23 February 2024

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The Power of Networks: How to build and use them! June 23 - 30, 2024

Abstract: Now, more than ever, and with greater skill than our popular or populist competitors, liberals need to grow and sustain formal and informal networks that provide us with crucial support, and that amplify our messages. Besides introducing and discussing methods for building and using these types of formal and informal networks, this seminar is also going to work towards developing the networking skills and approach of each individual participant, experiencing and practicing the traits and skills of a personal networker in order to apply a coherent and authentic networking approach for the strategic benefit of their organization.

Application Form: https://fnst.dvinci-hr.com/en/jobs/30555/intro

Philippine Deadline: 15 March 2024

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The Green Side of Liberalism: Environmental Protection from Climate Change to Energy Policy; July 14 - 26, 2024