On May 13, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Olexandr Mischenko held a meeting with participants of the "School of Young Diplomats" — an initiative aimed at training a new generation of specialists in the field of diplomacy.

During the exchange with participants of the initiative, the Deputy Minister emphasised the importance of professional training, responsibility, strategic thinking and motivation for working in the diplomatic service, and called on young people to consider diplomacy as a promising area of future professional activity.

Olexandr Mischenko noted that Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha pays particular attention to expanding access to the diplomatic service for young people, and that the MFA looks favourably upon students participating in the Ministry's internship programme and their subsequent participation in competitive selection for diplomatic service positions.

Special attention during the meeting was given to employment within the MFA of Ukraine system. Students received a detailed overview of competitive selection procedures, candidate requirements, necessary professional skills and competencies, as well as the challenges faced by young specialists at the outset of a diplomatic career.

The Ukrainian diplomat also noted that today, foreign policy activity directly affects the defence capability of the state, as the effectiveness of diplomacy determines both international support for Ukraine and the supply of weapons, ammunition and equipment for the Armed Forces, which in turn makes it possible to preserve the lives of Ukrainian servicemen and women defending Ukraine and all of Europe from Russian aggression.

During the meeting, Olexandr Mischenko shared his own professional experience with the students and provided practical examples from his work in the diplomatic and consular fields. Participants of the School of Young Diplomats had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the day-to-day activities of Ukrainian diplomats, the key challenges of foreign service, and the specifics of representing Ukraine's interests on the international stage.

Additionally, students had the opportunity to ask the Deputy Minister questions regarding international communication, the functioning of diplomatic missions, career development and current trends in international relations.

Part of the visit included a tour of the Ministry, during which guests familiarised themselves with the history of the building, the specifics of diplomatic work, and viewed the exhibition displays.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will continue to direct its efforts towards supporting educational initiatives and deepening cooperation with local self-government bodies and higher education institutions of Ukraine, with the aim of building and improving the human resources potential of the Ukrainian diplomatic service.

Additional information: The project is implemented by the Kharkiv City Council in partnership with leading Ukrainian higher education institutions and experts in the field of international relations. Its participants undergo intensive training comprising both theoretical modules and practical sessions on diplomacy, international law and protocol, and also take part in interactive events that simulate real-world work in the foreign policy sphere.