Geneva study tour connects diplomatic theory and practice for SOAS politics students
Postgraduate students from the MA International Studies and Diplomacy programme recently returned from a study tour to Geneva, designed to connect academic theory with the lived realities of international diplomacy and global governance.
The tour reflected the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy’s commitment to embedding experiential learning into the postgraduate curriculum. Drawing on the practice and research connections of Professor Ralf Emmers, Dr Nicholas Westcott, Dr Ziya Meral and Dr Yanan Song in the fields of multilateralism and diplomacy, the trip gave students a close-up view of key institutions, alongside the ongoing challenges facing global cooperation.
Students visited a range of international organisations and diplomatic missions, , including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the EU Delegation to the UN in Geneva, as well as the French and Turkish Permanent Missions. Students also had the opportunity to meet WHO’s Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who attended the session and offered brief remarks.
The trip made these institutions feel more accessible and inspired me to believe that opportunities in global diplomacy are achievable.
A highlight was the dedicated expert engagement day, during which leading practitioners from the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Human Rights Council, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), joined the group for a series of interactive sessions. These conversations offered students a rare opportunity to explore global issues in depth, with experts working on the front lines of multilateral policy.
Speaking about his experience of the trip, Matyáš Holub, a postgraduate student, said: “The Geneva study tour places the MA International Studies and Diplomacy programme into a league of its own. Experiencing, and in some cases even having tangible impact on, the organisations within the capital of multilateralism was a stellar end to the year, which itself was full of knowledge and meaningful contact with cutting-edge academics, as well as leading professionals in diplomacy.”
Radhika Bansal, a fellow student, added: “The Geneva trip was an incredible experience, and gave me real insight into how global organisations work. The presenters spoke candidly about their successes and honestly acknowledged the challenges and crises that IGOs and multilateral organisations are currently facing. The trip made these institutions feel more accessible and inspired me to believe that opportunities in global diplomacy are achievable.”
In a global climate where multilateralism is under pressure, it is vital for our students to witness both the challenges and the possibilities of diplomacy in action.
A student-led committee played a key role in planning the tour, including hosting a professional networking reception attended by diplomats, policy advisors, international civil servants, and SOAS alumni. The event gave students the chance to share their reflections, expand their networks, and explore future career paths in international affairs.
Professor Ralf Emmers, Professor in International Politics of East Asia and Co-Chair of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy, said: “This tour exemplifies how the Department and CISD seek to bridge the academic and professional worlds. In a global climate where multilateralism is under pressure, it is vital for our students to witness both the challenges and the possibilities of diplomacy in action. The Geneva experience gave them unique insights into how international cooperation is navigated and contested on the ground.”
The Geneva visit concluded a year-long series of high-level engagements for the cohort, which included guest lectures, crisis exercise day, engagement with global leaders and diplomatic representatives in London. Together, this tour and 17 other activities since October 2024 have enabled students to critically reflect on diplomacy in practice and the future of multilateralism.
This immersive approach to learning, grounded in SOAS’s critical pedagogy, continues to demonstrate how students can meaningfully connect theoretical training with real-world practice through expert networks and guided exposure to global policy environments.
