Shaping Futures Academy 2024: first In-Person Phase Successfully Started

All participants of this year’s cohort have arrived in Bonn for the start of the first on-site phase of the Shaping Futures Academy and attended the Bonn Festival of Democracy together.

On Wednesday, 22 May, all participants of this year’s cohort safely arrived in Bonn for the start of the first in-person phase of the Shaping Futures Academy (23 May 2024 – 26 June 2024). After arrival, getting acquainted with their surroundings and making initial contact with one another, the participants were officially welcomed to IDOS on 23 May 2024. Dr Axel Berger, Deputy Director (interim) of IDOS, and Dr Sven Grimm, Head of the Programme Inter- and Transnational Cooperation, in which the Shaping Futures Academy is a part of, welcomed the participants with warm words, emphasizing the quality of learning with each other and from each other.

Following the introductions, the participants got to know each other, meet the team and the institute and took care of administrative matters, the participants and the Shaping Futures team came together again in the evening for a pleasant welcome dinner. The following day, the participants were received at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) by Christoph Rauh, Deputy Head of Division of the Africa Department at the BMZ. In the afternoon, the 2024 cohort of the Shaping Futures Academy was officially welcomed to the sustainable city of Bonn by Stefan Wagner, Head of Department of International Affairs and Global Sustainability and Verena Schwarte from the city’s Office for International Affairs and Global Sustainability. In the first weekend after their arrival, some participants visited the Bonn Festival of Democracy and/or the BMZ’s Open Day. All participants had the opportunity to take part in a city tour through Bonn. The first leadership module with the Next Economy Lab Bonn trainers kicked off on Monday, 27 May 2024.

The Shaping Futures team is looking forward to the weeks to come, the input and networking in the first in-person phase of this year’s Academy.