Looking back at the MGG Academy 2024

Since August, when the MGG Academy started at IDOS, participants from different countries have exchanged perspectives and knowledge. At the same time, they have developed new competencies and built a strong we-identity, which will also link them to the MGG network in the future. 

From August to November 2024, the Managing Global Governance (MGG) Academy, a dialogue and training programme for young professionals facilitated by IDOS, has taken place in Bonn at IDOS. During the three and a half months of the MGG Academy, the participants from Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Germany, Mexico, Poland and South Africa exchanged about questions of global governance, sustainable development, and international cooperation. They developed their competencies further and worked jointly on practice-oriented projects. 

As in previous years, the objective of the MGG Academy was to support the participants in their role as change agents. Grand sustainability challenges, such as social-ecological transformation, climate justice, or digitalisation were discussed, while at the same time, participants reflected on their own position as change agents in leadership seminars. In joint change maker projects, the participants translated learnings into practice. A study trip to Brussels and a stay in Berlin for the “International Futures” programme, co-organised with the Federal Foreign Office, completed the programme of the MGG Academy.   

In order to make the learning journey as attractive as possible, the MGG Academy uses a large range of different approaches. André Chusyd, participant from Brazil, points at the innovative learning approach of the MGG Academy: “The programme integrates emotional and rational parts of the mind. This is not common anywhere in the world”. Rhu Sun, participant from China, emphasises the importance of knowledge exchange. “The dialogues and discussions really pushed me to think critically about the impact of policies and how each of us can play a role in making a difference”. 

Next to the exchange on topics, the MGG Academy aspires to inspire empathy, understanding and trust among participants. A strong sense of connection provides a basis for respectful dialogue even on contested topics – not only on the smaller scale of the Academy, but also on the level of global governance for sustainability. After the joint time in Bonn, Zakir Hussain, participant from India, sums up his MGG experience: “The beauty of MGG lies in creating a space for diverse people to come together and feeling at home”. 

The official farewell ceremony took place in BMZ on 22 November. 

Applications for the next MGG Academy open in mid-January 2025.