On 24-26 September 2008, the College of Europe hosted the 36th Meeting of Deans and Directors of Diplomatic Academies and Institutes of International Relations, the yearly reunion of the International Forum on Diplomatic Training (IFDT).
Established in 1972, the IFDT is an informal gathering of the heads of diplomatic schools from all over the world devoted to the discussion of recent trends in diplomacy and diplomatic education.
This year's edition will focus on "New Challenges to Diplomatic Training" and is jointly organised by the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, and the College of Europe.
It will take place at the Egmont Palace in Brussels and at the College of Europe's Verversdijk extension in Bruges, followed by a social programme on the weekend.
In 2006, the College has launched a new Master's programme EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies which provides its graduates with in-depth knowledge of the European Union as a global actor as well as skills in international negotiations and diplomacy.