About the Diplomatic Academy

History evidences that both diplomacy and professional training of diplomats in Serbia have had a long tradition. The diplomatic service has followed the political and social development of the Serbian state since the beginning, and has shared its destiny.

The first modern law on diplomatic service was passed in 1886, under the reign of King Milan Obrenovic. The Law stipulated the rules and conditions for entering diplomatic service, and diplomatic agents, like all other civil servants, were required to possess "the necessary knowledge and competencies". A candidate for diplomacy was also required to hold a diploma from either a Serbian or a foreign university, to speak the French language, to pass the complex entrance exam, and later, after the passing of the Law on Civil Servants, in 1923, during the reign of King Aleksandar I Karadjordjevic, also a diplomatic-consular exam, which tested the knowledge and the initially acquired diplomatic and statesmanship skills.

Many prominent Serbs, from Jovan Ducic, Milan Rakic, Ivo Andric, Milos Crnjanski, to our contemporaries, had entered the diplomatic service and received the specific diplomatic training and education.

Diplomatic education has become increasingly complex within the distinct legal framework, and has become institutionalized over time, in line with the exigencies of modern diplomatic service and contemporary international trends.

After the Second World War, an organizational unit, the Department for Professional Development, was established at the Directorate for Personnel Affairs. The department later grew into an independent organizational unit Diplomatic Education. In 1998, by the decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Diplomatic Education was renamed the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the purpose of which is to enhance specific knowledge and skills, in accordance with foreign policy goals, and to become a foothold in the professional development of diplomats and civil servants,

The new syllabus of the Diplomatic Academy, in effect from 2002, is annually being adjusted to the pre-set objectives and developments on the foreign policy front. The lecturers include ministers and state officials and employees, professional diplomats, university professors from the Faculty of Political Sciences, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Economics, scientific researchers from several institutes, as well as other experts from the country and abroad. More than 120 lecturers with over 200 lectures participate in the diplomatic and consular training program.

Within its activities, pursuant to Article 49 of the Law on Foreign Affairs, the Rulebook on Professional Education of Employees and the Rulebook on Internships in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Diplomatic Academy prepares, organizes, and implements the following programmes of professional development and training:

  • The core programme of diplomatic-consular training;

  • The core diplomatic training programme intended for professional development in the field of foreign policy and international relations;

  • Training of the MFA employees as part of preparation for service in diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Serbia abroad;

  • Professional development of diplomats abroad and other activities, which are being carried out through international cooperation with academies and foundations abroad;

  • Professional exams intended for the Serbian MFA employees;

  • Foreign language courses;

  • Specialist seminars, lectures on foreign policy issues, symposia, public panel discussions, consultative meetings, lectures, international gatherings and other study programmes both in Serbia and abroad, concerning areas significant for the performance of foreign affairs functions.

  • Organizing internships in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for students from universities in Serbia and internships in diplomatic and consular missions, for students studying at universities abroad.