Clingendael Institute hosts MIRD students in exclusive welcome event
On 19 September 2025, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations or the ‘Clingendael Institute’ welcomed first-year students of the Advanced MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy (MIRD) during an exclusive event in the Huys Clingendael.
The Clingendael Institute and MIRD have a long-standing and cooperative partnership that enriches the students’ academic and practical experience throughout the two-year programme. During the students’ first year, academic professionals from the Clingendael Institute teach the core course on international negotiations alongside electives on topics such as climate advocacy. In the second year, the Clingendael instructors provide courses on globalisation and on the geopolitics of technology. The visit allowed the students to meet some of the expert staff in preparation for the upcoming months.
Clingendael’s Role in Research and Diplomacy
As a prominent international relations institution, Clingendael has hosted over 110,000 diplomats in training, on top of being very active in various research domains. Tobias von Lossow, Research Fellow at the institute’s EU and Global Affairs Research Unit, mentioned that their functions include guiding policymakers with recommendations on how to implement measures and offering advice on international affairs topics beyond those observed in traditional coverage. Dr. Maaike Okano-Heijmans, Senior Research Fellow and Programme Lead in Geopolitics of Technology and Digitalisation, highlighted Clingendael’s key role in current, somewhat turbulent geopolitical times. Next to research and policy recommendations, the Institute also offers training for members of the defence community, EU diplomats, and two programmes focused on negotiations in conflict zones, as mentioned by Luuk Pepers, Academy Fellow.
Internships at Clingendael
The visit also included inspiring presentations from second-year MIRD students currently undertaking an internship at the Clingendael Institute, Akanksha Singh and Mauritz Halusa. They spoke about their research focus areas, and the benefits of interning at an institute that engages in interdisciplinary research, which allows interns to assist with different projects and discover their particular interests. The internship also offers a great opportunity for students to connect with researchers with whom they collaborate on publishing research.
Akanksha Singh shared her experiences interning on the nexus between climate and security and stressed that the internship offers many valuable opportunities: ‘I interviewed practitioners from EEAS and the UN, gaining invaluable insights and deepening my understanding of how research connects with practice.’ Akanksha also mentioned contributing to research papers and setting up workshops that bridge research gaps for policymakers. With this academic and yet practical internship opportunity, MIRD students gained experience in how their work can have lasting and real-life impact. Following Akanksha Singh, Mauritz Halusa shared how his experiences equipped him for ‘the opportunity to contribute to the development and implementation of courses in cyber security and diplomacy, economic diplomacy, hydrogen ecosystems and other diplomatic courses covering a variety of topics. This diversity of projects helped me personally to better understand what fields I am most passionate about.’
Panel Discussion and Q&A
The second part of the event was a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Louise van Schaik, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the EU & Global Affairs Unit and MIRD course elective instructor. The panel members were Dr. Kaspar Pucek, Research Fellow, Diederick van Wijk, Research Fellow, and Dr. Raoul Bunskoek, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Clingendael China Centre. They discussed topics such as the transformative effect of the Russia-Ukraine war in Europe, the involvement of technology in politics and its effects, China’s opportunities as a world power after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of embracing non-Western perspectives. The students were able to interact with the panel by asking questions about their work in substantive terms, research topics and experiences in the Clingendael Institute.
The event ended with a lively social session where students could directly engage with Clingendael professionals and also become better acquainted with Clingendael staff who teach courses in the MIRD programme. Clingendael-taught courses this academic year include International Negotiations, The Geopolitics of Technology and Digitalisation, Advocacy in Global Challenges and Climate Change, and Non-Western Great Powers in Global Politics: China and Russia. With this, they provide a valuable addition to courses taught by faculty at Leiden University.
-
The prestigious Clingendael Institute opens its doors for an exclusive 'Welcome Event' to MIRD First-year students of the 2025-2027 cohort. -
The MIRD team thanks Dr. Maaike Okano-Heijmans for her dedicated service and warmly welcomes Dr. Tobias von Lossow as the new Partner Liaison and International Negotiations Instructor. -
MIRD second-year students Akanksha Singh and Mauritz Halusa share their internship experiences to inspire incoming first-year students. -
Students engage with instructors Mr. Diederick van Wijk, Dr. Kaspar Pucek, and Dr. Raoul Bunskoek in a panel moderated by Dr. Louise van Schaik, exploring electives in global politics and climate advocacy.
MSc International Relations and Diplomacy
The two-year Advanced MSc International Relations and Diplomacy (MIRD) programme offers students a unique blend of academic education in international relations and political science with practical graduate education and training in international negotiation and diplomacy. Students attend a wide range of courses, develop their analytical and research skills, take on an internship, write their master’s thesis, and build network with experts in relevant fields. Upon graduation students are prepared to take on positions in international organisations, politics, and diplomacy; or for PhD research.