Executive Education celebrated 35 new graduates in a Diploma Ceremony for the Executive Master in Development Policies and Practices (DPP) on 29 January 2015.

Mr. François Longchamp, President of the Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, lauded graduates for their achievements and for their commitment to international development, while sharing the long legacy, values and traditions of the Canton of Geneva in support of international cooperation.  That support resonates in a very significant way for the Executive Master DPP, which receives significant funding from the the Service de la solidarité internationale of the Canton of Geneva, as well as the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.  Ms. Maria Jesus Alonso Lormand, Director of the Service de la solidarité internationale, was also in attendance for the ceremony and festivities.

The ceremony, emceed by Programme Director Dr. Alexandre Dormeier Freire, honored graduates from three of the regional hubs which are served by the DPP:  Latin America (based in Lima), Francophone Africa (based in Ouagadougou) and Central Asia (based in Almaty).  A second session of the DPP 2014-15 will take place in February, with participants from SE Asia (based in Hanoi), Anglophone Africa (based in Accra) and a third cohort of participants from the Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan, a customised cohort designed in collaboration with UNITAR.

The Executive Master DPP programme is spread over about six months, and combines regionally-based studies (across the global South and East) with applied professional projects at participants' place of work in the regions.  It culminates with a 3-week intensive module in Geneva, held each winter, including cultural events, engagements with International Geneva and cross-training between the members of the regions, with training focused on strengthening participants' leadership skills.  The programme is tri-lingual, offered in French, English, Spanish, and the annual winter sessions offer simultaneous translation for participants.

The next intake for the DPP begins in August concurrently across the regions, with applications due by 31 March 2015.  Appilcants from Switzerland can choose which region they wish to pursue.  More details on the programme page.