Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Strategic Studies and Training Department
Myanmar Diplomatic Academy

The flagship course of the MDA is the Post Graduate Diploma in Diplomacy and to confer it in accordance with the National Education Law, the MDA is officially affiliated with the Naypyitaw State Academy (NSA). As such, Board of Study is established as follows:

Advanced Diplomatic Course (ADC)

Advanced Diplomatic Course, which commenced in 2024 and lasts for six weeks, is designed for officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who are slated to serve as Chargé d’affaires ad interim/Deputy Heads of Mission in Myanmar Embassies, Permanent Missions, or Consulates General abroad. It also caters to officers from related ministries designated to serve as Attachés.

The primary objective of this course is to equip Ministry of Foreign Affairs officers to effectively support and assist Ambassadors, acting as Chargé d’affaires ad interim in the Ambassador’s absence. For officers from related ministries serving as Attachés, the course aims to provide a pre-emptive understanding of embassy operations. This ensures they can more effectively protect and promote the national interests of Myanmar and its citizens.

Topics covered in the Advanced Diplomatic Course include: Myanmar’s foreign policy and other domestic policies; current international affairs developments; efforts to promote the interests of Myanmar citizens abroad; consular and visa matters; diplomatic immunities; international relations; status of Myanmar’s Special Economic Zones and foreign investment opportunities; labor and immigration issues; electoral laws; culture; and media management.

Course in Diplomacy (CID)

Course in Diplomacy is offered to newly appointed junior officers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 2012, this course has been conducted eight times up to 2024.

This 12-week course aims to familiarize new officers with the policies and duties of the State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic affairs, international relations, international law, contemporary international affairs, bilateral relations and international organizations, regional and international political and economic developments, and other general knowledge. This preparation ensures that junior officers can effectively carry out their duties upon commencing work in the Union Minister’s Office and various departments.

Course for Attachés on Foreign Service Skills (CfA)

The Course for Attaché on Foreign Service Skills (CfA) for Division Clerks, intended for those who will serve as Attachés in Myanmar Embassies, Permanent Missions, and Consulates General, has been conducted five times since 2017 up to 2024. This course provides essential knowledge and skills for practical application in embassy duties.

This course is designed for staff members (Division Clerks) undertaking their first assignments abroad in Myanmar Embassies, Permanent Missions, and Consulates General. It aims to provide them with an understanding of the operational aspects of embassies, missions, and consulates general, as well as the policy matters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic affairs, and international relations. It also helps them prepare for interactions with foreign missions, understand theoretical and practical aspects of their duties, and comprehend their allegiance and gratitude towards the State.

The eight-week Foreign Service Skills Course for Division Clerks primarily focuses on: Myanmar’s foreign policy and diplomatic relations with neighboring countries; contemporary international affairs; policies regarding the protection of national interests and the impact of domestic policies on foreign policy; consular matters; proper use of state funds (do’s and don’ts); nature of operations in foreign missions and related ministries; civil service rules; administrative and financial matters; regional affairs; labor issues; trade policy and implementation; anti-corruption matters; prevention of human trafficking and transnational crime; traditional Myanmar culture and customs; tourism promotion; rights and entitlements of migrant workers; and public relations and media management.

Course for Junior Staff on Basic Office Skills Training (CfJS)

This four-week course is designed for newly appointed junior clerks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It aims to familiarize them with office procedures in the Union Minister’s Office and various departments, civil service rules and regulations, procedures, diplomatic affairs, foreign policy, bilateral relations, regional and international affairs, consular and boundary matters, and basic administrative and financial regulations. The objective is to ensure smooth and efficient workplace operations. This course has been conducted three times up to 2025.

Language Proficiency Programs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently conducting language courses for employees in collaboration with the Yangon University of Foreign Languages, Chinese language courses in collaboration with the ASEAN-China Centre, and MOFA Language Team Conversations.

Skills development trainings, Workshops, Seminars

In addition to its core professional development training programs, the Strategic Studies and Training Department (SSTD) has also organized a range of skills development trainings, including courses on note-taking, report writing, and official Myanmar language. Furthermore, in collaboration with development partners (INGOs) such as Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and The Asia Foundation, SSTD has jointly conducted workshops and seminars on a variety of subject areas by inviting domestic and international experts. These include verbal communication and media relations for diplomats, international negotiation, meeting and event management, public speaking, e-Government practices, website security, data search and collection techniques, and management of e-library systems. These initiatives aim to enhance the functional competencies of personnel and support the efficiency of diplomatic services.

Certificate course in Basic Diplomatic Skills has been offered 46 times from 2000 to 2024. A total of approximately 8,000 participants has successfully completed these courses. Graduates interested in diplomacy from outside the organization can apply, and applicants are selected through an oral examination conducted by the department. The course duration is three months.

The course includes subjects such as diplomacy, international affairs, international relations, international law, economic subjects, and topics like negotiation and conducting international meetings.

Certificate Course in Enhanced Diplomatic Skills (EDS)

Enhanced Diplomatic Skills course has been offered seven times from 2015 to 2024. This course is open to individuals who have successfully completed the Basic Diplomatic Skills Training and are interested in diplomacy. The course duration is two months.

The eight-week course covered the subjects related to Diplomacy, Contemporary International Affairs, International Relations, International Law, Economics and General knowledge. The trainees submitted group research papers on the topics related to contemporary international affairs, global security and economic developments followed by delivering the group presentations as a part of practical training on respective research papers.