The School of International Studies’ Applied Workshops on Global Affairs

The “Applied Workshops on Global Affairs” aim at bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The Workshops introduce students to specific problems of international relations, European affairs and policies, and international security by adopting a practical approach and innovative teaching methods. Students are involved in simulations, debates, role-play, etc., by qualified instructors with direct knowledge in the relevant field.

Workshops take place each year in September and February, before the kick-off of the courses, and are open to a limited number of students, who would like to gain specific skills and experience, under the guidance of qualified practitioners, concerning the management and resolution of practical cases.

SAWGA Workshops are reserved to SIS students: only in the event of vacancies, Master's Degrees students from other UniTrento Departments and 3°-4°-5° year students from UniTrento Faculty of Law may be considered eligible to attend the Workshops.

FEBRUARY 2026 EDITION

Workshops are scheduled according to the following timetable:

Deadly legacies: Tackling landmines and explosive remnants of war in contemporary contexts

Instructor

  • Silvia Cattaneo (Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining)

Short bio 

Silvia Cattaneo is Senior Advisor on International Humanitarian Law and Policy at the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). She leads the Centre’s engagement with key multilateral instruments on weapons and explosive ordnance, including the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and provides policy advice to States and international partners on treaty implementation, governance processes and IHL-related policy developments.

Before joining the GICHD, she served as Attaché for Disarmament Affairs at the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations in Geneva. From 2008 to 2015 she was the Coordinator of the Geneva Forum, where she facilitated dialogue among governments, international organizations and civil society on both nuclear, biological and conventional weapons issues. Earlier, she spent eight years as a researcher and consultant at the Small Arms Survey, specializing in the regulation and international norms governing arms brokering.

Silvia holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Florence, and a master’s degree and a PhD in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.

Abstract of the Workshop

This workshop explores the contemporary challenges posed by landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination, and why it continues to obstruct civilian protection, access to livelihoods, and sustainable post-conflict recovery. It begins with an overview of today’s global contamination trends and introduces the main international frameworks that regulate the issue: international humanitarian law, relevant disarmament treaties, human rights law, and the core technical standards that guide field operations.

Building on this legal and policy foundation, the workshop examines how mine action – also known as humanitarian demining – works in practice. Particular attention is given to land release processes, victim assistance and risk education as three of the core pillars of mine action, highlighting the interplay between technical realities on the ground and the political, legal and institutional requirements that shape them.

The workshop also situates mine action within broader global agendas on humanitarian response, peace processes, sustainable development and protection of the environment. Through concrete examples, it illustrates how mine action contributes not only to saving lives but also to enabling early recovery, reconstruction and longer-term stabilisation.

The second part of the workshop includes a practical component designed to translate the concepts discussed into applied analysis. This may involve a scenario-based exercise, a role-playing activity, or a collective problem-solving task. The aim is to expose students to how seemingly abstract analytical skills translate into concrete decisions, trade-offs and institutional positioning in real mine action contexts. 

Calendar

Tue. 17 February 2026, 9-12 AM

Wed. 18 February 2026, 9-12 AM

Room Multimediale 1

How To Design Better Services For NGOs And Not For Profit Organisations

Instructor

  • Clelia Calabro (Professional Facilitator)

Short bio

A former student of the School of International Studies, then professional in the space of Innovation and Employer Branding, with international experience in the UK, Switzerland and Italy, Clelia has a passion for guiding people from chaos to clarity with her facilitation skills. Since 2022, she teaches graduate students to prepare strategically for a competitive job market, with the course Pitch Yourself at the School of Innovation - UNITN. Previously, she helped founders design exciting job descriptions for young audiences with her business The Rebel Company.

Abstract of the Workshop

Ever wondered what it takes to go from idea to project, and deliver a great experience for the users of your organisation? Take a sneak peek into the world of creativity and join How to Design Better Services For NGOs And Not For Profit Organisations. In this workshop you will find: practical case studies, hands-on activities, professional guidance, and the opportunity to collaborate towards a shared, professional goal. Get ready to work in groups with first class design methodologies, embrace a solution oriented mindset and learn to develop ideas that people will love.

This workshop is for you if:

● you are curious to learn about the process of ideas development

● you are eager to grow in a collaborative context

● you want to gain hands-on professional experience

Your learning outcomes:

● Awareness of the creative demands in the not for profit world

● A work project for your professional portfolio

● Collaboration techniques

Calendar

Thu. 19 February 2026, 9-12 AM

Fri. 20 February 2026, 9-12 AM

Room Multimediale 1

Career Development Workshop

Instructor

  • Soraya Johaar (human resources expert)

Short bio 

Soraya Johaar is a human resources expert and provides young professionals guidance and training on career development from CV/PHP/Cover Letter writing to job search and how to prepare for the Interview process. Soraya currently works as a freelance consultant providing career support trainings to MA students of the Human Rights Programme and the summer school of Peacekeeping training with Scuola Sant’Anna in Pisa, Italy. In addition, for the past five years she worked with the Aseri MA programmes in Development and International Relations, Sacre Coeur University in Milan, Italy and Trento University. In her last post as a Career Development Officer at UNESCO, Paris, she worked with consultants to develop several career support training modules. Her work took her to several field offices – Jakarta, Delhi, Nairobi, and Montevideo. At UNHQ in New York, Soraya worked as a Consultant with DFS/DPKO on a specialised training project, the Senior Management Administrative Resource Training (SMART), aimed at training select staff members to take on more senior roles in Administration.

Abstract of the Workshop

This two-day, practice-oriented workshop is designed to equip students with the essential tools and confidence needed to navigate the competitive application and interview processes for international organizations and related professional fields. Through a combination of guided instruction, hands-on exercises, and personalized feedback, participants will gain a clear understanding of how to present their qualifications effectively and perform successfully in interviews.

Day 1 focuses on developing strong application materials, with particular attention to crafting impactful CVs and tailored Cover Letters or Motivation Statements. Using real examples submitted by students, the instructor will demonstrate effective structuring, formatting, and content strategies, highlighting common pitfalls and best practices. Participants will learn how to articulate their strengths, experiences, and competencies in a way that aligns with the expectations of international employers and reflects their unique professional profiles.

Day 2 centers on interview preparation and performance. Students will explore key interviewing techniques, with an emphasis on the competency-based format widely used by the United Nations and similar organizations. A short video from a UN expert will introduce the principles behind this method, helping participants understand how to analyze questions, structure their responses, and provide evidence-based examples. The session includes mock interviews conducted in class, offering students the opportunity to practice in a supportive environment and receive constructive, real-time feedback.

Following the workshop, the students will be able to send their documents to the instructor for review.

Calendar

Thu. 19 February 2026, 2-5 PM

Fri. 20 February 2026, 2-5 PM

Room Multimediale 1

Application (8 - 26 January 2026)

Each workshop is limited to 30 participants, and registration is mandatory. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. If we receive a high number of applications, we will prioritize each student's participation in at least one workshop.

LINK APPLICATION

Please note that, as registration is open to a limited number of students, joining the workshops implies the assumption of a commitment to participate. Acceptable justifications for absence only include illness or other compelling reasons.

Please note that participation in workshops does not constitute a valid excuse for absence in other teaching activities. Students engaged in simultaneous and incompatible teaching activities (e.g. crash courses, compulsory language courses) are requested not to attend the workshops.

SEPTEMBER 2025 EDITION

Workshops are scheduled according to the following timetable:

Who is a refugee? Refugee status determination (RSD) in practice

Instructor

  • José H. Fischel de Andrade - Adjunct Professor at the Humboldt University of Berlin 

Short bio 

Doctor José H. Fischel de Andrade read Law (LLB), International Law (LLM), International Relations (MSt) and History of International Relations (PhD) at the universities of Brasília, São Paulo, and Cambridge and is a former Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The Graduate Institute (HEID) in Geneva. He teaches part-time in Berlin (Humboldt) and enjoyed implementing the fruits of his teaching and research in challenging areas: he has served in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in various positions and in all continents from 1995 to 2025.

Abstract of the Workshop

This seminar focuses on the process to assess and decide whether an asylum-seeker is or is not a refugee.

On the first day it examines both the protection regime pertaining to refugees and the refugee definition enshrined in the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

On the second and final day it adopts a ‘hands-on’ methodology, namely a case study on refugee status determination (RSD). The case study simulates an RSD procedure before an eligibility board. Group members will play the roles of the asylum-seeker’s lawyers, State lawyers, and adjudicators (RSD board)..

Calendar

  • Monday, 15 of September, 14:00 - 17:00 - Room Laboratorio multimediale 1, Palazzo Prodi
  • Tuesday, 16 of September, 14:00 - 17:00 - Room Laboratorio multimediale 1, Palazzo Prodi

The EU as a Geopolitical Actor

Instructor

  • Stefania Benaglia - independent consultant and advisor on EU foreign policy

Short bio

Stefania Benaglia is an expert in EU foreign policy, with a focus on EU–Asia relations and the Global Gateway. An Italian national based in Brussels since 2008, she currently works as an independent consultant and advisor on EU foreign policy, providing strategic insights to public and private sector clients. She most recently served as Head of Foreign Policy at CEPS, one of Europe’s leading think tanks, and previously held positions at the European Commission and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Stefania has lived and worked also in India (Friedrich Ebert Stiftung), Israel (International Institute of Counter-Terrorism), the United States (Italian Embassy in Washington D.C.; Johns Hopkins SAIS; San Francisco State University), France (Sciences Po Grenoble), and Spain (Leonardo da Vinci programme). She holds a Master’s in International Relations and Strategic Studies from Johns Hopkins University (SAIS), a Master’s from the University of Pavia, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Bologna.

Abstract of the Workshop

This intensive 6-hour seminar explores the European Union’s emerging role as a global security actor, with a focus on the Indo-Pacific—a region central to the 21st century’s geopolitical realignment.

The first session (3 hours) offers a theoretical and policy-oriented overview of the EU’s foreign policy and strategic approach, including its Indo-Pacific Strategy, trade and connectivity initiatives (e.g., Global Gateway), maritime security cooperation, and relations with regional partners such as India, ASEAN, and Japan. It also critically examines the EU’s balancing act between economic interests, normative agendas, and growing great-power rivalry. Special attention will be given to the implications of EU rearmament and defence industrial policy, and how these developments reshape the Union’s external action and strategic autonomy.

The second session (3 hours) consists of a hands-on simulation where students will draft a 2040 EU Indo-Pacific Strategy through scenario building and role play, assuming the positions of various EU institutions, member states, and strategic partners. This exercise will develop strategic foresight, negotiation skills, and a deeper understanding of policymaking under uncertainty.

By the end of the seminar, students will gain both conceptual and practical insight into the EU’s foreign policy machinery, its evolving security posture, and its role in shaping a multipolar world order.

Calendar

  • Tuesday, 16 September, 09:00 - 12:00 - Room Laboratorio multimediale 2, Palazzo Prodi
  • Wednesday, 17 September, 09:00 - 12:00 - Room Laboratorio multimediale 2, Palazzo Prodi