2027 Year’s Program

The next International Politics and Diplomacy for Health for Emerging Leaders – Executive Programme will take place between April and July 2027.

The program comprises of five online workshops, and a five-day masterclass in Sweden. We deliver the program around a practitioner-to-practitioner model rather than traditional teaching - bringing some of the most experienced leaders in the global health sphere together with the course participants. 

The program is built on the sharing of real present or past personal experiences from navigating in regional or global political contexts for health (including storytelling, debates and peer-to-peer learning). Participants will also be guided by relevant reading material (books and short articles) as well as existing short online video sessions and podcasts. 

After completion a certificate will be issued jointly by Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm School of Economics.

The participants will be part of a growing network of colleagues, the Community of Health Diplomacy Practitioners, for ongoing exchange and collaboration.

Learning objectives 

The Executive Programme is designed to cover four important dimensions and competences for health diplomacy based on the framework developed by the Health Diplomacy Institutional Network:

  1. Political analysis/insights and diplomacy skills
  • Recognize and navigate political dynamics and power structures across diverse contexts.
  • Demonstrate awareness and understanding of formal and informal political decision-making processes, including the powers and influence of various stakeholders.
  • Apply negotiation skills and strategies to build relationships and foster collaboration effectively.
  • Integrate health diplomacy priorities with broader political objectives to align and advance shared goals.
  • Navigate the intersection of global health and foreign policy with domestic and regional priorities, ensuring coordinated approaches.
  1. Strategic decision making and transformative leadership
  • Demonstrate strong leadership skills and drive change and innovation.
  • Assess and take calculated risks in complex environments.
  • Uphold ethical principles and values.
  • Use data and evidence to shape and influence high-level decisions.
  • Manage uncertainty effectively and adapt to evolving challenges.
  1. Cross-culture and cross sector communication
  • Build trust, nurture relationships, and form effective networks across sectoral, geographical, cultural, and political boundaries.
  • Leverage health to influence political and policy-related decision-making.
  • Understand how the private sector impacts and can contribute to political and health policy decisions.
  1. Coalition building and advocacy
  • Understand when, how, and what to communicate.
  • Engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including governments, international agencies, and communities.
  • Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and adaptability in multicultural settings. 

Participant profile and eligibility criteria 

The program enrolls mid-career professionals from all regions of the world and has a geographically representative and gender-balanced mix of participants from the public and private sectors and civil society. 

As an Executive Programme the participants have the following background and qualifications: 

  • specific experience from having managed or contributed to political processes of relevance to health at regional or global level. 
  • 7-10 years of relevant and professional working experience from either public or private sector, civil society and international organisations and foundations. 
  • proven commitment to and knowledge about health trends and improvements. 
  • excellent knowledge about the international system of relevance to health. 
  • strong motivation for how this program will contribute to their continued career development, and ability to meet the required time commitment. 

Program timeline 

The online workshops will take place between April - July 2027 and run for 2 hours each (13.00 -15.00 CEST). 

The masterclass will be in person only and take place close to Stockholm and start at Monday lunch and finish Friday lunch (14-18 June 2027). 

Nomination and application process 

Applications to the International Politics and Diplomacy for Health for Emerging Leaders -Executive Programme are accepted by nomination only. Senior colleagues and leaders within relevant organizations will be invited to nominate potential fellows who meet the program’s criteria. Information about the nomination period will be available shortly.  

Direct applications from individuals will not be considered. Once nominations have been received, selected candidates who fulfil the eligibility requirements will be invited to submit a full application. The nomination form and further instructions will be provided to invited nominators during the nomination period. 

For more information or questions please contact Erik Pettersson at Karolinska Institutet (erik.pettersson.2@ki.se) 

Cost 

The program participation fee is SEK 95,000 (approximately USD 10,000).  

  • Participants from high-income countries working in public sector and in civil society can if needed receive a discounted rate of SEK 19,000 (approximately USD 2,000). 
  • Participants from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) will receive a discounted rate of SEK 9,500 (approximately USD 1,000). 

The fee includes all costs for the in-person masterclass (accommodation, meals, etc.). Travel costs are not included in the fee. 

Participation must be supported by and come through a legal entity - an organisation, company or the equivalent. Private payment from individuals is unfortunately not possible. The organisation (e.g. the employer) supporting the participant must be specified on the application form. 

The Executive Program is offered as contract education, in accordance with the Ordinance (SFS 2002:760) on Contract Education at Universities and University Colleges, and the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education's directions for Contract Education at Universities and University Colleges (HSVFS 2003:3). 

Program management 

The program will be coordinated and managed by the Department of Global Health at Karolinska Institutet, in collaboration with the House of Governance and Public Policy at the Stockholm School of Economics 

The program is managed by a team consisting of:  

Anders Nordström, Program Director 
Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm School of Economics  

Gunilla Carlsson, Program Co-Director  
Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm School of Economics  

Clara Luthman, Program Manager 
Karolinska Institutet  

Karl Wennberg, Professor 
Stockholm School of Economics  

Tobias Alfvén, Professor 
Karolinska Institutet  

Vijaylakshmi Prabhu, Administrative Assistant 
Karolinska Institutet