Ceris - Official

06/10/2026

CERIS Open Days 2026: Explore Today’s Global Challenges from Oct 16th to Nov 14th, 2026
Here is the Open Days programme: https://www.ceris.be/blog/ceris-open-days-2026-explore-todays-global-challenges-from-oct-16th-to-nov-14th-2026/
>> Registration for the open days is free but compulsory: [email protected]
>> Places are limited; first come, first served.
>> Further information on our Executive programmes: www.ceris.be
>> Registrations for October 2026 are still open.
Join us from October 16th to November 14th for a series of exceptional courses and conferences led by internationally renowned experts in geopolitics, economics, international relations and diplomacy.
From the future of alliances and the new global distribution of power, to development aid, Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, Grand Strategy, Digital Diplomacy, Tech Geopolitics, Digital propaganda, Economic Diplomacy, Economic Development, our programme dives into the key questions shaping our world.
With speakers from top universities and key experts, this is your chance to learn, debate, and connect.

14/09/2026

Partial Scholarships for Young Professionals are available for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. CERIS offers 10 Partial Scholarships for Young Professionals who have achieved outstanding grades in their previous master’s degree and have less than 5 years of professional experience. CERIS will apply the Partial Scholarship directly to the candidate's tuition fees, offering up to a 40% reduction. Interested candidates must submit their application by email to [email protected] before September 28, 2026. More information on our executive programmes: www.ceris.be

11/09/2026

On the occasion of the Opening Lecture of the CERIS-Diplomatic School of Brussels, Mr. François Heisbourg (IISS - London, FRS - Paris) will deliver the lecture on “The world in transition: the new global distribution of power” on Friday October 16th, 2026. Mr. François Heisbourg is Senior Adviser for Europe for the London-based "International Institute for Strategic Studies" - IISS, as well as Special Adviser for the Paris-based "Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique" - FRS. During his distinguished career, Mr. François Heisbourg has served in government, industry and academia. He has made notable contributions to French defence policymaking, including the 2006 White Paper, 'La France face au terrorisme', as well as defence and national security White Papers under President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007–08 and President François Hollande in 2012–13. He has also sat on consultative bodies for the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament; the International Commission on the Balkans and the European Commission. He was chairman of the IISS from 2002 to 2018, and from 1998 to 2018, he chaired the Foundation Council of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. In 2015–17, he was a Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Bosch Academy in Berlin. He has written extensively on defence and security questions, and is a frequent contributor to specialist and mainstream media.

16/08/2026

October 2026 Intake: A 15% discount is offered to groups of at least 3 applicants from the same organisation or company.
Advance Your Career in International Affairs. In a fast-changing global environment, professionals in diplomacy, international relations, and global governance must continuously evolve. Since 1985, CERIS has been empowering diplomats, civil servants, NGO leaders, and international executives with high-level executive education designed to meet today’s global challenges. Testimonials: https://www.ceris.be/about-us/testimonials/
Programmes starting October 2026:
• Executive Master in International Politics (Certificate -1 year / 60 ECTS): https://www.ceris.be/.../executive-master-in.../
• Executive Master in Governance & Development Policy (Certificate- 1 year / 60 ECTS): https://www.ceris.be/.../executive-master-in-development.../
📅 Flexible format: Weekend courses (Friday evenings & Saturdays)
💻 Blended and full-distance learning available worldwide
Short Trainings:
• NEW: "AI for Policymakers: Foundation . Governance . Geopolitics" - No technical background of AI is required: https://www.ceris.be/course/ai-for-policymakers/
• Strategic Negotiation : https://www.ceris.be/course/strategic-negotiation/
💡 Why CERIS?
->An international institution dedicated to professionals, specialising in international relations, development, and diplomacy
->Over 40 years of experience in continuing professional education
->Courses delivered by renowned professors and leading experts from international institutions
->A prestigious global network of participants and alumni across 5 continents
->Programs accessible worldwide through a Distance Learning Programme
->Located in Brussels, at the heart of diplomacy, home to key institutions such as the European Union and NATO
📢 Applications are now open: https://www.ceris.be/apply/
🔗 Learn more: www.ceris.be
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11/08/2026

Speech by M. Chinedu Blaise Nze, the Valedictorian of the Executive Master in Governance & Development Policy of the 2024-2025 Academic Year. CERIS Graduation Ceremony 26/06/2026. The picture gallery is available at https://www.ceris.be/portfolio/graduation-ceremony-2024-2025

24/07/2026

The unforeseen consequences of the NATO Ankara summit by Nicholas Williams (Vice President of CERIS), European Leadership Network, 16/07/2026 :

Despite the success of the Ankara summit, the US is gradually decoupling itself from Europe in ways that will have profound consequences for European security and strategic stability. As ELN Senior Associate Fellow Nicholas Williams writes, NATO will not collapse in a single dramatic moment; it is s...

24/07/2026

The death of the ‘global cop’: why NATO’s Ankara summit is burying out-of-area operations by Nicholas Williams (Vice President of CERIS), European Leadership Network, 30/06/2026 :

What are the consequences stemming from the seeming end of NATO’s global role? ELN Senior Associate Fellow Nicholas Williams looks back at two decades of NATO's

06/07/2026

Outstanding Thesis (Academic Year 2024-2025- MIP) by Robine Arnoys. Topic: “What explains the preferences of the main stakeholders towards the European Deforestation Regulation?”. Ms. Robine Arnoys is a Belgian professional, currently working in Antwerp for the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International as environmental expert. She previously obtained a Master's degree in Environmental, Health, and Safety Management, as well as an additional degree in Sustainable Development. Her previous professional experience includes working as safety & security advisor and sustainability product specialist. Her thesis focuses on the EU Deforestation Regulation and investigates the perceptions of the different stakeholders and the reasons behind their positioning towards the regulation. The purpose of this is to gain a more in-depth understanding of the factors that contribute to the success of sustainability-related policies in achieving their objectives. https://www.ceris.be/personnel/robine-arnoys/

05/07/2026

Mr. Amaury van Kesteren was awarded Alfred Cahen Prize (Academic Year 2024-2025) for his thesis “Why was European influence in Niger vulnerable to collapse following the 2023 coup, despite long-term diplomatic and development engagement?”
Amaury van Kesteren works at the intersection of information systems, public-sector transformation and international development cooperation. He currently works at Möbius where he advises Belgian public entities, on information-management frameworks, governance models, data-driven decision processes and AI-enabled transformation. He is a reservist for the Belgian Marine.
He previously worked in development cooperation with Bluesquare, where he contributed to the design and implementation of health information systems and monitoring frameworks in West and Central Africa. In that role, he advised ministries and international organisations on data strategies, monitoring and evaluation, and digital transformation. https://www.ceris.be/personnel/amaury-van-kesteren/

05/07/2026

Outstanding Thesis (Academic Year 2024-2025) by Blaise Chinedu Nze (Major of Promotion-MADEV). Topic: “The Impact of Multi-Ethnicity on Aid Effectiveness: A Case Study of an Infrastructure Project in Nigeria” Born in Cameroon and based in Leuven, Belgium, Chinedu Blaise Nze is an academic researcher and development strategist whose work bridges education, technology, and governance. He holds a Master’s degree from KU Leuven’s Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, where he completed a dissertation on students’ perceptions of Generative AI in academic writing. He also earned an Executive Master’s in Governance and Development Policy from CERIS–ULB Diplomatic School of Brussels, strengthening his expertise in global governance and policy analysis. Chinedu is a member of the Chartered Institute of Development Studies and Administration (CIDSAN), Nigeria, and holds professional certificates in AI Governance and Salesforce Administration, reflecting his commitment to ethical technology adoption and digital systems strengthening.

He is the founder of an educational consultancy that supports students, researchers, and civil‑society organisations in academic writing, international study applications, programme design, and donor‑engagement strategy. His work integrates analytical rigor with practical capacity‑building, enabling organisations to strengthen internal systems, communicate impact, and secure sustainable partnerships. With experience spanning academic research, NGO training design, and AI‑focused consultancy, Chinedu brings a multidimensional perspective to contemporary challenges in education, governance, and development. https://www.ceris.be/personnel/chinedu-blaise-nze/