Since 2021, the Permanent Mission of Italy to the OSCE, in collaboration with the Italian universities and research institutes participating in the “OSCE National Table”, has been organizing cycles of videoconference seminars in English, organized in lectures on the functioning of the OSCE and interactive simulations of case studies. The initiative aims to promote understanding of the role and activities of the OSCE and to strengthen cooperation between Italian diplomacy and academia. With its pragmatic approach, the cycle also provided an opportunity to deepen aspects and instruments of multilateral diplomacy in the specific context of the OSCE.
A total of about 60 students participated in the 2025 edition, mostly enrolled in master’s degrees in international relations with a focus on human rights, from 14 universities (University of Perugia, Roma Tre University, University of Siena, University of Pavia, University of Bologna, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, University of Florence, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, University of Trento, Bocconi University of Milan, LUISS-Guido Carli, University of Trieste, University of San Marino, University of Padua). Since its launch in 2021, more than 300 students have benefited from the training modules of this training opportunity.
The lecturers come from different professional backgrounds: diplomats from the Permanent Mission of Italy to the OSCE and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italian officials working at the OSCE, other experts from the Organization and academics. For the 2026 cycle, the following lecturers have offered their contribution:
- Carlo Giovannone, Senior Policy Support Officer, CPC
- Andrea Salvoni, Senior Adviser, Office of the Secretary General
- Alessia Vedano, Adviser on Anti Trafficking issues, ODIHR
- Cecilia Lagomarsino, Media Freedom Project Officer RFoM
- Eleonora Lotti, Director, HCNM
- Mauro Puzzo, Head of Rule of Law and Human Rights Department, OSCE Mission to Serbia
- Sabrina Salis, Chief of section, OSCE Mission to Kosovo
- Anna Di Domenico, Communication and Press Officer, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
- Prof. Andrea De Guttry, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna di Pisa
- Francesco Mapelli, Project Assistant, Activities relating to Military Aspects of Security
- Olena Dobrunik, Associate Project Officer, Economic Governance Unit
- Priska Anna Babuin, Human Rights Adviser, ODIHR
- Anastasia Fusco, Project Manager – Gender issues, OSCE
- Tarana Baghirova, Office of Special Rep/Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, OSCE
- Umberto Severini, Head, Strategic Police Matters Unit, TNTD
- Giulia Manconi, Senior Energy Security Adviser, OSCE Secretariat
- Colin Mccullough, Director, Senior Planning and Co-ordination officer, OSCE Programme office in Bishkek
- Mariam Kakkam, Director for Human Resources, OSCE Secretariat
- Daniele Pancheri, Senior Operational Adviser OSCE Secretariat