General information

Overview

The Regional Academy on the United Nations (RAUN) is an international, multi-disciplinary education program, which trains young scholars in issues related to the United Nations and international cooperation. RAUN aims to provide participants with in-depth knowledge about the UN and its functions, to raise their cultural awareness and openness, and to offer a forum for networking and academic exchange.

The Academy follows a unique format combining lectures and workshops with practical hands-on experiences. The program consists of two in-person sessions and two online sessions that cover various topics of relevance. All lectures are given by high-ranking experts and practitioners who also share their rich experience with participants in an informal setting. 

Apart from their coursework during the sessions, participants work on research projects in cooperation with different UN Organizations and other international organizations (such as OSCE) allowing them to contribute to finding innovative solutions to contemporary global challenges. Through their group work and social activities, participants can form strong networks with like-minded peers and experts from various fields in an environment that fosters diversity, tolerance, cultural learning, and understanding. During the program, students get the opportunity to experience first-hand the UN institutions in Vienna and international organizations in other countries allowing them to interact directly with experts, practitioners, and diplomats.  

The Regional Academy was established in January 2012 in Vienna, Austria, in close collaboration with the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna, the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), the Czech United Nations Association, as well as different partner universities, such as the University of Economics in Prague (CZ) and the University of Szeged (HU). Other partners include the University of Vienna, Diplomatic Academy Vienna, Central European University Budapest, Webster University Vienna, Comenius University Bratislava, International Security and Conflict Analysis Network, and Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, among others.

Since its creation, RAUN has trained over 300 young scholars who have continued their endeavors in academia, government institutions, the UN system, and other international organizations. The United Nations Secretariat endorsed the Academy through the Former UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, and the United Nations Information Service (UNIS Vienna) as well as by the Hague Institute for Global Justice and by the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.



Workshop Sessions

The nine-month-long program consists of two in-person sessions and two online sessions that include several lectures and workshops linked to the RAUN theme of the particular year. The lectures and workshops are given by experts and practitioners in their respective fields. Apart from coursework, the sessions also include teamwork, networking, and social activities that foster group dynamics, personal development, and intercultural learning and understanding. The final session of the program takes place at the UN Headquarters at the Vienna International Center, where the RAUN participants present the outcomes of their research projects. 

RAUN 2024-2025 Sessions:

2 in-person sessions (3 days each): 27-29 November 2024 (Barcelona) and 9-11 July 2025 (Vienna)

2 online sessions (half a day each): dates to be announced.

NOTE: For successful completion of the Academy participants are strictly required to participate in all sessions and to fully contribute to the final research outcome. 


Research projects

Alongside the four sessions, participants work on research projects in small teams with a maximum of four members in close collaboration with partnering UN agencies and other International Organizations and their sub-units. The research topics are defined by the Organizations and are based on their current interests and activities they perform as part of their mandate. The research topics are linked to the yearly theme of the Academy, which addresses an issue of global relevance. This year, students will work on topics related to the theme: “Pact for the Future: A New Order of International Cooperation that Delivers a Better Present and Safeguards the Future?”. Each topic is supervised by one or two UN/OSCE staff members who guide and support the student group in their research activities.

Before the start of the Academy, participants receive an overview of the available research topics and the partnering UN Agencies and other International Organizations. They are invited to an online survey, in which they can indicate their interests in the different topics and provide some further background information about their work and academic experiences. Based on this information, we assign the participants a topic and team, who they will be working within the following months.

As part of the Academy, participants write a group research paper of 12-15 pages which will be published on the RAUN homepage. The paper must follow RAUN guidelines, which are provided to the participants in the first session. Participants present the outcomes of their research to the representatives of their partnering UN Organizations and others during the final session of RAUN at the Vienna International Center.  



Participant benefits

The Regional Academy offers its participants several unique benefits and opportunities:

  • Gaining practical knowledge about the UN system and international cooperation.

  • Supporting the work of the UN in finding solutions to global challenges

  • Learning from high-ranking UN & government officials

  • Meeting like-minded peers and networking with practitioners

  • Acquiring cultural awareness and understanding

  • Improving research and presentation skills

  • Developing strong interpersonal skills

  • Publishing research projects

  • Certificates of successful completion

  • … and many more

Application process and eligibility

The program is open to Masters and PhD students from all academic fields who are interested in topics related to international cooperation, development, and the work of international organizations. Eligible candidates are invited for an interview in which they are assessed based on their competencies and interest in the United Nations system, their research experience, and their personality. Applicants are required to show strong discipline, eagerness to learn, cultural openness, and other personality traits needed to perform with excellence in an international and multi-disciplinary environment.

Applicants are required to fulfill the following criteria:

  • By the time of application, be enrolled in a Masters or PhD program (from all academic fields);

  • At least basic knowledge of and interest in the UN system and topics of the RAUN program;

  • Very good knowledge of English (written and spoken) and ability to write academic papers;

  • Ability and willingness to work and learn in a multinational and multicultural group; 

  • Be between 21 and 35 years of age by the time of applying;

  • Be able to combine the Academy’s program with their studies and other responsibilities;

  • Be able to attend all the sessions and invest sufficient time in the research projects (on average, 3-5 hours per week).

All applicants are required to send the following documents when applying (strictly in this order!):

  • Completed expression of interest form; 

  • Recent CV (2 pages) in English;

  • Motivation letter (one page) in English;

  • Transcript of records/overview of university grades in English. Please also attach a note that explains the grading system in the country you are studying (e.g. in Germany grade 1 is A (the best mark), while in Poland grade 5 is A). 

  • Sample of a written academic paper (preferably in English). This could be an extract from a BA or MA thesis, a module paper, a paper submitted for a conference, a proposal for a Masters or PhD thesis, etc. The sample should not be less than 1 page and longer than 20 pages;

  • 2 names and email addresses of professors or former employers as references. The listed persons may be contacted to obtain further information about the candidate.

  • Scholarship application form, if you are applying for a scholarship. 

Required documents should be sent to raun-communications@ra-un.org

Application deadline: 21 September 2024 at 23.59 CEST

Note: All documents should be put together and sent as one single PDF file strictly in the order presented above. The name of the file should be “Country_first name_last name_RAUN application.pdf”. This means, the country where you are applying from (e.g. Austria or Czech Republic), your first and last name, RAUN application.

(e.g. Slovakia_Jana_Novakova_RAUN application.pdf)

Fees and Scholarships

Please note that a non-refundable registration fee of 200€ is required from selected participants. The Regional Academy is a non-profit organization operated by volunteers with very little funding. The fees are therefore used to cover the running costs of the Academy: software fees, email fees, transportation to and from sessions of the organizers, and organization of other activities for participants (e.g. guided tours at the UN headquarters in Vienna). 

RAUN Participants also need to cover all their transportation costs to and from sessions, accommodation, and meals, unless otherwise stated. These costs include: 

  • Travel costs to and from Barcelona, and to and from Vienna.

  • Transportation costs in Barcelona and Vienna.

  • Accommodation costs for 4 nights in Barcelona and Vienna. We try to facilitate homestays with other participants to further reduce the costs, but it is only possible if we have enough participants willing to host their fellow students. 

  • Meals in Barcelona and Vienna. You are always welcome to bring your meals to the session’s venues. 

Some sending universities provide funding for some or all of the costs. Students are encouraged to inform themselves about funding opportunities and apply for available grants at their universities, local governments, and other institutions. 

For the 2024-25 Regional Academy, a limited number of scholarships in the form of a tuition fee waiver are available. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please fill in a scholarship form and submit it together with your application. The form can be found on our application page. Please also state whether you are willing to participate in the Academy even if you do not receive the scholarship. The scholarships are given based on merit. The Regional Academy is a non-profit organization operated by volunteers with very little funding, hence we can only provide limited financial support to our participants. Please only apply for a scholarship if you have no other means to finance your participation in the Academy! 

Selection of Applicants

Phase one of the selection process involves a screening based on the participation requirements listed above. We advise applicants to read the requirements carefully and only apply when they are sure that they fulfill them. In case of doubt, please contact us.

During phase two, applicants who fulfill the general requirements are evaluated based on their CVs, motivation letters, university grades, and the submitted research paper. During this phase, applicants are shortlisted and invited for personal interviews.

Phase three – the final part of the selection – involves a competency-based interview with applicants during which candidates’ credentials are assessed. After the interview, successful candidates are informed and provided with further information about the program (by late October). 


Data privacy statement

Please note that, by submitting your application, personal information and relevant supporting documents as listed above, you are consenting to RAUN holding and processing the submitted data for the purpose of selecting suitable candidates and maintaining a mailing list of applicants for RAUN purposes only.