UNITAR Online Catalogue
Online Executive Diploma in Skills for the Future and Employability 2026
Multilateral Diplomacy
Background
With the rise of everyday use of artificial intelligence (AI) and rapid advancements in technology, it is vital to understand what is needed in the current and future job market to ensure employability. In line with the Pact for the Future and UN 2.0, this programme responds to the need for inclusive, future-ready capacity-building. It supports individuals in navigating uncertainty through futures thinking, strategic foresight, innovation, digital transformation and lifelong learning. Diplomats, UN employees and those working in areas related to government, international affairs, and diplomacy are understanding now more than ever the need to reskill and upskill to most effectively do their work within the changing landscape.
The World Economic Forum (WEF)’s “The Future of Jobs Report 2025” projects that by 2030, 170 million jobs will be created, however 92 million jobs will be displaced. The report highlights a shift toward tech-intensive, human-centred, and sustainability-focused competencies. Top rising technical skills include AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, and technology literacy. Alongside technical skills, the report also predicts that honing certain soft skills will lead to higher employability as well. These include analytical thinking, creativity, resilience, flexibility, leadership, social influence, curiosity, and lifelong learning. These findings reinforce the growing need for tech-intensive and human-centred competencies, as highlighted in UN 2.0’s quintet of change.
The Online Executive Diploma in Skills for the Future and Employability offers flexible and inclusive learning pathways through micro-credentials, aligning with the UN’s emphasis on scalable and transferable skills development. Participants will be taught by UNITAR’s in-house experts, comprised of high-level academic experts and practitioners.
Event Objectives
This programme aims to develop and strengthen participants’ capacities and skills to best prepare them for the future of the job market and increase employability for a longstanding and successful international career. By engaging in evidence-based and forward-thinking learning ecosystems to gain both technical expertise and human-centred skills, participants will be able to stay competitive in an evolving job market.
Learning Objectives
After completing the Executive Diploma, participants should be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the global trends shaping the future job market, including digital transformation, innovation and sustainability, and their impact on employability;
- Develop essential technical skills;
- Strengthen crucial soft skills such as leadership, communication, and informed decision-making utilizing futures thinking;
- Apply new and existing skills like strategic foresight and evidence-based planning, and integrate behavioral insights to support inclusive and future-ready decision-making in diverse professional contexts.
Content and Structure
The Online Executive Diploma in Skills for the Future and Employability is comprised of 10 live e-workshops (5 focused on technical skills and 5 focused on human-centred skills), also offered individually as micro-credentials. To be awarded the Online Executive Diploma certificate, participants are required to successfully complete 8 of the e-workshops (4 human-centred skills and 4 technical skills), attend an obligatory introductory e-workshop, and submit a final dissertation.
The e-workshops* available to participants are:
- Human-Centred Skills
- Human-Centred Leadership
- Applying Strategic Foresight to Address Global Uncertainty
- Understanding Human Behaviour to Increase Impact
- Problem-solving through Systems Thinking
- The Power of Creative Thinking for Innovation
- Technical Skills:
- AI and Digital Tools for Multilateral Work
- AI and Sustainability in Global Governance
- Big Data and Evidence-Based Decision Making
- Modern Information Security and Risk
- Security Awareness and Cyber Threats
The respective e-workshops will be up to 3 hours long each, conducted via the platform Zoom and will be facilitated by an expert on the topic. The material presented in the e-workshop will be interactive and assignments will be given for participants to further advance their knowledge.
The final requirement to obtain the Online Executive Diploma will be the submission of a research paper of between 3,000 and 5,000 words.
Participants of the Online Executive Diploma will also have the option to participate in a group coaching session and individual coaching sessions delivered by a certified coach. During these sessions, participants will have the opportunity to discuss pathways for their personal and professional development, as well as employment opportunities within the UN system. In addition, they will have the chance to receive feedback and practical guidance on how to strengthen their CV, PHP, and P11 form or motivation letter in order to apply for roles within the UN. Individual coaching sessions will be 1 hour long and tailored to participants’ specific career goals.
*e-workshops listed are subject to change
Methodology
The Executive Diploma is entirely online. Courses are moderated by senior international experts and place an emphasis on online discussions and interactive learning. The moderators selected by UNITAR are experts in the relevant fields and regularly teach within the framework of UNITAR’s Division for Multilateral Diplomacy.
Activities include direct engagement with top experts to explore and discuss key topics, as well as opportunities to exchange knowledge and experiences with fellow participants. All activities are conducted in an engaging virtual environment designed to foster collaboration, peer learning, and practical application.
This approach ensures that participants not only gain substantive knowledge, but also develop relevant, real-world skills and expand their professional networks across a global community of practitioners.
Targeted Audience
The Online Executive Diploma is designed for government officials, diplomats, private sector specialists, practitioners in the international arena, academics, students or any interested participants who are seeking to adapt to evolving global dynamics and strengthen employability through agility, innovation and data-driven strategic thinking.
Additional Information
If you register for the Executive Online Diploma, you are not required to register for the separate e-workshops. Instead, please send us an email at mdp-elearning [at] unitar.org (mdp-elearning[at]unitar[dot]org) before the start of an e-workshop to confirm that you would like to take the course as part of the Diploma.
UNITAR is a non-accrediting institution, and as such, diplomas that may be awarded by UNITAR carry no accreditation recognition.
Admission requirements
There are no specific admission requirements. Participants who wish to enrol in one particular e-workshop without being awarded the Executive Diploma can still do so.
General requirements
- Have a good command of the English language
- Be computer literate
Technical requirements
UNITAR recommends the following as a minimum in hardware and software to take our e-workshops. Please consult your Network Administrator or Systems person to ensure that you have the following:
- Platform: Windows 10 or 11; MacOS 10.15 Catalina, 11 Big Sur, and 12 Monterey; Linux
- Software: Zoom, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office (Windows or Mac) or Open Office
- Browser: Microsoft Edge; Safari; Google Chrome; t works better with Firefox 3.6 or higher. Note that JavaScript, Cookies and Pop-ups must be enabled.
Basic system requirements:
- Stable internet connection
- Speakers and a microphone
- A webcam or HD webcam
- Or, a HD cam or HD camcorder with video capture card
Payment information
We highly recommend credit card payments.
We offer 25% discount for a group booking (10+).
All UNITAR Multilateral Diplomacy Programme Alumni can get a 25% discount if they have completed a training activity in the last two years.
For more information, please consult the UNITAR Multilateral Diplomacy Programme website or contact mdp-elearning [at] unitar.org (mdp-elearning[at]unitar[dot]org)