MSc in International Relations & Cooperation (Full English)

TheMSc in International Relations & Cooperationtrains experts capable of contributing across the entire diplomatic and strategic decision-making process. By the end of the program, you will have acquired the practical expertise to:

The training program is designed to help participants develop four key skills:

• Conducting strategic and economic intelligence assessments: mastering tools for market intelligence, geopolitical analysis, and country risk assessment to inform organizational decision-making.
• Develop and implement an international cooperation policy: draft cooperation agreements, secure funding, and coordinate international public-private partnerships.
• Managing international projects: planning, coordinating, and evaluating projects in a multicultural context, in collaboration with national and international stakeholders.
• Provide consulting services in crisis situations: analyze crises, coordinate the institutional response, and manage communications in unstable environments.

The “Expert in International Relations and Cooperation” certification was registered with France Compétences in 2024 to meet the growing needs of international organizations, public institutions, and companies operating internationally. It is structured around four core modules:

Module 1 – Conducting a strategic and economic intelligence assessment of international issues

• Develop a comprehensive approach to strategic and economic monitoring to take into account all data that could influence the situation at hand
• Organize the research and implementation of the monitoring process by identifying key areas, appropriate tools (including AI), and sources to be utilized
• Ensure the security of data collection by using techniques specific to the chosen methodology and complying with the GDPR
• Analyze the collected data to identify opportunities and explore new avenues for growth
• Assess the situation in a country or region, identify the key players involved, and outline the key issues by evaluating the strategies of governmental and non-governmental actors
• Mapping country risks by cross-referencing data to identify key areas of focus
• Summarize and prioritize data in order to present the results of the market intelligence analysis with well-supported arguments
• Make critical recommendations to facilitate decision-making

Assessment: Written assignment and oral professional scenario

Module 2 – Developing and implementing an international cooperation policy

• Draft a cooperation agreement that takes into account the needs and interests of the represented organization and its partners
• Organize international meetings (ministerial meetings, interviews, site visits) and press releases
• Supporting the international development strategy of an international organization, an NGO, or a company
• Determining the most appropriate legal structure for an organization’s international expansion
• Organize project financing by leveraging all available tools (bank financing, concessional financing, European funding, multilateral funding, and development aid)
• Propose and coordinate international partnerships in various forms, including public-private partnerships

Assessment: Case Study

Block 3 – Managing an International Project

• Define and position the project within the internal organization to ensure its operational management
• Define the implementation schedule using monitoring tools and project management and international marketing techniques
• Mobilize a targeted network of national and international stakeholders based on their roles and expertise
• Organize the project management at each stage, taking into account cultural differences as well as societal and environmental issues
• Establish communication channels among multicultural teams to bring their members together
• Identify discrepancies from expected results and propose adjustments and corrective actions
• Propose lobbying initiatives based on corporate communications and foreign policy analysis

Assessment: Professional simulation with a written report and oral defense

Module 4 – Providing advisory and support services in international crisis situations

• Analyze crises to map their domestic, regional, and international consequences, taking into account their physical, cognitive, and informational dimensions
• Propose a crisis prevention policy based on the identification of key actors, destabilizing factors, and moderating forces
• Identify the appropriate communication tools to disseminate relevant information to the target audience
• Develop a crisis communication plan to prevent the distortion of facts and counter misinformation
• Advocate for a national and/or international crisis management plan to ensure the organization’s resilience
• Establish crisis management procedures that are consistent with national or international public plans
• Organize and lead a crisis response team by bringing together the right people and defining each person’s responsibilities
• Evaluate responses to a crisis and propose processes for improving and updating response plans

Assessment: Case Study

HEIP’s curriculum is developed in collaboration with researchers and practicing professionals, whose contributions are continually updated to anticipate changes in the international landscape and meet the practical needs of employers.

This dual expertise is directly reflected in the classroom: each course exposes students to real-world situations through geopolitical case studies, negotiation simulations, commissioned group projects, and seminars led by decision-makers from government ministries, intergovernmental organizations, think tanks, and international divisions of the private sector.

Courses are assessed through continuous evaluation, using methods that directly reflect real-world professional situations:

• Case studiesdrawn from real-world diplomatic or strategic contexts
• Assessedworkplace scenariosfocusing on decision-making and adaptability
• Written papers followed by an oral defense before a panel
• A project report accompanied by an oral presentation (alternating track) or an oral presentation and a research thesis (initial track)

• Academic structure: The program consists of a single intensive semester of 6 months of classes.
• Requirements: To complete the program, students must complete an internship of at least 110 days. This practical experience takes place within government agencies, NGOs, research firms, or international organizations.
• Financial Investment: Tuition is set at €10,350 per year. This amount is the student’s responsibility, and students can rely on various sources of funding (student loans, financial aid, internship stipends, or personal funds).

• Shared schedule: The student enters into a two-year contract structured around a regular schedule: one week on campus followed by two weeks at their employer’s facility.
  
• On-the-job training: Trainees spend at least 110 days per year at a company or institution. This program allows them to take on increasingly strategic assignments and gain greater independence over time.
  
• Cost Coverage and Compensation: The annual cost of the training program (€10,950) is fully covered by the host organization and its OPCO. Students therefore benefit from 100% tuition-free education while receiving a monthly salary for their work at the company.