Global Diplomats Academy

Grades 5–8

Advanced 4th graders may be considered with instructor approval.

Represent Your Country. Understand the World. Learn to Lead.

Global Diplomats Academy is a full-year global leadership academy where students step into the role of diplomats tackling some of the world’s most important challenges.

Using the internationally recognized Model United Nations (MUN) framework, students research countries, analyze global issues, negotiate with peers, write resolutions, and confidently represent their nation’s position in committee.

Students do not simply learn how Model UN works — they learn how to research complex issues, advocate for a position, negotiate with others, and build solutions collaboratively.

More than a Model UN class, Global Diplomats Academy develops the critical-thinking, communication, leadership, and collaboration skills students will use throughout high school, college, and beyond.

Program Format

Global Diplomats Academy combines weekly virtual academy sessions with select in-person simulations, masterclasses, and special diplomatic experiences throughout the year.

The virtual format reflects how modern global teams collaborate — students research, communicate, negotiate, and solve problems using digital tools while preparing for real-world diplomacy and leadership experiences.

Weekly Academy Sessions
Mondays, 5:30–7:00 PM
Live virtual sessions (90 minutes)

Students also participate in select in-person experiences, including:

• 2 Diplomatic Simulation / Showcase Experiences

• Guest masterclasses and special academy experiences

• Edge Up Global Summit — a culminating in-person committee simulation

A full academy calendar, including masterclasses, in-person simulations, and special diplomatic experiences, will be shared in advance so families can plan ahead and students can prepare intentionally for each milestone.

Who This Program Is For

Global Diplomats Academy is designed for students who:

• are curious about world events and global issues

• enjoy researching, discussing, and defending ideas

• want to strengthen public speaking and leadership skills

• are interested in debate, diplomacy, advocacy, or international affairs

• are ready to collaborate with students who may have different perspectives

No prior Model UN experience is required. Students should be ready to participate, research, communicate, and learn from feedback.

Full-Year Academy Experience Includes

✔ 25 live virtual academy sessions (90 minutes each)
✔ 3–4 guest masterclasses with MUN delegates, debate coaches, global affairs mentors, and civic leaders
✔ 2 in-person diplomatic simulations and showcase experiences
✔ Edge Up Global Summit — culminating diplomatic simulation experience
✔ Edge Up+ Academy Support with preparation resources and simulation readiness materials
✔ Country research, policy analysis, parliamentary procedure, negotiation, and resolution writing
✔ Included Edge Up+ Academy Support with additional preparation resources, research tools, and simulation readiness materials
✔ Edge Up Global Summit — our culminating in-person committee simulation

On select masterclass or simulation weeks, the regular virtual session may be replaced by an in-person academy session or supplemented with a short asynchronous preparation assignment.

Students Will Learn

Students develop skills in:

• How the United Nations works

• Country research and policy analysis

• Public speaking and diplomatic communication

• Negotiation and coalition building

• Resolution writing

• Parliamentary procedure

• Global affairs and current events

• Consensus building and respectful disagreement

• Leadership under pressure

Students don’t simply learn parliamentary procedure — they learn how to think like diplomats, communicate with confidence, and solve complex problems through collaboration.

The Edge Up Learning Experience

Throughout the year, students participate in engaging committee sessions that mirror real diplomatic work.

They research their assigned country, prepare opening speeches, negotiate with fellow delegates, draft resolutions, respond to unexpected challenges, and practice representing viewpoints that may differ from their own.

Students may participate in different committee formats and global challenges, allowing them to experience a range of diplomatic roles, perspectives, and problem-solving scenarios.

As students grow, committee simulations become increasingly sophisticated, helping them develop stronger diplomacy, negotiation, leadership, and public speaking skills.

Experienced Model UN delegates, debate coaches, global affairs mentors, civic leaders, and international affairs professionals may join throughout the year to provide real-world perspectives and mentorship.

Included Edge Up+ Academy Support

Global Diplomats Academy includes Edge Up+ Academy Support to help students prepare, practice, and stay organized throughout the year.

Students receive access to:

• research and preparation resources

• country research frameworks

• resolution writing guides

• simulation preparation tools

• targeted preparation support before major academy milestones, simulations, and showcases

Edge Up+ Academy Support is designed to help students prepare with greater confidence between live academy sessions.

Conference Readiness

Global Diplomats Academy builds the skills students need to participate in external Model UN opportunities, including research, speeches, negotiation, and resolution writing.

External conferences are optional and separate from academy tuition. Additional registration fees, travel, preparation requirements, or family commitments may apply.

Edge Up Global Summit

Throughout the year, students participate in committee practice, mini-simulations, and in-person diplomatic experiences, culminating in the Edge Up Global Summit.

During this final experience, delegates apply everything they have learned through a formal Model United Nations committee, demonstrating their research, diplomacy, negotiation, public speaking, and leadership skills while tackling complex global challenges.

Why Full-Year?

Diplomacy isn’t learned in a few meetings.

It develops through repeated research, preparation, negotiation, reflection, and practice.

Global Diplomats Academy is designed as a full-year experience because diplomacy, research, negotiation, and leadership skills develop through repeated practice, feedback, reflection, and increasingly complex simulations over time.

Tuition

Full Academic Year: $1,495

Tuition includes:

• weekly virtual academy sessions

• in-person diplomatic experiences

• guest masterclasses

• Edge Up+ Academy Support

• participation in the Edge Up Global Summit

Payment Options

Pay in Full: $1,495

Payment Plan

• $299 non-refundable deposit reserves your student’s seat

• 4 monthly payments of $299

The deposit is retained to reserve your student’s place in the academy and is non-refundable, regardless of withdrawal. Payment plans require automatic credit card payments.

External Model UN conferences, if offered or recommended, are optional and may involve separate registration fees, travel, preparation requirements, or family commitments.

Schedule & Location

Weekly Academy Sessions
Mondays, 5:30–7:00 PM
Live virtual sessions (90 minutes)

Academy Dates

9/14, 9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26, 11/9, 11/16, 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 1/4, 1/11, 2/1, 2/8, 2/22, 3/1, 3/8, 4/12, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24

In-Person Academy Experiences

Students will participate in select in-person diplomatic experiences throughout the year, including:

• Diplomatic Simulation Experiences

• Edge Up Global Summit

• Special masterclasses or academy experiences

A full academy calendar, including masterclasses, in-person simulations, and special diplomatic experiences, will be shared in advance so that families can plan and students can intentionally prepare for each milestone.