In September, AUBG hosted a unique initiative that brought together 20 university students from across the Balkan region. The Balkan Youth Thinkathon was organized by the Center for Information, Democracy, and Citizenship (CIDC) and the Department of Politics and European Studies at AUBG in cooperation with NATO Public Diplomacy Division. The innovative idea comes from the “hack” weekend challenges where participants need to come up with a business-oriented solution, however, this time they had to think of a communication strategy that would stimulate discussions about NATO among Balkan youth.
This experience provided an intensive online training program, equipping participants with knowledge about NATO, public diplomacy, politics, and creative communication strategies focused on engaging young audiences. Prior to the four-day in-person event, the selected participants had five online lectures with world-class experts on strategic communications, public diplomacy, NATO, the region and creative communication campaigns
About
The Thinkathon took place over four days, during which the participants received a comprehensive education on NATO’s priorities and its current efforts to engage young audiences. The program also explored the intricacies of public diplomacy, the battle for winning hearts and minds, political dynamics, and foreign policy orientation in the Balkans, and creative communication strategies for promoting social causes and the public good.
“The aim of this program was to get different students from different Balkan countries to get different perspectives, to help shape communication strategies that would help spread awareness about NATO’s work in the region,” said one of the participants from Kosovo, Elona Matoshi.
“Here I get the chance to have open discussions with people from different nationalities, experiences, and backgrounds. And on top of that, the very informal lectures.”
The progress of the presentation was notable, reflecting how much the participants had absorbed from the experience and lectures. The online lectures in September provided the foundation for the Thinkathon, ensuring that all participants were on the same page.
But the Thinkathon was about much more than just competition. It was a platform for young minds to think beyond their daily concerns and explore various aspects of Balkan issues. It encouraged them to look at the bigger picture, beyond their own regional boundaries.
CIDC Director, Tihomira Doncheva, encouraged them to share their experiences with fellow students and friends at their home universities, fostering the spread of knowledge and insights gained during the Thinkathon.
“It’s amazing to see how many things the participants changed In their approach, how many things they learned through the days, and how they were adapting based on the feedback that they were getting.”
Throughout the Thinkathon, mentors played a pivotal role in guiding the participants and helping them refine their projects. One mentor expressed his enthusiasm for the variety of approaches the teams had taken in tackling the challenges: “I think that the projects have been all very good. They all have a very good level, and I really like the variety of approaches that each of the teams took to solve the problem that we gave them. So they were all very innovative from different perspectives and trying to find something new.”
Agenda
The Thinkathon agenda was as follows:
- Day 1 – Keynote Speech: The event started with a keynote speech from Alexandra Ntakou, Program Officer, Public Diplomacy Division of NATO, that set the tone for the discussions to follow.
- Day 2 – Orientation and Lectures: Participants were divided into six groups and assigned mentors to guide them. The day was filled with lectures on current affairs and communication strategies, setting the stage for the tasks ahead.
- Day 3 – Initial Pitch Presentations: Participants presented their initial ideas and received valuable feedback from mentors.
- Day 4 – Final Presentations and Winner Announcement: The participants showcased their polished projects in front of mentors, who acted as judges. Eighteen participants were selected from the 90 applicants, and the judges determined the winning team. The winning team earned the unique opportunity to travel to Brussels and present their recommendations to NATO Public Diplomacy Division representatives.
Another mentor, Laia Comerma Calatayud, highlighted the participants’ remarkable progress and commitment to the program: “I think that it will be very competitive, that it will be very creative. And definitely, they have learned a lot throughout the program with each presentation. To time themselves, to improve their presentation skills, and to really try to go straight to the point and answer what we were asking them. So I’m very happy to have participated in this first edition of the Thinkathon, and I look forward to coming back to Bulgaria soon.”
Winning team
The jury considered that the main idea of having a Balkans Peace Games structured according to NATO divisions is an innovative way to promote knowledge about NATO skills and operations. The jury also appreciated that the communication strategy tackles the current problems with NATO’s social media approach to the youth. Finally, the jury praised that the idea was innovative, feasible and youth centered with a specific example.
The award ceremony was a culmination of the participants’ hard work and dedication. The jury appreciated the innovative approach of aligning a Balkan state structure with NATO provisions, fostering knowledge and skills. The communication strategy was recognized for addressing current issues in NATO’s social media engagement with young people. President Ensign praised the participants for focusing on public diplomacy and communication strategies for youth, emphasizing the importance of honest and reliable information in today’s world.
“I thank everyone for being here. Let’s do this even more. The future is yours. It’s a challenging one, but with the right knowledge and education and skills, you make sure we live in a democratic, peaceful, and maybe more just world.”
Prof. Crombois expressed the desire to see the participants engage in more activities in the future. “So keep working, keep in touch with AUBG. We’ll be organizing other activities. We’d love to see you again”, he said.
The AUBG Balkan Thinkathon has proven to be a remarkable platform for youth engagement in discussions about NATO and public diplomacy. The innovative projects and the growth of the participants are testaments to the success of this initiative. As these young minds return to their universities and communities, they bring with them a fresh perspective and the knowledge to create a more democratic, peaceful, and just world. The Thinkathon’s impact extends far beyond its four days, promising a brighter future for the Balkans and NATO’s youth engagement efforts.
AUBG thanks everyone who was involved with this. We are looking forward to turning this initiative into an annual event!
