Apply Now: Stakeholders and Citizens engagement Academy 2026

Scholarships available

You see the headlines. Democracy under pressure. Young people checking out. Rural voices ignored. Social media echo chambers. Marginalized communities locked out.

Citizens participation declines and stakeholder engagement fails to produce results.

But what if we could actually design participation processes that work? Map stakeholder ecosystems? Build coalitions that hold? Coordinate diverse actors toward shared goals?

This is what the Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement Academy is about: Turning democratic commitment into transformative expertise.

What you will learn

Most university and professional training programmes teach democratic theory. But when it's time to actually engage stakeholders in a policy process, facilitate multi-actor collaboration, or design inclusive consultations - whether in your student research, your NGO work, or your role in public administration - you need the practical skills and tools that will allow you to design and implement participation processes.

This is what you will learn in the Academy. Through seven focused modules, you'll move from understanding democratic participation to practicing stakeholder engagement, with expert guidance and real European data at your fingertips.

How you will learn

A training about participation can only be participatory. In the course of our seven modules you will actively engage in:

Designing and conducting surveys on various participation topics

Analyzing comparative findings from 8 EU countries (drawing from 300+ case studies)

Learning from expert practitioners in focused 3-hour Brussels sessions

Publishing analytical articles that build your professional portfolio

What you'll master

Each module tackles a different dimension of democratic participation—from mobilizing youth and amplifying rural voices to combating disinformation and designing inclusive processes.

But at the core of everything: stakeholder engagement. Identifying key actors. Understanding their interests and power dynamics. Building coalitions that hold.

Coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives that actually work.

These are the skills every organization working on democratic participation needs—whether in local government, NGOs, EU institutions, or civil society.

For whom and why

For students: Practical experience to complement your academic training. You'll conduct original research, publish articles, and develop material that can inform your thesis work. And demonstrated expertise in stakeholder engagement—something that sets you apart in competitive fields like democratic innovation, public administration, or civil society work.

For young professionals: Structured training in stakeholder coordination and democratic participation. You'll gain specialized credentials, build a peer network across sectors, and develop practical skills that apply immediately—whether in your current role or your next career step.

For everyone: Competencies in stakeholder mapping and multi-actor coordination, a professional network spanning organizations and countries, published work demonstrating your analytical capabilities, and a certificate documenting your specialized training.

What is your commitment?

Seven modules over the academic year, designed to fit alongside full-time studies or work. Each module requires a 3-hour Brussels session, some survey fieldwork, case study analysis, and analytical writing—minimal time commitment that you can balance with other activities. You need decent English and genuine interest in democratic processes and stakeholder engagement.

What about scholarships?

hanks to an EU-funded project, we are offering full scholarships this year on a first-come, first-served basis. If a scholarship is awarded it requires participation to at least six of the seven modules.

The academy starts March 16, 2026.

Want to know more?

Curious? Want to know more before committing?

Fill out this short form and we'll send you the full programme details, module breakdown, and application information.

Democracy needs practitioners who know how to engage stakeholders effectively.

Are you one of them?