MUSCAT: A fresh new chapter has officially unfolded in Gulf-European academic and diplomatic engagement, underscored by landmark representations from the Sultanate of Oman at the world’s oldest professional school of international affairs.
Nestled in the heart of Vienna, the Diplomatische Akademie Wien, also known as the Vienna School of International Studies, stands as a premier institution with deep historical roots. Originally founded in 1754 by Empress Maria Theresa as the Imperial and Royal Oriental Academy, it holds the distinction of being the oldest institution of its kind in the world. For nearly three centuries, the academy has trained countless generations of diplomats, ambassadors, statesmen, ministers and global leaders, adapting its curriculum to meet the shifting demands of international relations.
Under the auspices of Ambassador Dr Eichtinger, Director of the Vienna School of International Studies, the ceremonial inauguration of the academic year brought together prominent international figures. The highlight was a keynote address delivered by EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner.
This year's cohort is distinguished by historic milestones for both Oman and Qatar. Aziza Al Mughairy has made history as the first Gulf national in its near 300-year history to join the academy's flagship Diploma Programme (DLG), and the first Omani to enroll the Vienna School of International Studies. Joining her in Vienna is Ali Sheikhan, who marks a significant achievement as the first Qatari national to join at the Academy, further enriching the representation of the Gulf region.
“We are delighted to finally welcome a student from Oman to our academic programmes. This fact reflects the excellent relations between Oman and Austria, two countries which are proud of their rich cultural heritage,” said Ambassador Eichtinger.
“We are privileged to have alumni from more than 130 countries spanning all continents. The Academy also has strong historical links with the Orient and has welcomed many participants from the Middle East onto its Executive Training Programmes. I am pleased that we can now strengthen these ties in our academic programmes as well.”
Al Mughairy brings a uniquely technical and forward-thinking perspective to traditional diplomatic studies. With a background in Astrophysics, her academic and professional trajectory bridges hard sciences and international statecraft. Her core focus centers on advancing Omani scientific and technological foreign policy and science diplomacy through deep specialisation in the food, energy, and water nexus, as well as space and nuclear diplomacy. By intersecting scientific innovation with policy frameworks, her work addresses some of the most pressing multilateral challenges of the decade, from planetary resource security to technological governance.
During her tenure at the Academy, Al Mughairy will dedicate herself to strengthening bilateral academic and strategic cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Austria, contributing to bilateral engagement in professional diplomatic training.
“Oman and Austria share a remarkably aligned foreign policy, particularly in the realm of mediation and neutrality, which have historically served as stabilising pillars in our respective regions, and now the two nations are focusing on advancing their own respective frameworks and instruments in the field of science, technology, and innovation policy and science diplomacy,” Al Mughairy stated.
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