The International Forum on Diplomatic Training [IFDT] was established in 1972, as a yearly Meeting of Deans and Directors of Diplomatic Academies and Institutes of International Relations, at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna. Its co-chairs are the Director of that Academy and the Director of the Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, Washington DC. This group meets alternately in Vienna and in other countries, at the invitation of the Diplomatic Academy or Institute of International Relations in that country. The Forum is an informal gathering of Deans and Directors devoted to the discussion of issues of modern diplomacy and trends in diplomatic education. 

This year's Forum is jointly organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, which will host the event. The main focus of this conference will be on “Diplomatic Training in 21st century: sharing experiences, meeting new challenges, opening new frontiers”.