29 September 2026 – The Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) is delighted to announce the official global call for applications for its inaugural edition of The Depolarization Academy.
Established through the Global Initiative on Polarization, this first edition of The Depolarization Academy is structured as an online 15-hour pilot program open to youth leaders working to prevent, reduce or manage polarization occurring in crisis and conflict contexts.
The Academy starts from the recognition that the polarization of societies and political systems is a hyper-problem, meaning the kind of problem that, if unaddressed, makes it unfeasible to resolve any other kind of problem. In a worst-case scenario, polarization can come to threaten everything from the exercise of basic democratic freedoms to the prospect of peaceful coexistence.
Because youth have a key role to play in preventing or reducing polarization – as well as in offering a positive vision of a depolarized future – this inaugural edition is designed for them, aiming to transmit key depolarization concepts, strategies and skills.
The program – which will be in English and use a mix of live sessions and pre-recorded lectures – will be open to a maximum of 50 youth leaders chosen through a competitive application process. There is no participation cost for those selected.
You can download the program here.
Youth leaders who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply:
- Age 18–30 (or close to that range);
- Working in or on a conflict or crisis setting (broadly understood);
- Playing an active role in one or more depolarization initiatives; and
- Committed to applying the knowledge and tools acquired through the Academy.
There is not a specific level of educational attainment required to apply, and IFIT will ensure the Academy cohort reflects a plurality of viewpoints, backgrounds and experience.
You can apply to the Academy here. An application takes approximately 20-30
minutes to complete.
- Tuesday 29 September: Applications open
- Friday 2 October @ 3pm CET: “Live” general information session (which will be recorded and then publicly posted)
- Friday 9 October @ 3pm CET: Application deadline
- Monday 19 October: Applicant decisions communicated
- Wednesday 11 November: Academy participants receive onboarding materials
- Monday 16 November – Friday 4 December: Academy program takes place
Youth leaders who complete the 15-hour Academy program will:
- Acquire unique tools and knowledge on depolarization;
- Be recognized as Depolarization Academy Fellows on a dedicated IFIT webpage;
- Receive an Academy completion certificate;
- Form the nucleus of a long-term cohort of Depolarization Academy Fellows;
- Be invited to periodic future IFIT convenings on depolarization;
- Receive consideration to attend IFIT’s 2027 Global Forum on Depolarization; and
- Be eligible for professional mentorship and engagement opportunities with IFIT’s 400+ global expert network.
The Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) is an international non-governmental organization comprised of 400+ local and global experts dedicated to innovation and dialogue as the pathway to peace and reconciliation in conflict and crisis settings. Often working behind the scenes, we aim to bridge social and political divides by expanding the spectrum of perceived solutions.
IFIT’s Global Initiative on Polarization is supported by the Ford Foundation, the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, the Templeton World Charity Foundation, the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, the Swiss foreign ministry and the LEGO Foundation, which is providing earmarked support for this pilot version of The Depolarization Academy.
