A launchpad for UN young talent

110 junior professional officers (JPOs) -one transformative week 

If you happened to pass through the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) Turin Campus between 24–28 November and glanced through its classroom windows, you might have wondered what kind of lively experiment was underway. At any moment, you could catch sight of 110 JPOs racing to construct the tallest possible paper tower, locking eyes with their table partners for a bold four-second storytelling challenge, or grabbing their coats to head outdoors in pairs for an unexpected reflective walk. 

Learning in motion: moving beyond the lecture hall 

What you wouldn’t have seen were rows of participants passively listening to lectures, multitasking with email, or scrolling through their phones. This was learning in motion—creative, energetic and intentionally disruptive in all the right ways. 

The 25th annual JPO Orientation Programme at UNSSC was designed to stretch skills that matter: collaboration and partnership building, clear and impactful communication, and the art of personal reflection. Not even Turin’s crisp November air could deter the enthusiasm during the after-lunch pairs walks, thematic clinics, the spirited UN Charter quiz, or the brainstorming on the first 100 days in post. Participants also heard refreshingly candid insights from former JPOs, who generously shared what stepping into a UN career really looks like. 

A global ecosystem: unity through record-breaking diversity 

This year marked the largest cohort in the orientation’s history. JPOs funded by Australia, Finland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland—and posted across 39 intergovernmental organizations—came together to form a uniquely global and diverse group. 

Most will embark on roles within UN entities, while others will serve in international positions beyond the UN system. Their varied perspectives turned group work, games-based learning and peer exchanges into a vibrant, multilayered learning ecosystem. By linking their experiences with global mandates, participants began to see how their voices and actions can contribute to a changing multilateral landscape, particularly relevant as the UN marked its 80th anniversary. 

Forging change agents: a launchpad for multilateralism 

Guided by UNSSC’s dedicated team and supported by a selected group of former JPOs and expert facilitators, the week embraced a dynamic methodology tailored to the scale and energy of this cohort. More table work, interactive technologies and approaches like Open Space Technology and participatory clinics kept the learning experience fluid, engaging and deeply relevant.  Exploring the architecture of the UN system through these engaging and exploratory activities prepared JPOs for real multilateral processes. They grappled with what it means to step forward as new change agents, ready to help shape the next chapter of multilateralism. Visual tools and reflective exercises also helped each JPO connect the dots between the training and their professional contexts—making the lessons not just memorable, but immediately applicable. 

The result? A week that didn’t just achieve the induction of JPOs to the UN system, but ignited a sense of purpose, curiosity and confidence that they will carry into their global careers. Networking and relationship-building were at the core of the programme, laying the groundwork for collaborations and meaningful connections that will extend far beyond the training room. This orientation is far more than a training course—it’s a launchpad.