This portfolio critically analyses my WBL experience at the Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) of the Xi’an Municipal People’s Government, a key governmental agency responsible for city diplomacy, international cooperation, protocol, and external relations. As a placement student embedded within a highly politicised and administratively structured environment, I engaged in a diverse range of IR projects that require coordination across government departments, international partners, and local stakeholders.

My primary responsibilities included supporting and coordinating several high-profile city diplomacy initiatives, notably:

• The Cuenca–Xi’an Ceramic Mural Initiative, a cultural diplomacy project with Ecuador.
• Preparatory work for the Euro-Asia Economic Forum 2025, a major multilateral platform for economic and diplomatic engagement.
• Coordination for the Silk Road Economic Belt Cities Roundtable, focusing on inter-city dialogue and digital-economy cooperation.
• Supporting cultural exchange programmes such as the Kyoto Youth Choir Visit from Japan.
• Secretariat work related to the International Sister Cities Digital Economy Alliance.
• Development of a City Diplomacy Strategic Handbook, which forms part of my capstone WBL project focusing on strengthening organisational capabilities and strategic alignment.

Across these engagements, I observed and participated in organisational practices shaped by hierarchical governance, political sensitivity, protocol disciplines, multi-level coordination, and emerging attempts at innovation. The purpose of this portfolio is to evaluate the organisational conditions, leadership behaviours, and management tools that inform project execution within this governmental context.

This portfolio adopts an academically grounded approach, drawing upon leadership theory, managerial frameworks, and organisational analysis to interpret my practical experiences. Rather than providing a descriptive account of activities, I aim to critically evaluate how leadership and management operate within the FAO and how these practices influence outcomes in international cooperation projects.

The analysis is structured according to three dimensions—leadership, managerial, and organisational tools—before synthesising key findings and offering practical recommendations. Ultimately, this portfolio demonstrates how WBL enabled me to understand the complex interplay between governance structures, leadership behaviour, bureaucratic systems, and project management in an international relations environment.