DiploNews – Issue 310 – 18 October 2016

Join us for Delhi Digital Diplomacy Day

How does the Internet affect diplomacy? How can we support digital development? How can we use big data and social media in diplomatic activities? These are some of the questions that will be tackled during the Delhi Digital Diplomacy Day on Friday, 21st October 2016. The event will be addressed by Ambassador Vikas Swarup, and guided by Dr Jovan Kurbalija. Ambassador Swarup is currently serving as the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India. He is also a well-known writer (author of the novel Q&A, adapted in film as Slumdog Millionaire). The event will include a Digital Diplomacy Lab, a lunch panel, and a Digital Diplomacy Clinic. Learn more and register to participate.

Upcoming study opportunities

4-week course on the basics of computer science (4-25 November)

On four consecutive Fridays in November, from 13.00 to 15.00, DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform are organising a 4-week face-to-face course on how computers really work. The course will provide participants with a practical understanding of the key concepts that enabled the development of computers and that are behind all digital devices we use today. It will be useful in developing digital policies and will provide an excellent basis for deepening participants’ general knowledge of computers and applications. Please contact Barbara Rosen Jacobson (barbarar@diplomacy.edu) to apply.

2017 Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy

Diplo is accepting applications for the 2017 Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy, and the Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy with an Internet Governance specialisation. These unique postgraduate programmes, offered in cooperation with the University of Malta, include a 10-day residential workshop in Malta followed by 16–20 months of online learning. Visit the Master in Contemporary Diplomacy webpage to read more and to apply. Scholarships covering 20–50% of the Postgraduate Diploma fee are available for applicants from small and developing states. The programme starts 1 February 2017. The application deadline is 31 October 2016 for international applicants and 15 November 2016 for Maltese applicants.

February 2017 online diplomacy courses

Start the new year with one of our most popular online courses:

• Diplomatic Theory and Practice
• Public Diplomacy
• Introduction to Internet Governance

Apply by 19 December 2016 for University of Malta accredited courses and by 16 January 2017 for Diplo certificate courses. For further information or to apply, click on the titles of the courses listed, or visit our courses webpage. Register now to reserve your place.

Sign up for our courses mailing list to stay informed about upcoming courses.

Malta scholarships

Thanks to support from the government of Malta, partial scholarships are available for applicants from developing countries to attend upcoming Diplo online courses. These scholarships cover 50-70% of course fees and can be applied to most online courses in 2017. Browse our course catalogue and contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu for further information.

Capacity Development Programme in Multilateral Diplomacy an update

Last week, the deadline  passed for applications for the African and Caribbean tracks of the Capacity Development Programme in Multilateral Diplomacy (CD Multi). We received closed to 200 applications and were faced with very difficult choices. Thanks go to all the applicants for their interest. Please note that while we cannot accept further applications for nationals of African and Caribbean countries, we are still open to reviewing requests for travel support for International Geneva meetings for citizens of the Pacific Islands. See more.

Internet governance in October

What were the main Internet governance and digital policy updates in October? How will recent updates influence developments in upcoming months? Our next briefing on Tuesday, 25th October, will round up the major global IG and digital policy developments. Join us online, in Geneva, or from any of the local hubs: registrations are now open. The October issue of the Geneva Digital Watch newsletter is out on 31 October. Stay tuned!

November’s WebDebate: Gender and Diplomatic Training Academies

Gender equality is undeniably important in diplomacy. The need for the political participation of women has been repeatedly emphasised, yet, despite all efforts and commitments, gender balance in political arenas remains an issue of concern. Our next WebDebate, on 1 November, will address the issue with the participation of special guests. Register to attend, and fill out the survey on gender and diplomatic training. For background reading, consult Diplo’s Geneva Gender Map which provides a more detailed picture of the gender disparity among permanent missions in Geneva.

Diplo & GIP at the Geneva Peace Week (7-11 November)

On 9 November, DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform are organising two events in the context of the Geneva Peace Week. From 13.00 to 15.00, the GIP is organising a session on Competence building for cyberpeace, discussing cyber competence building trends, concrete efforts to advance cyberpeace, and challenges ahead for short- and long-term prospects. This session will be followed by the event Education diplomacy: creating sustainable pathways to peace, organised by DiploFoundation and the Association for Childhood Education International. This event will highlight the importance of education as a transformational driver for peace, as well as the ways in which different stakeholders can contribute to this process.

What’s been happening in Diplo’s blogsphere

In The quiet rapprochement of Internet governance and trade policy, Luca Belli  and Diplo’s Marília Maciel continue last month’s e-commerce theme. They look at efforts to harmonise the regulatory environment, the role of the WTO, and the wider implications of trade agreements. Mina Mudric summarises the main ideas of our recent WebDebate on the Key skills for the next generation of diplomats. Three themes stand out from the debate: the relation between traditional and new skills, the art of diplomatic reporting, and discretion in diplomacy. In Internet and development: a reality check, Constance Bommelaer de Leusse and Diplo’s Tereza Horejsova look at ways to promote a more inclusive Internet and foster global connectivity. Ginger Paque takes a look at the US presidential elections and the candidates’ stances on key Internet governance and digital policy issues and argues that the main difference between the candidates is to be found in the balance between promoting security and protecting freedoms. Lastly, Diplo’s director Jovan Kurbalija gives five reasons why the selection of António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres as new UN Secretary-General is a cause for celebration. Among other things, he stresses the importance of humour and values and convictions.