DiploNews – Issue 393 – 17 April 2020

Upcoming study opportunities

Apply now for the last remaining places in our online courses starting in May

These courses start on 4 May 2020; read more and register now to reserve your place:

• Bilateral Diplomacy
• Diplomacy of Small States
• E-Diplomacy
• Artificial Intelligence: Technology, Governance, and Policy Frameworks

Apply by 20 April 2020 for Diplo certificate courses. For further information or to apply, click on the titles of the courses above or visit our courses webpage.

Summer diplomacy courses

Applications for our next course sessions on diplomacy and Internet technology, starting on 20 July, are now open:

• 21st Century Diplomacy
• Diplomatic Law: Privileges and Immunities
• Multilateral Diplomacy
• Internet Technology and Policy

Apply by 18 May for University of Malta accredited courses and by 15 June for Diplo certificate courses. For further information or to apply, click on the titles of the courses listed, or visit our courses webpage.

Need financial assistance? Scholarships are available

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 30%–60% of course fees and can be applied to most online courses in 2020. Browse our course catalogue and contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu for further information. You can also sign up for our courses mailing list to be informed about upcoming courses.

Upcoming events

Effective online learning: Opportunities, limits, and lessons-learned

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis the majority of higher education institutions in affected countries moved some or all of their teaching online. With experts from the private and public sectors, and building on more than 20 years of online learning experience at Diplo, we explore key questions around effective online learning in this webinar. This webinar is organised as part of the Conference Tech Lab‘s series of live discussion, and will take place on Thursday, 23rd April at 12:00 UTC (14:00 CEST). Register for the event.

Technology at the service of global health crises: Threats and opportunities

On Thursday 23rd April, DiploFoundation’s Dr Katharina Höne will participate in the SciTech DiploHub online event Technology at the service of global health crises. The event will explore the role of international cooperation in the current crisis; the European response to COVID-19; the impact of cities, and particularly Barcelona, in global mitigation efforts; the responses to pandemics in Ibero-America; and, the threats and opportunities of new technologies.

[Briefing] Internet governance in April 2020

What were the main Internet governance updates in April? How will recent updates influence the developments in upcoming months? Join us for our next monthly briefing on Tuesday, 28th April, at 11:00 UTC (13:00 CEST), for a round-up of the major global IG and digital policy developments. Remember to register for the event.

Recent online events: Our main takeaways

If you missed any of our online events, you can read our summaries and main takeaways, and watch the recordings.

Fighting online hate speech and fake news in a global crisis: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the global conversation on human rights. In the first Right On Web Chat, participants discussed UN action on hate speech content, combating fake news, and getting tech companies on board. Access the summary and recording.

How to ensure the functional continuity of global diplomacy in time of crisis: COVID-19 has stirred global diplomacy in a new direction. In the live discussion we discussed the challenges in global diplomacy and plans for the future. Access the summary and recording.

Multilateral diplomacy in times of COVID-19: In our monthly WebDebate we discussed the need for multilateralism and solidarity; reflected on the long-term challenges of the UN and the need for reform; zoomed in on the work of the World Health Organization; and, offered reflections on possible ways forward. Access the summary and recording.

(Cyber)Security and the shift to online: In the live discussion we discussed whether the COVID-19 crisis is leading towards an increasingly insecure cyberworld; what governmental responses there should be; how the industry can strengthen the security of digital products, and more! Access the summary and recording.

Inequality and discrimination during COVID-19 – Right On Web Chat: The Coronavirus outbreak has amplified existing inequalities and discrimination, making the battle of ‘leaving no one behind’ all the more difficult. Panellists discussed that it’s hard to stay at home when you don’t have one; government action on COVID-19; health rights; and prejudices and violence against women.
Access the summary and recording, and stay tuned for upcoming Right On Wednesday Web Chats.

Blogs and publications

The latest issue of the GIP Digital Watch Newsletter is dedicated exclusively to the effect of COVID–19 on the different aspects of digital: infrastructure and technology, cybersecurity, human rights, economy, development, and sociocultural.

Get your copy here.

Téléchargez votre copie de notre dernière newsletter en français.

Language in the time of the coronavirus crisis – UK case study is the latest blog post by DiploFoundation lecturer Dr Biljana Scott. In her text, she looks at how language is changing due to the coronavirus crisis, and how rhetoric resources are being used to persuade and convince.

In her blog post, Public diplomacy in the time of Corona, Liz Galvez, former senior diplomat, and DiploFoundation lecturer, explains how governments are under scrutiny for what they say, how accurately they report facts, and what actions they are proposing. In her argument she highlights that states will be judged in the future for their behaviour towards their own citizens and to one another.

Studying with DiploFoundation has been quite a journey… and it’s not yet over! is Gennike Mayers experience on studying with DiploFoundation – an adventure that accompanies her in her travels, with which she built new relationships, and is acquiring new skills.

In Recalibrating our energy: Is all that glitters with digital technologies really climate action gold? Nanjira Sambuli explains that while bold action is desperately needed to tackle climate change, we must be careful in our analysis – because not all that glitters is gold!