DiploNews – Issue 397 – 16 June 2020
Upcoming study opportunities
â—† New online course! Learn how to organise and run online and blended meetings. Apply now for the Future of Meetings for Global Governance online course (starts: 24 June)
Online meetings were long seen as a poor substitute for face-to-face ones, but with the COVID-19 pandemic this view has changed. Online meetings are now a necessity for many organisations, but do we know how to organise and run them effectively? In this intensive three-week course participants learn how to bridge the gap between the perception of technical simplicity, and the complexity of running effective and engaging meetings.
In the Future of Meetings for Global Governance online course, you will learn:
- How to select the right approach to online and blended meetings based on an understanding of how people behave and interact online.
- How to select the appropriate technical platforms and tools, and how to integrate more advanced technologies that meet your organisational needs.
- How to prepare and run an online meeting, starting from the initial idea, through the practical steps of running the meeting, to reporting, and wrapping up.
- How to moderate meetings effectively in order for all parties to achieve their objectives.
This course starts on 24 June. Visit the course webpage to read more and apply.
â—† Applications open! Diplo’s 2020 summer courses (start: 20 July)
Apply now for our summer courses on diplomacy and Internet governance. All courses begin on 20 July.
- 21st Century Diplomacy
- Diplomatic Law: Privileges and Immunities
- Internet Technology and Policy
- Multilateral Diplomacy
For further information or to apply, click the course title above or visit our courses catalogue.
Sign up for our courses mailing list to stay informed about upcoming courses.
◆ Applications open! Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy (€400 early bird discount)
Diplo is now accepting applications for the 2021 online Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy and the Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy with a specialisation in Internet Governance, run in co-operation with the University of Malta Department of International Relations.
During 16 to 20 months of online study, the programmes guide working diplomats, international relations professionals, and Internet policymakers through the theoretical and practical building blocks of diplomacy, with a focus on contemporary issues and challenges.
In response to the current global pandemic, the introductory workshop – traditionally offered in Malta – will be run online in 2021, eliminating the need for travel and reducing expenses for participants.
Scholarships covering 20%–50% of the Postgraduate Diploma fee are available for applicants from small and developing states. The programme starts on 25 January 2021.
Discount: Apply by 1 September 2020 and benefit from our €400 early bird discount.
For further information and to apply, please visit the Master in Contemporary Diplomacy webpage.
â—† Need financial assistance? Scholarships are available.
Thanks to the 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.
Upcoming events
◆ GIP online discussion: Navigating Geneva’s digital landscape (23 June)
Most Geneva-based institutions and organisations are now tackling digital aspects as part of their work. The Geneva digital policy landscape has therefore become richer and more diverse. How can we navigate through this landscape and understand who is dealing with what? How to build on the work of other organisations and collaborate with them to pursue common goals and solutions?
Join the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) online on Tuesday, 23rd June 2020, 13:00–15:00 CEST (11:00–13:00 UTC) for a timely discussion on how to navigate Geneva’s digital policy landscape. Register here!
â—† Geneva Talks: Charting International Collaboration in the Digital Age (26 June)
This summer, the UN marks its 75th anniversary in a time of turmoil and uncertainty. After the Second World War, countries across the world have signed the UN Charter in San Francisco in agreement to collectively work on a multilateral future. This year, the global pandemic not only reminds us that we are all interconnected, but challenges us in upholding the principles that stand at the core of the UN Charter. The unprecedented crisis highlights the need for cooperation across countries, sectors, and generations. It is also a time of deep reflections about past, present, and what is ahead of us. Science and technology are in nexus of discussions ranging from finding a vaccine for COVID-19 to foresight on the future impact of AI and robotics on our lives and society. In view of the UN’s anniversary, swissnex San Francisco and the Consulate General of Switzerland in partnership with ICRC, DiploFoundation, ICT4peace, and the Etat de Genève, are hosting a two-part digital conversation aimed at bridging the dialogue between Geneva, the world’s capital for humanitarian and diplomatic affairs, and Silicon Valley, the epicenter of tech-innovation. Register here.
◆ GIP briefing: A historic 2020 – Six months in review (30 June)
What started out as a normal year quickly turned into a year to remember due to COVID-19 and its impact on work and life. Technology and digital policy developments were also impacted. In a dedicated briefing on Tuesday, 30th June, at 13:00 CEST (11:00 UTC), the Geneva Internet Platform will run through the main trends in digital policy in the past six months, including the impact of the pandemic on technology and policy, and how technology has been helping to curb the spread.
The briefing will be followed by the launch of the new GIP Digital Watch observatory. The launch coincides with a double-celebration for the Digital Watch initiative: the 50th edition of the monthly newsletter and its 5th anniversary. Register here!
Main takeaways from our recent events
â—† Right On web chat 10: Business, the economy, and livelihoods in a COVID-19 world
The COVID-19 pandemic and related national lockdowns have placed a huge strain on many businesses as well as national economies. Some businesses have reacted by doing all they can to protect jobs, health insurance, and livelihoods, while others have sought to cut costs with little thought for the impacts on human rights. Access the event summary and recording.
This series of Right On web chats has come to an end, but we’re planning to come back in September with more Right On discussions!
Reports from EuroDIG 2020
As in the previous years, the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) has partnered with the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) to provide key messages and session reports from all workshops and the main sessions. Access all our reports on the EuroDIG 2020 dedicated page.
Blogs and publications
â—† Blog post: COVID-19 and international investment issues for diplomats
Foreign investors are filing arbitration requests against host states, claiming drastic COVID-19 measures have caused huge financial losses. Read the blog post by Professor of Diplomatic Law Alan Franklin.
â—† Blog post: The resilience of multilateralism
COVID-19 highlighted a simple dichotomy: there are governments that believe in multilateralism, and those that despise it. Diplo Faculty’s Ambassador Petru Dumitriu explores whether we are capable of forming effective alliances. Read the blog post here.
◆ Blog post: ASEAN’s multilateral diplomacy answer to COVID-19
In South East Asia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been co-ordinating both regional and international COVID-19 diplomatic initiatives. Read a detailed analysis by Diplo Faculty’s Dr Andre Saramago.
â—† Blog post: Can autonomous vehicles be the heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Autonomous delivery vehicles have the potential to become part of our everyday lives in a post COVID-19 world. In her latest blog, Ms Sebnem Tugce Pala looks at recent initiatives on self-driving vehicles for transporting people and products. Read the blog post here.
â—† Blog post: The reality of science fiction: Behind the scenes of race and technology
Approaching the topic of racial oppression, Ms Darija Medic turned to Afrofuturism to analyse the convoluted history of race and technology, and the interplay between policy and fiction, and infrastructure and power. Read the blog post here.
◆ ​​​​​​French translation: 50th issue of the GIP Digital Watch newsletter
For our French-speaking followers, we have published the French translation of this milestone. Get your copy here / Téléchargez votre copie.
Video: Diplo’s and GIP’s activities during COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) have been very busy with new initiatives. Check out the video below, as well as our infographic to find out what we’ve been up to recently.
Don’t miss…
â—† Article by Ambassador Kishan Rana
In the external article hosted by The Bridge Project, DiploFoundation’s professor emeritus Amb. Kishan Rana looks at the dissonance between theory and practice in international relations. Read his article International Relations: The Worlds of Theory & Practice.
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