A brief history of Diplo
Diplo’s roots date back to October 1992 when Jovan Kurbalija established the Unit for Computer Applications at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies in Malta. After a few iterations, this unit became DiploFoundation on 20 November 2002.
This year, we celebrate 20 years of Diplo, as well as 30 years of research and education on the impact of digitalisation on diplomacy. Join us on the journey through the evolution of digital diplomacy, and Diplo!
- All
- Milestones
- Courses
- Events
- Conferences
- Publications
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20Friday March, 2015
- Geneva Internet Platform: one year on
The Geneva Internet Platform has become a key player in global digital policy in its first year, offering events and briefings on digital policy issues and attracting various partners interested in digital developments.
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01Wednesday April, 2015
- Children and mobile technology
In April 2015, Diplo launched an online course on Children and Mobile Technology.
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01Wednesday April, 2015
- Internet – a global public resource?
An international conference in Malta, supported by DiploFoundation and the Government of Malta, discussed the Internet as a global public resource. Malta's digital society and advocacy for public resources were key focal points at the event.
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12Sunday April, 2015
- Fighting cybercrime
The Cybersecurity Days event focused on international cooperation against cybercrime, discussing prevention and combat strategies.
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24Monday August, 2015
- Diplomacy training in Bangkok
Two workshops were held in August 2015 in Bangkok. The first, from August 24-27, focused on public diplomacy training for diplomats. The second, Asia Cyber Diplomacy, on August 28-29, gathered participants ranging from newcomers to experienced professionals, featuring collaboration with various international partners.
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14Monday September, 2015
- Internet governance in Africa
An 11-week online training course on Internet Governance in Africa was offered by Diplo and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Agency. The course explored essential Internet governance and policy concepts with Africa-focused case studies and practical examples.
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14Monday September, 2015
- Legal instruments for the Internet economy
Diplo organized a workshop in Malta in September 2015 on Legal Instruments for the Internet Economy, in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Malta, aimed at government officials and industry professionals in telecom regulation.
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28Monday September, 2015
- Launch of Geneva Digital Watch newsletter
Geneva Digital Watch newsletter launched with its inaugural issue on 28 September 2015, focusing on global and Geneva digital policy developments.
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01Tuesday December, 2015
- Diplomatic training co-operation: Mexico, Malta, and Switzerland
Mexico, Malta, and Switzerland have renewed a memorandum of understanding on diplomatic training, allowing Mexican diplomats to participate in online courses provided by Diplo. Over 11 years, the collaboration has involved over 350 Mexican diplomats in training, with additional educational initiatives jointly developed.
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01Tuesday December, 2015
- CyberLab
A CyberLab event was hosted by Diplo prior to the 22nd Ministerial Council in Belgrade in 2015. Delegations had the chance to explore internet operations, cyber-diplomacy, and cybersecurity trends.
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15Tuesday December, 2015
- The Internet as Common Heritage of Mankind
Dr. Alex Sceberras Trigona proposes the Internet be seen as a Common Heritage of Mankind, applying the legal concept to its critical infrastructure. This idea aligns with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
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27Wednesday January, 2016
- Geneva Engage Award initiated….
The Geneva Engage Award was launched in cooperation with various international bodies in Geneva, including the Permanent Mission of Switzerland and ICANN, for the Geneva Engage conference held in January 2016.
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01Monday February, 2016
- Cybersecurity for South‐Eastern Europe
A Cybersecurity course for South-Eastern Europe was initiated in February 2016 with the aim of enhancing cybersecurity capabilities in public institutions, private sectors, and civil society, in collaboration with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces and the support of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland.
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23Tuesday February, 2016
- Cybersecurity and digital challenges for Europe
A seminar on Cybersecurity and Digital Challenges for Europe was organized by the University of Geneva, College of Europe, and supported by the Republic and Canton of Geneva during the visit of College of Europe professors and students to International Geneva.
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01Friday April, 2016
- Cybersecurity competence building trends
A study commissioned by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs examines cybersecurity competence building trends in ten countries. Measures include developing curricula, creating innovation centers, and evolving education programs. Presented in 2016 at the Cyber 9/12 Student Challenge in Geneva.
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25Monday April, 2016
- Technical Innovation for Digital Policy
The conference on Technical Innovation for Digital Policy, happening on April 25, will tackle data protection, freedom of information, and cybersecurity. Leading experts will discuss how technology can address these crucial policy issues, including CyberLab demonstrations. The event, organized by the Geneva Internet Platform, University of Geneva, and DiploFoundation, offers online participation for most sessions. Participants can find more information and register on the conference website.
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01Friday July, 2016
- ASEM summit
Dr Katharina Hoene conducted a diplomatic training course for Asian and European students ahead of the ASEM summit in Ulaanbaatar. At the summit, the Outlook Report 2016/2017 was launched, focusing on strengthening digital connectivity through diplomacy in Asia-Europe relations.
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01Friday July, 2016
- New alumni hub
Diplo introduced the Alumni Hub in July 2016 to assist and acknowledge the accomplishments of its over 5000 alumni from 208 countries through articles, events, webinars, and more.
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07Thursday July, 2016
- Fundamental Science and Society
A workshop celebrating the 50th anniversary of Rencontres de Moriond will focus on "Fundamental Science and Society." The event will address the role of fundamental research in technological advancements and sustainable development on Day 1, and the themes of excellence, diversity, and open innovation in fundamental and applied research on Day 2. The workshop aims to include perspectives from Asian and developing countries, emphasizing the intersection of science with societal progress. DiploFoundations' Dr. Jovan Kurbalija will be a speaker at the event. More details are available on the workshop's website.
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01Tuesday November, 2016
- Computer science for policymakers
In November 2016, Diplo organized a four-week course titled "How Computers Really Work: Outsmart your smartphone!" to provide policymakers with an in-depth practical understanding of computer science fundamentals.
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06Tuesday December, 2016
- Diplo at the 11th IGF
Diplo actively participated in the 11th IGF in Mexico, contributing to a full program of activities. The Digital Watch observatory provided session reports, a daily newsletter summarizing discussions, and a report showcasing main themes and trends. Additionally, the 7th edition of "An Introduction to Internet Governance" by Dr. Jovan Kurbalija was launched at the event.
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23Monday January, 2017
- GIP just-in-time course
A course took place from January 23 to March 26, 2017, to help permanent missions in Geneva engage with digital politics.
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01Wednesday February, 2017
- Master/PGD in Contemporary Diplomacy workshop
Summary: An introductory workshop for the 2017 Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy, organized by Diplo and the University of Malta, offered sessions on various diplomacy-related topics like negotiations, digital diplomacy, and the United Nations to diplomats, international organizations staff, business representatives, journalists, and academics.
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08Wednesday February, 2017
- 2017 Geneva Engage Awards
The 2017 Geneva Engage Awards were presented to Geneva-based organizations, international organizations, and permanent missions for their exceptional social media outreach and engagement efforts for the second year in a row.
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17Monday April, 2017
- Just-in-time course on Digital Commerce
A just-in-time course on digital commerce was introduced during E-commerce Week 2017. This five-week blended course was a collaborative effort involving various organizations such as the International Trade Centre, Consumer Unity & Trust Society International, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and Diplo.
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12Tuesday September, 2017
- New partnership with Argentina for diplomatic training
Diplo has partnered with Argentina's National Foreign Service Institute to enhance online diplomatic training through a recent memorandum of understanding.
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12Tuesday September, 2017
- Diplo launches new home for alumni network
Diplo created a Facebook group called Diplo Alumni for its alumni on 12 September 2017. It serves as a platform for former students to connect, collaborate on ideas, and stay updated on activities and opportunities in a more informal setting.
