DiploNews – Issue 293 – 1 February 2016
Geneva Engage follow-up
Last week, the Geneva Engage conference (#GenevaEngage) brought e-participation practitioners together to address effective and inclusive ways of participating in policy processes taking place in International Geneva. Representatives of organisations shared their experiences with engaging remote participants and overcoming barriers, while online participants joined in the vibrant discussions in the true spirit of e-participation. The Geneva Engage Award 2016 recognised the most effective users of social media: the Permanent Mission of France to the UN, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Child Rights Connect. The conference was organised on 27-28 January by DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform, in co-operation with the Republic and State of Geneva, the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva, and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Speeches, presentations, and other updates are available on the conference website.
Issue 7 of the Geneva Digital Watch newsletter is out
Issue 7 of the Geneva Digital Watch newsletter has just published. The January issue features the main developments in digital policy for the month, global trends and predictions for 2016, reflections on two new reports on Internet fragmentation and sustainable development, and more. Download your copy.
Join us on 23 February for Internet governance in February, our monthly briefing on global digital developments. Local hubs worldwide will share their regional perspectives. If you missed the January briefing, stay tuned for a digest and recording. Learn more about our monthly webinar briefings, and how to join – or create – a local hub.
Webinar/Event in Geneva: Digital Policy and Technological Challenges in 2016 – What to expect?
The Internet Society and GIP Digital Watch will present a webinar – Digital Policy and Technological Challenges in 2016: What to Expect – on Tuesday 9th February 2016 at 13.00 CET (12.00 UTC). 2015 has been a busy year in the digital policy arena. At global level, the review of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the adoption of the Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the intensive debates on the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) stewardship transition were some of the major topics. At national level, access, cybersecurity, and digital human rights were among the most debated issues. Throughout the year technological we have also seen developments in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and cloud computing. More information and registration.
Event in Geneva: Cybersecurity and Digital Challenges for Europe – The Role of International Geneva
On the occasion of the visit of the College of Europe professors and students to International Geneva, the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) and the College of Europe (CoE), with the support of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, will organise a seminar on 23 February 2016 on Cybersecurity and Digital Challenges for Europe – The Role of International Geneva . More information and registration.
Event in Amsterdam: Internet Research Fair (29 February – 3 March)
In collaboration with Amsterdam University College and the Network Institute, DiploFoundation is organising an Internet research fair, which aims at understanding how the Internet affects both the subject and method of academics (especially social sciences and humanities). The Fair will feature three evening seminars (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday), an Internet & Society Day with panel discussions (Wednesday), and a poster exhibition throughout the week. More info can be found at irf.diplomacy.edu.
Upcoming online courses
Don't miss the chance to take one of the last places left in this popular online course which starts on 15 February 2016. With more public interest in foreign affairs than ever before, ordinary people are demanding open diplomacy. Governments are obliged to respond with public information about the spending of funds they receive and the results that they achieve. This course covers the goals and methods of public diplomacy, outlining with case studies what it can and cannot do. Partial bursaries are available for qualified applicants from developing countries. Read more and apply.
May 2016 online courses
Starting on 2 May 2016 we offer courses on diplomacy topics both classic and contemporary:
Partial bursaries are available for qualified applicants from developing countries. Apply by 29 February 2016 for University of Malta accredited courses and by 28 March 2016 for Diplo certificate courses. For further information or to apply, click on the titles of the courses above, or visit our courses webpage. Register now to reserve your place.
For more information on any of our courses, contact admissions@diplomacy.edu. You can also sign up for our courses mailing list to be informed about upcoming courses.

Discussing Internet governance
Digital politics are quite predictable, says Diplo director Dr Jovan Kurbalija in his annual forecast on digital policy. ‘With the exception of the Snowden revelations in 2013, most other digital policy developments were easy to predict as part of longer policy trends.’ What is the forecast for 2016, and what main trends can we expect? Read also about Diplo's experience in forecasting digital policy.
On Diplo’s IG community platform, Thomas Lowenhaupt writes about City-TLDs with government restrictions and those without, while Mamadou Lo shares his regular web reviews of IG updates in English and French. View the reviews on the community blog roll.
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