DiploNews – Issue 300 – 16 May 2016

Upcoming study opportunities

Call for applications: Internet Governance in the MENA Region online course

Emerging leaders from civil society in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are invited to apply for the fourth annual online training on Internet governance, made possible by Hivos through the Internet Governance in the MENA Region IGMENA Programme. The course materials were developed and customised to the Middle East by IGMENA, and the training programme is hosted and facilitated by DiploFoundation, the global leader of capacity development programmes on Internet governance. Tuition fees for successful applicants will be covered by a fellowship from Hivos. The application deadline is 8 June 2016 for the eight-week course beginning on 24 June. For more information and to apply, please visit Internet Governance in the MENA Region.

Applications open for 2017 Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy

Diplo is now 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 on 1 February 2017. The application deadline is 1 October 2016 for international applicants and 15 November 2016 for Maltese applicants.

Summer online courses

Diplo's summer online courses start 18 July 2016:

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

Apply by 16 May 2016 for University of Malta accredited courses and by 13 June 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.

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 any online course in 2016. Please browse our course catalogue and contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu for further information.
 

WSIS Forum 2016: Final report now available

The WSIS Forum Report, published by the Geneva Internet Platform on 10 May 2016, sums up the WSIS Forum 2016 with reflections and summaries of discussions. The report includes: reflections on the forum, in which three main achievements are identified; a summary of the high-level policy sessions; thematic summaries of the sessions by area, including development, cybersecurity, human rights, infrastructure, e-commerce, and the global Internet governance architecture; WSIS Forum 2016 in numbers; upcoming events related to sustainable development; visuals and quicklinks to the WSIS-SDG matrix, WSIS Action Lines and SDGs; how to use the GIP Digital Watch observatory; and the team behind the GIP's reports. The full just-in-time reports are also available on this dedicated page.
 

Ensuring that civil society's voice is heard in ICANN

On 4 May, the Geneva Internet Platform and ICANN organised an open discussion on Ensuring Civil Society's Voice is Heard in ICANN. The discussion, held in Geneva, brought together experts involved in ICANN processes, and newcomers to the process, for an interactive session on the potentials and limitations of civil society engagement. Among the issues raised was the fact that civil society representatives need to acquire the skills to participate in a meaninful way, and that very often, civil society groups have different legitimate interests. Read the discussion report.
 

Internet governance in May

What were the main Internet governance updates in May, and how will they shape future developments? What can we expect? Join us for our next monthly briefing, on Tuesday, 31st May, for a round-up of the major global IG and digital policy developments of the month. Local hubs in Rio de Janeiro, Jakarta, and Tunis will share regional perspectives. Registrations are now open.
 

WebDebate: Can we learn diplomacy from books?

Is research on diplomacy useful and relevant? This will be the topic of our next WebDebate, on Tuesday, 7th June, at 11:00 UTC/GMT (13:00 CET). Join us on the first Tuesday of every month for an online discussion on the future of diplomatic training. WebDebates are organised by DiploFoundation within the framework of the International Forum on Diplomatic Training (IFDT). Learn more about the series of WebDebates.
Registrations are now open.
 

Study: Cybersecurity Competence Building Trends

A team of Diplo researchers has conducted a study Cybersecurity Competence Building Trends in response to an inquiry by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. They collected and analysed experiences from several OECD member states that have systematically advanced cyber competence building. Since the findings might be of value to many other countries looking at strategic approaches for enhancing national competences, the results of the study have been made publicly available. The authors of the report, Vladimir Radunović and David Rüfenacht, presented the key findings during a webinar on 19 April 2016. Learn more about the study.