DiploNews – Issue 303 – 4 July 2016

Upcoming study opportunities

Education Diplomacy Online Course

Diplo and the Center for Education Diplomacy are pleased to announce the second session of the online course on Education Diplomacy. Education and development are rapidly being shaped by the influence of new actors, international policy, funding structures, and the proliferation of initiatives. This interactive online course presents the concept of Education Diplomacy in depth, considers the broader impact it may have on education, and allows participants to become more effective and responsive to the dynamic landscape of education. The next course starts on 26 September 2016; apply by 15 August. Partial scholarships are available for selected candidates from developing countries who are active in the field of Education Diplomacy. For more details and to apply, visit the course webpage or contact admissions@diplomacy.edu

2017 Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy

Diplo is 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.

Online Diploma Course in Humanitarian Diplomacy
 
The next session of the Humanitarian Diplomacy online diploma course, offered by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in cooperation with DiploFoundation, will start on 5 September 2016. This 12-week course, led by Ambassador Christopher Lamb and a team of international experts, will extend the knowledge base and develop practical skills of current and future practitioners in humanitarian diplomacy and policy. This course is currently offered in English; however, participants who are more comfortable with French will have the option to write and submit some course assignments and their final research project in French. Partial bursaries are available for applicants from developing countries who work in the humanitarian field. The application deadline is 25 July 2016. For more details and to apply, visit the course webpage.

Summer online courses – last few places available

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

You can still apply for our summer courses (Diplo certificate courses) until 5 July 2016. 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.

Autumn online courses

Diplo offers a wide range of exciting onlne courses this autumn, starting the week of 3 October.

• Consular and Diaspora Diplomacy
• Cybersecurity
• Development Diplomacy
• Economic Diplomacy
• Language and Diplomacy

Apply by 3 August 2015 for University of Malta accredited courses and by 31 August 2015 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. Browse our course catalogue and contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu for further information.

What's been happening in Diplo's blogsphere

Recent discussions in Diplo’s blogsphere include a detailed summary of one of our events, a historical reflection and walk through Geneva, and a commentary on recent events in the UK and their implications. The summary of our June WebDebate on Is research on diplomacy relevant and useful? highlights key points from the debate between Prof. Alan Henrikson and Prof.. Yolanda Spies and also offers a list of further reading. In A 200-year-old Frankenstein memory: alive and well, Diplo’s director Dr Jovan Kurbalija takes us on a walk through Geneva to Villa Diodati where the idea for Frankenstein was conceived in 1816. Inspired by the location, he draws three parallels – related to the weather, progress, and ‘us’ versus ‘them’ thinking – between 1816 and 2016. Last but not least, the final blog post, also by Dr Kubalija takes the results of the UK referendum to leave the EU as a starting point to look at the Challenges for the Internet in the post-Brexit era through a discussion of trust, democratic decisions, predictability, and fairness. 

June Geneva Digital Watch newsletter is out

Published on 30 June 2016, issue 12 of the Geneva Digital Watch newsletter provides the latest digital policy updates which took place in June. The main highlights:

• The editorial on Challenges for the Internet in the post-Brexit era argues that the shifting paradigms of globalisation and integration are likely to directly affect the Internet. However, the mix of legitimate interests and limited power of the main Internet governance actors provides some optimism for future Internet developments, even in the context of the post-Brexit pessimism.
• The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression presented his report on the current situation with freedom of expression in the digital era during the 32nd Session of the Human Rights Council. In this issue we provide an overview of the report’s main findings.
• A tiny portion of the deep web belongs to the 'dark web' – a space without a centralised structure and with non-indexed and very volatile content that is accessible only with special browsers. The issue looks at what makes this safe haven for criminals particularly resilient.
• The 9th meeting of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG), held on 9-10 June in Brussels, brought together over 600 participants to discuss a wide range of Internet-related issues identified as being of interest for Internet governance stakeholders in Europe. Cybersecurity and human rights were among them.
• Securing your computer is no different to securing your health: along with regular personal hygiene and medical check-ups, perform digital hygiene and check-ups as well. Check the newsletter for some recommendations.
• Included in this issue are events which took place in International Geneva in June, and the main global digital policy events in July

Where to find Diplo in July? Asia!

This month, Asia will be the centre of many of Diplo's activities. In the preparations for the ASEM Summit in Ulaanbaatar, Diplo’s Dr Katharina Hoene will run a diplomatic training course in cooperation with ASEF. She will train a group of Asian and European students in the basics of diplomacy and multilateral diplomacy. At the ASEM Summit, the ASEF Secretariat, Diplo, and the University of Turku will launch the ASEF Outlook Report 2016/2017 – CONNECTIVITY: Facts and Perspectives. The publication features a study by Dr Jovan Kurbalija From Harmonising Cyberpolicies to Promoting Twiplomacy: How Diplomacy Can Strengthen Asia-Europe’s Digital Connectivity. You may also find Diplo in Vietnam, where Dr Jovan Kurbalija will participate in the Fundamental Science and Society conference. Missing Diplo already? Don’t worry, we will keep you up to date with blog posts about our activities.