DiploNews – Issue 351 – 17 July 2018

Prof. Jovan Kurbalija, Director of Diplo and Head of the Geneva Internet Platform, to co-lead the Secretariat of the UN High Level Panel on Digital Co-operation

DiploFoundation is proud to announce the appointment of Prof. Jovan Kurbalija to a High-Level Panel on Digital Co-operation, established by United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, on 12 July 2018.  The Panel will make recommendations on how to strengthen international co-operation in the digital age, with the ultimate aim of realising the transformational potential of digital technologies, while safeguarding against risks and unintended consequences. The Panel will be composed of 20 members, in addition to two ex officio members, representing a cross-section of expertise from government, private industry, civil society, academia, and the technical community. In carrying out its work, the Panel will undertake a wide range of public consultations, including two public events and an open process inviting global inputs, starting in September. It will be supported by a Secretariat based in New York and Geneva. The Panel is expected to submit its final report to the Secretary-General within 9 months. Read more.

Upcoming study opportunities

Diploma in Humanitarian Diplomacy  – application deadline approaching

We are now accepting applications for the next session of the online diploma course Humanitarian Diplomacy, offered in co-operation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). This highly interactive 13-week course, led by Ambassador Christopher Lamb and a team of experienced practitioners, extends the knowledge base and develops the practical skills of current and future practitioners in humanitarian diplomacy and policy. The course familiarises participants with basic definitions, concepts, actors, and institutions in the field of humanitarian diplomacy; introduces international humanitarian law; hones advocacy and negotiation skills; develops participants’ research skills; and increases their understanding of national and regional humanitarian diplomacy activities.
 The course is offered in English; however, participants have the option to write and submit major course assignments and the final research paper in French or Spanish.
 The next session starts 10 September 2018 and the application deadline is 30 July 2018. Please visit the course webpage to read more and apply. 

Foundations in Education Diplomacy 

Diplo and the Center for Education Diplomacy are pleased to announce a new session of Foundations in 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 1 October 2018; apply by 3 September. 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

Applications open for the 2019 Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy

Diplo is now accepting applications for the 2019 Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy, and the Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy with a specialisation in Internet Governance. These unique postgraduate programmes, offered in co-operation 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. Scholarships covering 20%–50% of the Postgraduate Diploma fee are available for applicants from small and developing states. The programme starts on 4 February 2019. The application deadline is 15 October 2018 for international applicants, and 15 November 2018 for Maltese applicants.

Autumn courses on diplomacy and digital policy

Diplo offers a wide range of exciting online courses this autumn, starting the week of 8 October.

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

Apply by 6 August 2018 for University of Malta accredited courses and by 3 September 2018 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 30%–60% of course fees and can be applied to most online courses in 2018. Browse our course catalogue and contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu for further information. You can also sign up for our courses mailing list to be informed about upcoming courses.


Data and technology at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform have been present at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at the UN’s Economic and Social Council in New York. The HLPF is the main platform for discussions on sustainable development and plays an integral part in reviewing  progress towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Discussions increasingly include questions related to the potential of new technologies to accelerate the achievements of the goals and the role of data for monitoring the SDGs. We are publishing summaries of sessions and side events related to data and digital technology on the GIP Digital Watch Observatory.

Our recent WebDebate on #Cybermediation

In our July WebDebate, we looked at what new skills are needed for mediators to operate in a conflict environment impacted by the spread of new technologies, what new tools have become available in this context, and how mediators can concretely benefit from these skills and tools. Joining us were Mr Nickolay Mladenov (UN Secretary-General’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process); Prof. Jovan Kurbalija (Director of DiploFoundation and Head of the Geneva Internet Platform); and Mr Enrico Formica (Senior Mediation Officer, Policy and Mediation Division, Department of Political Affairs, United Nations Office at Geneva). Read Andrijana Gavrilovic’s summary and watch the recording here.