DiploNews – Issue 433 – 17 December 2021

Diplo celebrates the life of late Ambassador Saviour F. Borg

It is with great sadness that this week we said our last goodbyes to Ambassador Saviour F. Borg, who passed away on 12 December. Read Diplo’s Jovan Kurbalija’s thoughts about Ambassador Borg. 

Upcoming study opportunities

◆ Now entirely online:  Master in Contemporary Diplomacy 

Choosing to further your studies is a smart decision. But choosing a programme that helps you make the best use of your time is even smarter.

Our Master in Contemporary Diplomacy (with an option to specialise in internet governance), offered in cooperation with the University of Malta, is now held entirely online, making it both time and cost effective. You can adapt your study schedule around your work and family commitments. Thanks to the support of the Government of Malta, up to 50% of the fees can be covered by a scholarship for eligible applicants. 

During 16 to 20 months of online study, the programme guides participants through the theoretical and practical building blocks of diplomacy, with a focus on contemporary issues and challenges. The next programme starts on 24 January 2022. 

👉🏼 Learn more and apply by 22 December 2021!

◆ Applications open! Winter 2022 online courses

Register now to reserve your place in our popular winter courses:

• Diplomatic Theory and Practice
• Public Diplomacy
• Artificial Intelligence
• Intro to Internet Governance
• Capacity Development 
• Humanitarian Diplomacy

👉🏼 Application deadlines for certificates issued by Diplo: 17 January 2022

For further information and to apply, click the course titles above or visit Diplo’s course catalogue.

◆ Need financial assistance? Scholarships are available.

Thanks to the 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 2022. Browse our course catalogue and contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu for further information.

Upcoming events

◆ Learn from the past, look to the future – A historical journey #11 (21 Dec)

We’ve come to the end of our adventurous journey! During our History of Diplomacy and Technology journey led by Prof Jovan Kurbalija, we’ve learnt that the past, present, and future are intertwined. We invite you to join us for our final episode.  This time, together with you, we will try to imagine the future, while looking back at our past. Join us on Tuesday, 21st December, at 13:00 UTC (14:00 CET). Register for the event here!

Haven’t been on the journey yet or missed certain stops? You can watch and rewatch them all in our dedicated YouTube playlist!

Main takeaways from our recent events

◆ Technology for Development – From Geneva: Reflections on Digital Future (15 Dec)

Opportunity does not come without risk. Technological advances must respect human rights, democracy and strengthen economic and political stability. How can we bring about the meaningful engagement of governments, international organisations, public and private organisations, research institutions and citizens in an effective partnership? Missed the event? Watch the recording here or on the Diplo YouTube channel!

◆ Digital Standards, China, and Geopolitics: What is at Stake?

China has recently shown increased participation in standard developing organisations (SDOs), which can be understood as a natural consequence of the country’s rapid technological development. In this event we presented the report ‘The geopolitics of digital standards: China’s role in standard-setting organisations’. The report, event recording, and more are available at the event page!

◆ Recent Climate Negotiations: A Perspective from the Global South  (WebDebate #52)

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues that humanity is facing today. In this event we discussed with our eminent speaker, Ambassador Kishan Rana from India, about what has been achieved and what is still missing from a Global South perspective. Watch the recording here or on the Diplo YouTube channel!

Blogs and publications

◆ Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2021 – reporting

As in previous years, we have reported from the IGF. Access the session and daily reports, and the newly published IGF 2021 Final Report. Access all Diplo IGF 2021 resources here.

◆ Digital Watch newsletter – Issue 65 – December 2021

In the latest Digital Watch newsletter we talk about the Metaverse, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the court order for Apple to open up the App Store, and more. Read it here!

We’ve also explained and analysed the same topics in our monthly briefing, head to Diplo’s YouTube channel now to watch the highlights!

Don’t miss…

◆ Reporting from UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) 2021–2025

The UN OEWG 2021-2025 is currently underway. Next week the Geneva Internet Platform will provide a report on the discussions held during this week of discussions. Keep an eye open here!