BELGRADE COURSE ON
THE INFORMATION SOCIETY GOVERNANCE

8th September - 15th December 2003
(Belgrade » Cyberspace » Geneva)

Course Objectives | Unique Features | Course Methodology | Topics | Graphical Presenation of the Key Course Issue    

Geneva Phase | Final Session - Belgrade, March 3rd, 2004 | Links to Students' Portals

• to enhance participants' understanding of Information Society (IS) and Internet-related concepts and terminology;
• to introduce participants to the international aspect of the IS and Internet governance;
• to increase participants' understanding of the negotiation process;
• to introduce participants to online negotiation techniques.

 
» Unique Features 

The course included several unique features: 

• a methodology combining knowledge acquisition and skill transfer,
• a focus on international aspects of information society governance and
• a multistakeholder approach involving various actors in the training phase.

Excerpts from the Course Photo Album (Introductory Workshop)

 
» Course Methodology 

The course is divided into five baskets (see topics). Each basket is covered over two weeks. 
During the first week students acquire theoretical knowledge (learn about). 

• Before the first online session for each basket participants receive background materials to review in preparation for the session.
• During the online session participants discuss the topic with lecturers.
• Then they complete a short quiz to test their understanding.

During the second week participants apply the theoretical knowledge in a practical negotiation exercise (learn how). 

• Participants take on roles of countries, international organisations and other players (NGOs, business associations).
• Draft texts are prepared by committees as the basis for online negotiations.
• Participants negotiate in the online conference room using adapted rules and procedures of multilateral negotiations. The secretariat consolidates the newly agreed version of the text and makes it available for hypertext negotiations.
• Participants receive feedback on content and procedures, additional information on topics triggered by negotiations, and a "reality check" to compare their performance with the real actors. 

For more information about Diplo Learning Methodology please consult.


» Topics (to be covered during the Course)

Governance & Standardisation Basket Institutional Framework Infrastructure Interconnectivity and Interoperability Security of Information Systems Encryption DNS policy Standards (Technical and Content)       Legal Basket Intellectual Property Cybercrime Jurisdiction Digital Signature Dispute Resolution - Arbitration Labour Law        Development Basket Digital Divide Universal Access Migration - Brain Drain Financial Support: Public and Private Sources Technology Transfer

Economic Basket Electronic Commerce Data Protection Consumer Protection Taxation o Customs Online Banking Electronic Money Investment Market and Pricing Regulation        Socio-Cultural Basket Human Rights Privacy Protection Common Heritage of Mankind: Knowledge and Information on the Internet Multilingualism and Cultural Diversity Moral and Cultural Values Education Content Control

For more information about the five baskets please consult the Information Society Portal.


» Graphical Presentation of the Key Course Issue

 
» Geneva Phase

Participants, selected on the basis of their results from the online phase, gathered in Geneva to take part in the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (December 10-12, 2003). They acted as members of DiploTeam on the ICT4D platform and had the specific task of conducting diplomatic reporting. Following their participation in various workshops during WSIS, they prepared short reports on these events. This exercise in diplomatic reporting was supervised by Mr. Alex S. Trigona, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta.

The students' reports on WSIS events are accessible from the following web page.
 
 
» Final Session - Belgrade, March 3rd 2004 

On March 3rd, 2004, the students of the Information Society Governance course gathered once again at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Montenegro, in Belgrade, to present their final projects to a new set of Diplo students - the participants in the Human Rights and Diplomacy course.

The Internet portals the students developed during the online phase of the course - now further expanded to encompass the new knowledge they gathered in Geneva during WSIS - were presented and discussed.

Following the presentation of the final projects, the Ambassador of Switzerland congratulated the participants on their achievements and handed out the diplomas.


» Links to Students' Portals

Nevena Ružić - Copyright and The Role and Liability of Internet Service Providers

Vladimir Radunović - Privacy and Internet

Nenad Šljivić - Data Protection

Mina Zirojević - Terrorism and Internet

Sanja Jelisavac - Copyright Protection and The Internet