Text – Karim Abdelghani
The Advanced Diploma in Internet Governance was an enriching program. It offered deep dives into critical policy issues like internet technology, cybersecurity, and AI governance. The instructors were experts who made complex topics engaging and relevant. Learning alongside a global community with diverse backgrounds made the experience even more valuable.
– Mr Karim Abdelghani, Programme Coordinator, Arab Regional Office, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Egypt
The programme provides an insightful and unbiased overview of the internet governance space, which is necessary for me to function actively in my current role. The faculty goes beyond teaching to share real-life experiences that make teaching more impactful. Also, the interactive learning style ensures that learning is more profound and personalised and creates opportunities for better feedback and assimilation.
By completing the ADIG programme, I gained a deeper understanding of the contemporary issues associated with cybersecurity, internet governance, and artificial intelligence. I had the extraordinary opportunity to meet and network with highly experienced individuals from around the globe. Diplo’s online learning methodology provides the academic and practical components of the courses with a unique dimension not found at other educational institutions.
The ADIG programme allowed me to explore current topics with members from different stakeholder groups, such as the governmental and private sector, from backgrounds uncommonly linked to my research area, and from countries with which I have little contact. Meeting policy and decision-makers from all these different fields and experiences gave me an understanding of the practical and ethical issues they encounter and how they interact with the theory and research I engage with daily. The discussions focus not only on the now but also on what is ahead of us and reflect on how future developments will impact our engagement with these topics.
Partaking in the ADIG programme has been a valuable experience, as I was able to delve into relevant topics alongside members from various stakeholder groups – including those from the governmental and private sectors, with backgrounds unrelated to my research area, and hailing from countries that I rarely interact with. Meeting policy and decision-makers with diverse experiences allowed me to gain insight into the ethical and practical issues they face, as well as how they interact with the theories and research I engage with daily. The conversations not only focused on current matters but also anticipated future developments and considered how they would impact our approach to these topics.
This programme enabled me to understand the important dimension which cyberspace and online communications bring to foreign policy and national, regional, and global public policy. From the perspective of a participant from a developing country, the online courses help to bridge the knowledge gap by creating a unique experience for the learner who is able to grasp so much from the shared experiences and perspectives of lecturers and colleagues from across the world. Opportunities for applied knowledge also enable participants to integrate core skills and build expertise which they can rapidly put into practice.
The Advanced Diploma in Internet Governance is ideally suited for busy professionals who need to get a good grasp of the core internet technical infrastructure and how it relates to global public policy issues. The course material is constantly updated by experts to reflect the latest developments in our fast-paced environment and this leads to extremely interesting and stimulating discussions with fellow students and lecturers. The programme challenges your ideas and broadens your perspectives on how the internet is really governed.
The ADIG programme has changed the trajectory of my professional career. I found it very informative and helpful in broadening my knowledge in the field of diplomatic security. All the courses were an excellent source for my professional growth.
In obtaining the Advanced Diploma in Internet Governance, I took three online courses at DiploFoundation, i.e. Introduction to Internet Governance, E-Diplomacy, and Internet Technology and Policy. As a mid-level diplomat exposed mainly to traditional diplomatic concerns, the programme provided comprehensive working knowledge on the technical and policy aspects of the international governance of the internet. The courses provided an overview of internet governance, probed the challenges and opportunities faced by diplomatic actors in the internet age, and comprehensively tackled the main online technologies and their nexus with key internet principles. I was particularly impressed with the in-depth knowledge and diverse backgrounds of the lecturers and my classmates. The online discussions were stimulating and cutting-edge. This is an excellent programme for those who wish to understand and help shape the ever-expanding online world.
