An interactive online capacity development programme
Internet governance (IG) has become one of the most important policy areas of our time. Topics like privacy protection, human rights online, and cybersecurity are increasingly in the focus of global policy making. How we manage the Internet will define much of our society. Yet the growing relevance of the Internet is not yet supported by effective and inclusive IG.
The Advanced Diploma in Internet Governance gives current and future Internet policy makers a solid foundation in practical and diplomatic skills, and techniques necessary to engage effectively in international global policy processes. To obtain the diploma, participants must successfully complete three of the five courses on offer (Introduction to Internet Governance; E-Diplomacy; Internet Technology and Policy: Challenges and Solutions; Cybersecurity; Artificial Intelligence: Technology, Governance, and Policy Frameworks) within a three-year period.
Please see Course details below for further information or contact admissions@diplomacy.edu
Lecturers
Dr Stephanie Borg Psaila
Director Digital Policy
Dr Stephanie Borg Psaila is the Director for Digital Policy at DiploFoundation, and the Editor of the GIP Digital Watch observatory. In 2018-2019, she served as Diplo's Interim Director and Head of Geneva Internet Platform, replacing Founding Director Dr Jovan Kurbalija during his one-year position as co-Executive Director of the Secretariat of the United Nations High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation.
Stephanie holds a Doctorate in Law (LL.D.), a Master's in Contemporary Diplomacy, and two law-related diplomas from the University of Malta, and her special areas of interest include legal issues in digital policy, human rights, and e-diplomacy. She holds a warrant to practice as a Notary Public in Malta, and is a former journalist with The Sunday Times of Malta.
Dr Jovan Kurbalija
Executive Director
Dr Jovan Kurbalija is the Executive Director of DiploFoundation and Head of the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP). He was a member of the UN Working Group on Internet Governance (2004‒2005), special advisor to the Chairman of the UN Internet Governance Forum (2006‒2010), and a member of the High Level Multistakeholder Committee for NETmundial (2013‒2014). In 2018-2019, he served as co-Executive Director of the Secretariat of the United Nations (UN) High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation.
A former diplomat, Jovan has a professional and academic background in international law, diplomacy, and information technology. He has been a pioneer in the field of cyber diplomacy since 1992 when he established the Unit for Information Technology and Diplomacy at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies in Malta, and later, DiploFoundation.
Since 1997, Jovan’s research and articles on cyber diplomacy have shaped research and policy discussion on the impact of the Internet on diplomacy and international relations. His book, An Introduction to Internet Governance, has been translated into 9 languages and is used as a textbook for academic courses worldwide. He lectures on e-diplomacy and Internet governance in academic and training institutions in many countries, including Austria (Diplomatic Academy of Vienna), Belgium (College of Europe), Switzerland (University of St Gallen), Malta (University of Malta), and the United States (University of Southern California).
His publishes regular articles on DiploFoundation's blog, and the Huffington Post.
Ms Virginia Paque
Internet Governance and E-diplomacy Programmes
Born (and currently residing) in the United States, Ms Virginia (Ginger) Paque lived in Venezuela for more than 35 years. An educator and administrator by profession, she has 25 years’ experience in business and manufacturing systems consulting. As a board member of the United Nations Association of Venezuela, her work as the Venezuelan member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations Task Force on WSIS marked her entry to the world of Internet governance (IG) during the Geneva PrepComs. Active in Civil Society discussions on IG, Ginger served as IG Caucus co-coordinator for two years. She was a member of the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) from 2015 to 2017. Having completed a Master in Contemporary Diplomacy with a thesis focusing on the importance of IG as a new diplomatic priority, Ginger currently lectures on IG for Diplo and curates human rights topics for the GIP Digital Watch observatory.
Mr Vladimir Radunović
Cybersecurity and E-diplomacy Programmes Director
Serbian-born Mr Vladimir (Vlada) Radunović is a lecturer in cybersecurity policy, Internet governance, and e-diplomacy on postgraduate and professional courses. He also serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) and as an expert with the Geneva Internet Platform. He served as a member of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group of the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) from 2012 to 2014. Vlada has been a lecturer, speaker, and resource person on a number of educational and training programmes and events worldwide, including within the WSIS and IGF processes. His professional and research focus is on Internet governance, broadband policy and net neutrality, cybersecurity and cyber-diplomacy, e-diplomacy, and capacity development. He holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Belgrade and a Master’s in Contemporary Diplomacy from the University of Malta. He is currently working on his PhD in cybersecurity. Vlada is currently member of the Board of Directors of Diplo US.
An interactive online capacity development programme
Internet governance (IG) has become one of the most important policy areas of our time. Topics like privacy protection, human rights online, and cybersecurity are increasingly in the focus of global policy making. How we manage the Internet will define much of our society. Yet the growing relevance of the Internet is not yet supported by effective and inclusive IG.
The Advanced Diploma in Internet Governance gives current and future Internet policy makers a solid foundation in practical and diplomatic skills, and techniques necessary to engage effectively in international global policy processes.
Programme structure
The Advanced Diploma in Internet Governance requires completing three of the five courses on offer within a three-year period, with a grade of at least 75% for each. Candidates must also write a final assignment and obtain a grade of at least 70%. The courses currently on offer are:
- Introduction to Internet Governance
- E-Diplomacy
- Internet Technology and Policy: Challenges and Solutions
- Cybersecurity
- Artificial Intelligence: Technology, Governance, and Policy Frameworks
The programme language is English, giving non-native speakers a valuable opportunity to practise and hone their skills at expressing and explaining work-related concepts in this international language.
Faculty members include high-ranking practising and retired experts as well as renowned academics in the fields of Internet governance, diplomacy, and international relations. For further details please visit our faculty page.
Candidates who successfully complete the programme will receive a Diploma in Internet Governance awarded by DiploFoundation. Please note that this is a professional certification issued by DiploFoundation, a non-profit foundation. It is not a university diploma.
This programme will be of interest to:
- Officials in government ministries, departments, regulatory bodies, or institutions dealing with Information Society, Internet, and ICT-related policy issues (e.g. telecommunications, education, foreign affairs, justice)
- Postgraduate students, academics, and researchers in the IG field (telecommunications, electrical engineering, law, economics, diplomacy, international relations, development studies)
- Civil society activists in the IG and Information Society fields
- Journalists covering IG issues
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Individuals in Internet business-related fields (e.g. ISPs, software developers).
During the online courses, interaction takes place via the Internet through an online classroom. Each week, participants read the provided lecture text, adding questions, comments and references in the form of hypertext entries. Lecturers and other participants read and respond to these entries, creating interaction based on the lecture text. During the week, participants complete additional online activities (e.g. further discussion via blogs or forums, quizzes, group tasks, simulations or short assignments). At the end of the week, participants and lecturers meet online in a chat room to discuss the week’s topic. Evaluation is based on participation in course discussions and on several assignments for each course.
Courses are based on a collaborative approach to learning, involving a high level of interaction. This course requires a minimum of seven to eight hours of study time per week.
Applicants for this programme must have:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject or basic IG knowledge and/or experience of the multistakeholder approach in international affairs.
- Sufficient ability in the English language to undertake postgraduate level studies (including reading academic texts, discussing complex concepts with other course participants, and submitting written essay assignments).
- Regular access to the Internet (dial-up connection is sufficient, although broadband is preferable).
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A minimum of seven to eight hours commitment per week, and the readiness to participate in class online sessions (once a week at specified times).
The programme requires the completion of three online courses; the fee for each course is 690 Euros. The fee for each course is due upon acceptance, before the course starts. There is no additional fee, above the fee for each course, to obtain the Advanced Diploma.
Financial assistance
Discounts are available for more than one participant from the same institution. A limited number of partial scholarships are available for applicants from developing countries working in relevant fields.
To apply for a scholarship please upload your CV and a motivation letter with your course application. The motivation letter should include:
- Details of your relevant professional and educational background.
- Reasons for your interest in the course.
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Why you feel you should have the opportunity to participate in this course: how will your participation benefit you, your institution and/or your country?
As Diplo’s ability to offer scholarship support is limited, candidates are strongly encouraged to seek scholarship funding directly from local or international institutions.
Please apply online for each of your three selected courses, based on the application deadline for each course. You can click on the links below to read more about each course, learn when the next session is scheduled, check the application deadline, and access the online application forms:
- Introduction to Internet Governance
- E-Diplomacy
- Internet Technology and Policy: Challenges and Solutions
- Cybersecurity
- Artificial Intelligence: Technology, Governance, and Policy Frameworks
At any point during the three selected courses, you can contact admissions@diplomacy.edu to register your intention to obtain the Advanced Diploma in Internet Governance.