Introduction to Internet Governance online course

Introduction to Internet Governance online course

Start date: 17 February 2025

Internet governance (IG) may be more important to you than you realise.

Have you been reading and worrying about cybersecurity threats? Does online surveillance concern you and your colleagues? These are important IG issues. Learning more about IG will help you understand these personal and professional issues, and what can and should be done about them. Net neutrality? Privacy in online storage? Guidelines for cross-border Internet issues? How can regulators enhance and protect without interfering with the innovative principles that are the core of the internet?

The ten-week Introduction to Internet Governance online course introduces IG policy and covers main issues, including infrastructure and standardisation, cybersecurity, legal, economic, development, and sociocultural issues, human rights, and IG processes and actors in dedicated modules.

It also covers broadband policy; management of domain names and IP addresses, including the transition from IPv4 to IPv6; network neutrality; jurisdiction, intellectual property rights, open source and piracy; privacy protection; data security and cybersecurity; child protection; human rights; content management; digital signatures; emerging issues such as policies related to social networks and cloud computing, and more, with space for regional and other issues raised by the participants.

This course can be taken as part of the Advanced Diploma in Internet Governance.

What will you learn?

  • To understand internet-related terminology, concepts, and issues
  • To understand the international aspects of internet governance
  • How to identify institutional and negotiation aspects of internet governance
  • How to explain the various regional and professional understandings and approaches to internet governance
  • How to engage in the internet governance policy processes in their countries and regions, as well as in global policy processes.

How will you learn?

In this course you will interact intensively in discussions with classmates and lecturers from around the world. You will receive guidance and personalised feedback on your classwork from the course team.

How long will you learn?

The course lasts for ten weeks:

  • one week of course introduction and orientation to online learning
  • eight weeks of addressing the course topics one by one (see below for more details)
  • one week for the final assignment and completing pending tasks

Who should apply

Diplo seeks applications from the following, from both developed and developing countries:

  • officials in government ministries, departments, or institutions dealing with the Information Society, internet and ICT-related policy issues (e.g. telecommunications, education, foreign affairs, justice)
  • postgraduate students, academics and researchers in the IG field (e.g. in telecommunications, electrical engineering, law, economics, development studies)
  • civil society activists in the IG and Information Society fields
  • journalists covering IG issues
  • individuals in internet business-related fields (e.g. ISPs, software developers)

This course may also be of interest to:

  • journalists, staff of international and non-governmental organisations, translators, business people and others who interact with diplomats and wish to improve their understanding of diplomacy-related topics
  • postgraduate students or practitioners in other fields seeking an entry point into the world of diplomacy
  • postgraduate students of diplomacy or international relations wishing to study topics not offered through their university programmes or diplomatic academies and to gain deeper insight through interaction with practising diplomats
  • practising diplomats, civil servants, and others working in international relations who want to refresh or expand their knowledge on the subject, under the guidance of experienced practitioners and academics

Overview

Excerpt from course materials

...IG is sometimes used interchangeably with Internet regulation and Internet policy. Although there is a considerable overlap, there are still specific differences between these concepts. Regulation implies the existence of legal rules with prescriptions of behaviour and sanctions, while policy is a broader term, usually referring to a plan to guide decisions and actions.

The course consists of eight modules:

  • Introduction to internet governance
  • Infrastructure basket
  • Security basket
  • Legal basket
  • Economic basket
  • Development and sociocultural basket
  • Human rights basket
  • Internet governance actors and processes

Course lecturers

Jovan Kurbalija

Executive Director, Diplo

Marília Maciel

Head of Digital Commerce & Internet Policy, Diplo

Virginia (Ginger) Paque

Senior Policy Editor, Diplo

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Vladimir Radunović

Director of Cybersecurity & E-diplomacy, Diplo

Stephanie Borg Psaila

Director of Digital Policy, Diplo

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Pavlina Ittelson

Executive Director, Diplo US

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Sorina Teleanu

Director of Knowledge, Diplo

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Katarina Bojović

Head of Knowledge Ecology, Diplo

Methodology

The Introduction to Internet Governance online course is based on a collaborative learning approach, involving a high level of interaction over a period of ten weeks. Reading materials and the necessary tools for online interaction are provided in a virtual classroom.

Each week, participants study and discuss course materials and complete additional online activities. At the end of the week, participants and lecturers meet to discuss the topic of the week. For successful completion, this course requires a minimum of five to seven hours of study time per week.

Participants who successfully complete a certificate course receive a certificate issued by Diplo which can be printed or shared electronically via a permanent link. Participants who successfully complete an accredited course will receive nine ECTS credits from the University of Malta.

Participants are invited to join Diplo’s global internet governance online community of over 1,400 members, and to attend monthly webinars and other IG-related events and activities.

Prerequisites

All course applicants must have regular internet access; dial-up connections are sufficient, but broadband is preferable.

Applicants for certificate courses must have:

  • basic IG knowledge and/or experience of the multistakeholder approach in international affairs
  • an undergraduate university degree OR three years of work experience and appropriate professional qualifications in diplomacy or international relations.
  • sufficient English language skills to undertake postgraduate-level studies

Applicants for accredited courses must meet the University of Malta prerequisites:

  • a bachelor's degree in a relevant subject with at least Second Class Honours
  • proof of English language proficiency obtained within the last 2 years (minimum requirements: TOEFL paper-based – 650; TOEFL internet-based – 95; IELTS – 6.5.; Cambridge – Proficiency Certificate with Grade C or better). If when applying you are still waiting for your English language proficiency results, the University may issue a conditional letter of acceptance

Fees and scholarships

Course fees depend on whether you wish to obtain university credit for the course or a Diplo certificate:

  • University of Malta accredited courses: €850
  • Diplo certificate courses: €690

Note: Diplo alumni can benefit from a 15% discount on the fee for this course.

A limited number of partial scholarships are available for diplomats and others working in international relations from developing countries. Discounts are available for more than one participant from the same institution.

You can apply for this course as:

How to apply

Fill out the short form to start your application process for this course. You will receive an instruction email on how to continue.

Applying for financial assistance? Please indicate this on the application form, upload your CV, and a motivation statement that should explain how your participation will benefit you, your institution and/or your country, and should include:

  • details of your relevant professional and educational background
  • reasons for your interest in the course
  • why you feel you should have the opportunity to participate in this course

Please note that financial assistance from Diplo is available only to applicants from developing countries!

Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available in the course.

 

Apply for a University of Malta accredited course

Complete application packages must be received by specified application deadlines in order to be considered.

  1. Two copies of the University of Malta application form filled out in full
  2. Certified copies of original degree(s) and official transcripts
  3. English translations of degree(s) and transcripts if they are not in English, signed and stamped by a translator
  4. English language proficiency certificate obtained within the last two years (minimum requirements TOEFL paper-based – 650; TOEFL internet-based – 95. IELTS – 6.5.; Cambridge – Proficiency Certificate with Grade C or better). Please indicate on the application form if you are still waiting for your English language proficiency results
  5. Photocopy of personal details pages of your passport
  6. If you are requesting financial assistance, please include your CV and a motivation letter with your application. The motivation letter should include details of your relevant professional and educational background; reasons for your interest in the course; and why you feel you should have the opportunity to participate in this course (i.e. how will your participation benefit you, your institution and/or your country). Financial assistance from DiploFoundation is available only to applicants from developing countries.
  7. Application fee or proof of payment (€100, non-refundable – see methods of payment)

Please send the complete application package by email to admissions@diplomacy.edu or by post to:

DiploFoundation
Anutruf, Ground Floor
Hriereb Street
Msida, MSD 1675, Malta

Please note that by sending your application package, you are confirming that you have read Diplo's Privacy Policy. Please note that Diplo will process and share your personal data with third parties (including the University of Malta) for admissions and academic matters, administering finance, and administrative purposes in accordance with the Privacy Policy.

 

Cancellation policy

Diplo reserves the right to cancel this course if enrolment is insufficient. In case of cancellation, Diplo will notify applicants shortly after the application deadline. Applicants who have paid an application fee may apply this fee towards another course or receive a refund.