Education Diplomacy

Learn to effectively advance education as a bridge that promotes peace, prosperity, and sustainability.

Due in part to shifts in global governance mechanisms, there has been a diversification of actors in the areas of education and development who are influencing international policy, funding structures, and the proliferation of initiatives. It has also been recognised that universal education goals cannot be achieved without the creation of innovative systems and partnerships. The practice of Education Diplomacy – processes that use negotiation and other diplomatic skills to cultivate trust and achieve mutual benefits toward context specific education goals – has, therefore, become more important than ever.

The online course on Education Diplomacy, offered by the Center for Education Diplomacy (an initiative of the Association for Childhood Education International) in partnership with DiploFoundation, explores the concept in depth and considers its practical relevance for a broad impact on education.

By the end of this course, participants will able to:

• Explain the concept of education diplomacy, with reference to both traditional and new understandings of diplomacy
• Explain how their own field of activity fits into the wider definition and contributes to education diplomacy
• Describe the forums where education diplomacy takes place
• Identify and describe the main state and non-state actors in education diplomacy and their roles
• Recognise the increasingly diverse stakeholders and partnerships involved in education and their implications for the sector
• Identify and describe international policy instruments in the field of education
• Describe the importance of education diplomacy as a contributor to development and the transformational role of education as it relates to the Sustainable Development Goals
• Analyse case studies of education diplomacy to identify and learn from good practices
• Use the skills of education diplomacy to advance the global agenda and international cooperation
• Collaborate effectively online

Course outline

1. Education diplomacy as ‘new diplomacy’: the traditional understanding of diplomacy; the ‘new diplomacy’; the normative dimensions of education diplomacy; suggestions towards a better understanding of education diplomacy.
2. A cognitive framework for education diplomacy: education as a human right, education for human rights; education as development, education for development; improving education: qualitative vs. quantitative approaches.
3. States in education diplomacy: from national concerns to international affairs; who is involved?; goals and uses of education diplomacy; what are the skills needed for education diplomats from a state-centric perspective?
4. Non-state actors in education diplomacy: what kinds of non-state actors are important for education diplomacy?; what are the possibilities for the involvement of civil society organisations at the local, national, regional, and global level?
5. Education and the international legal and policy framework - developing norms, goals, and policy: the development of international education norms (establishing and developing education as a human right, The World Education Forum and Education for All movement, the MDGs and the SDGs); international law – a few distinctions: law, customary law, and soft law; other legal instruments; policy documents.
6. Elements of transformation in education diplomacy: systems theory and systems thinking; change management; project assessment, management and evaluation.
7. Diplomatic negotiations: typical phases of a negotiation process (prenegotiations: establishing common ground, agenda, and procedure; around-the-table negotiations: formula and details); momentum and the use of deadlines; strategies.
8. Critical issues and future outlook: from the MDGs to the SDGs; ‘measure what we treasure’; financing for education; globalisation and its pressures - exchange, collaboration, harmonisation.

Participants who successfully complete the course will earn an electronic post-graduate level certificate issued by the Center for Education Diplomacy and DiploFoundation.

This course will be of interest to anyone who seeks to engage more deeply in their work through systemic, interdisciplinary knowledge and a greater understanding of diplomatic skills and processes. Course content will be particularly targeted to:

• Diplomats responsible for educational exchange as part of a cultural diplomacy portfolio (i.e., cultural attachés).
• Officials from ministries of education or other ministries whose work touches on international education issues.
• Educators interested in learning about international issues in education and the workings of diplomacy as it relates to education.
• Staff of international organisations and NGOs (UNESCO, UNICEF), civil society, and the private sector working on or interested in international education issues.
• Graduate students interested in comparative and international education, international education policy and development, international affairs with a focus on education, international development, and human rights.

This course is conducted entirely online over a period of ten weeks. Reading materials and tools for online interaction are provided 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 (for example, 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. To complete the course successfully, participants must complete a final essay assignment. Courses are based on a collaborative approach to learning, involving a high level of interaction.

This course requires a minimum of five to seven hours of study time per week.

Participants who successfully complete the course will earn an electronic post-graduate level certificate issued by the Center for Education Diplomacyand DiploFoundation.

Applicants must have an undergraduate university degree. At least two years experience working in a relevant field with a strong interest in international education issues is recommended.

€810 per participant, due upon acceptance into the course.

A limited number of partial scholarships will be available to selected candidates from developing countries who are active in the field of education diplomacy. Please indicate on your application form if you are requesting a scholarship.

Please apply online using our online application form by 15 August 2016.

Please note that the application form asks you to provide a short motivation statement (100 - 150 words) explaining the reasons for your interest in this course. What are your personal and professional objectives for the future, and how will this course help you to reach them?

Please do not forget to indicate on the application form if you are requesting a partial scholarship.

Late applications will be considered only if places remain in the course. In case of enquiries, please contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu.