Negotiation Skills online course

We negotiate all the time in both personal and professional capacities. To improve outcomes and achieve our goals, it is vital to reflect on the process of negotiation and develop appropriate negotiation skills.

This practical, interactive course equips participants with the skills to successfully prepare for, conduct, and conclude negotiations in formal and informal settings with government and non-government actors. The first weeks of the course set the stage by introducing the concept and principles of negotiation. The following weeks go into greater detail regarding key skills, supported by case studies and practical learning activities. We will meet on Zoom once a week and put these skills into practice in an online simulation exercise. Participants in this course will receive individual feedback and guidance from the course facilitator to help them develop their knowledge and skills. 

Rather than going into theoretical considerations of negotiation, such as game theory or group decision-making theory, the course focuses on key skills that are valuable for a variety of negotiations.

The course also addresses questions around conducting negotiations online. With the spread of COVID-19, many negotiations moved from the physical to the virtual world, and in the process, a range of additional considerations and challenges emerged. These are addressed in the course and as part of the online simulation exercise, which will include the use of various tools for online negotiation.This course is relevant for diplomats, staff of international organisations, and also professionals working in fields of non-traditional diplomacy, such as education diplomacy, health diplomacy, internet governance, humanitarian diplomacy, and development diplomacy, which require the use of diplomatic skills to build bridges across sectors, diverse actors, and borders.

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What will you learn?

• Relate key negotiation skills and principles to your field of work
• Describe the main stages of negotiation and the principles of successful negotiation, drawing on key literature on the subject
• Explain the specific characteristics of principled negotiation
• Improve skills related to the negotiation process, such as problem analysis, reflection, intercultural communication, and intellectual flexibility
• Suggest ways to deal with power imbalances in a negotiation situation
• Understand the importance of empathy in negotiations
• Explain and assess the possible influences of intercultural communication on negotiation situations
• Describe various negotiation strategies, including framing and making concessions, and suggest how to make effective use of these in specific situations
• Define your negotiation position by carefully analysing your interests, describing your ideal negotiated outcome, and defining your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA)
• Understand how to facilitate compromise and find creative solutions for situations in which negotiation positions appear to be locked
• Achieve negotiated outcomes through mutual gain, conflict resolution, and consensus building
• Have greater awareness of your own negotiation style and your reactions to opposing positions and interests

Who should apply

• Practising diplomats and officials from relevant government ministries
• Staff of international organisations and NGOs, civil society, and the private sector working on or interested in relevant issues, including education, internet governance, health, humanitarian issues, etc.
• Graduate students interested in international affairs, international development, education, human rights, and other relevant issues
• Participants from government and non-government sectors engaged or interested in various fields of diplomacy
• Other stakeholders interested in learning about international issues that require the workings of non-traditional forms of diplomacy

Also of interest

Methodology

The course will last for a total of 5 weeks, structured as follows:

• 1 week split between the course introduction and the wrap-up
• 4 weeks dedicated to addressing the course topics individually

The course is based on a collaborative learning approach, involving a high level of interaction over a four-week period. This interaction takes place in two main forms:

• Asynchronous interaction, using a custom-developed commenting tool
• Synchronous interaction, through live class meetings held in real time

Each module is discussed over seven days, during which you are expected to actively engage in the exchange of ideas, examples, and experiences with fellow participants and lecturers from around the world. Some modules may also include additional online activities, such as quizzes and exercises. Weekly interaction concludes with a one-hour live class meeting, conducted via Zoom or as a text-based chat. These sessions provide an opportunity to discuss the week’s topic in real time with the lecturer and other participants.

To complete the course successfully, an average of 5 to 7 hours of study time per week is required. This includes both synchronous and asynchronous discussions, as well as any additional online activities. Throughout the course, you will also receive guidance and personalised feedback on your classwork from the course team.

Course materials and the necessary tools for online interaction and course tasks are provided in a virtual classroom.

Participants who successfully complete the course receive a certificate issued by Diplo Academy, which can be printed or shared electronically.

To learn more about the methodology used in this course, watch the video below.

Prerequisites

• Regular internet access
• An undergraduate university degree, OR 3 years of work experience, and appropriate professional qualifications in diplomacy or international relations
• Sufficient English language proficiency to undertake postgraduate-level studies

Fees and scholarships

The fee for this course is €500. 

• Diplo alumni are eligible for a 15% discount on the course fee.
• A limited number of partial scholarships are available for diplomats and professionals working in international relations from developing countries. 
• Group discounts are available for multiple participants from the same institution.

Applicants are encouraged to actively explore scholarship funding from local or international institutions.

How to apply

Fill out the short form to begin your application process for this course. 

Applying for financial assistance? Please indicate this on the application form and, upload your CV, along with a motivation statement that includes:

• Details of your relevant professional and educational background
• Your reasons for applying to the course
• Why you believe you should be offered the opportunity to participate, and how your participation would benefit you, your institution, and/or your country

Note: Financial assistance from Diplo is available only to applicants from developing countries! Late applications will be considered only if places are still available.

Cancellation policy

Diplo Academy 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.