DiploNews – Issue 217 – 4 December 2012

Upcoming study opportunities

Humanitarian Diplomacy online course

Diplo is pleased to cooperate with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to offer the Humanitarian Diplomacy online course. This 12-week course, led by Ambassador Christopher Lamb and other experienced practitioners, will extend the knowledge base and develop practical skills of current and future practitioners in humanitarian diplomacy and policy. In a supportive international online environment, the class will familiarise participants with basic definitions, concepts, actors and institutions in the field of humanitarian diplomacy, introduce international humanitarian law, hone advocacy and negotiation skills, develop participants’ research skills, and increase their understanding of national and regional humanitarian diplomacy activities. The course starts on 11 February 2013; the application deadline is 7 January 2013. For more details and to apply, see the course website.
 

Call for applications: Introduction to Internet Governance

Professionals working in specialised ICT-related areas often need to supplement their knowledge and training by learning about other areas which affect or can have an impact on their area of specialization. Just as the Internet brings down geographical boundaries, it also creates several overlaps and intersections between the many issues and areas of Internet governance and ICT policy. The online course Introduction to Internet Governance helps bridge the gaps by covering topics such as broadband policy, management of domain names and IP addresses, network neutrality, jurisdiction, intellectual property rights, open source and piracy, cybersecurity and child protection, human rights, content management, digital signatures and emerging issues. The next course starts on 18 February 2013; however, few days are left to apply. Read more about the course, including methodology, course requirements, and how to apply. Apply by 17 December for the University of Malta accredited course and by 31 December for the Diplo Certificate Course.
 

2013 online courses

Start your year with online learning. The following courses all start in mid-February 2013:

• Diplomatic Theory and Practice
• Public Diplomacy
• Language and Diplomacy
• Diplomatic Protocol and Etiquette
• Multilateral Diplomacy II: Current Issues in the United Nations

Courses start the week of 18 February 2013. Apply by 17 December 2012 for University of Malta accredited courses and by 14 January 2013 for Diplo Certificate Courses. For further information or to apply, click on the titles of the courses above, or visit our courses website. Register now to reserve your place.

Discussing Internet governance

Machine-to-machine communication is not science fiction any more. Today, stolen vehicles are able to report their present location; a smart metre might be informing a household about present energy consumption at home, and so on. By 2020, an estimated 50 billion intelligent machines will be fighting for bandwidth. In Machine to machine communication – Not a fiction anymore, Naveed Ul-Haq explores the evolution, developments, and extraordinary possibilities of M2M communication.

In Opportunity-oriented environment in developing countries, Roi Shillo talks about what is needed to create such an environment in developing countries, by examining the advantages and disadvantages of mobile access. Arsene Tungali talks about consultation for policy-making, from the perspective of a country in which such a process faces many challenges. Grace Githaiga writes about one of the most important meetings this year: the World Conference on International Communications, taking place right now in Dubai. In her blog post, she explores the proposals made, including the ‘African position’. To read more IG-related blog posts, subscribe to Diplo’s IG blog, and follow blog posts shared by members of Diplo’s IG community.

Congratulations to graduates!

Six candidates from the Diplo/University of Malta Contemporary Diplomacy programme have just been awarded their Master’s degrees from the University. Another seven participants were awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy. The Master’s graduation ceremony took place at the Jesuits’ Church (adjacent to the Old University) in Valletta, Malta, on Tuesday, 27th November, while the PGD graduation ceremony took place at Sir Temi Zammit Hall, University of Malta, Msida, on Wednesday, 28th November.

The Master’s graduates and their research topics were: Giovanni Buttigieg (The United Nations and Israel), Rachid Mtougui (Public diplomacy and nation brand: A roadmap for Morocco), Christine Caruana (Sino-Maltese bilateral relations in the last 39 years: An analysis of the contribution of the Sino-Maltese bilateral relations towards Malta’s economic, political and social development ), Momodu Adama Wurie (Governance and conflict in the Mano River Union (MRU) states: Sierra Leone a case study 1980–2011), Wadzanai Nhongo (The role of regional cooperation in eradicating poverty and aid dependency in East Africa), and Ahamefule Eluwa (The role of diplomacy in the challenges to maritime security cooperation in the gulf of Guinea: Case study of Nigeria). The PGD graduates were: Eliphas John Chinyonga, Anna Durante, Christian Jean-Claude Faure, Louise Hartigan, Moshe Dayan Karbo Abayifaa, Abdulbasit Teniola Mukhtar, and Nancy Vernella Nicholas.

Diplo would like to congratulate the graduates and the faculty members who supervised their work.

What’s happening in Diplo’s blogosphere?

On Diplo’s Looking Sideways channel, in his post  Vermilion abuse, Aldo Matteucci looks the political drama squarring off China’s emperor Qianlong against the bureaucracy of the day. In Humans as other animals he shares some delightful photos and sees similarities and common descent between humans and our animal friends. Aldo also queries  and looks at China’s desire for ‘stability’. 

Over on the Climate Change channel, in her post COP18: Negotiating Climate Change. Where are the women?, Katharina Höne queries equal representation but also gender-mainstreaming in policies, practices, and programmes. She also wonders at the ‘one state, one vote’ rules in her post COP18: At the negotiation table not all are equal. Aldo replies ‘Steadfastly holding up the “one country one vote” principle in a matter as weighty as climate change abatement may delay consensus before the tipping point has been reached; this would be regrettable for all as well as self-defeating for small countries.’ Is this the start of another debate?

On the E-diplomacy channel, Pete Cranston share interviews from E-diplomacy Geneva to E-diplomacy Rome (via Malta).  In Happy anniversary SMS, Mary Murphy checks out an interview with Neil Papworth, sender of the first SMS 20 years ago. In Readings, we share with you a chart that encapulates BPBS. Curious? Click and see.

Have your say. Join the debate. Comment on these or any of our blog posts.