DiploNews – Issue 403 – 16 September 2020

Upcoming study opportunities

◆ Applications open! Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy

Diplo is now accepting applications for the 2021 online Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy and the Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy with a specialisation in Internet Governance, run in co-operation with the University of Malta Department of International Relations.

During 16 to 20 months of online study, the programmes guide working diplomats, international relations professionals, and Internet policymakers through the theoretical and practical building blocks of diplomacy, with a focus on contemporary issues and challenges.

In response to the current global pandemic, the introductory workshop – traditionally offered in Malta – will be run online in 2021, eliminating the need for travel and reducing expenses for participants.

Scholarships covering 20%–50% of the Postgraduate Diploma fee are available for applicants from small and developing states. The programme starts on 25 January 2021.

For further information and to apply, please visit the Master in Contemporary Diplomacy webpage.

◆ Applications open! 5 autumn courses on diplomacy and digital policy (start: 5 October)

DiploFoundation offers a wide range of exciting online courses this autumn, starting the week of 5 October.

• Cybersecurity
• Economic Diplomacy
• Language and Diplomacy
• Negotiation Skills
• Sustainable Development Diplomacy

Apply by 25 September 2020 for Diplo certificate courses. For further information or to apply, click on the titles of the courses above, or visit our courses webpage. Register now to reserve your place.

Sign up for our courses mailing list to stay informed about upcoming courses.

◆ Need financial assistance? Scholarships are available.

Thanks to the support from the government of Malta, partial scholarships are available for applicants from developing countries to attend upcoming Diplo online courses. These scholarships cover 30%–60% of course fees and can be applied to most online courses in 2020. Browse our course catalogue and contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu for further information.

​◆ Alumni discount

The autumn session is the last chance to take advantage of our increased alumni discount of 25%. This special discount for the remainder of 2020 is our support for continuous learning for alumni members during the COVID-19 pandemic.

14 new events and tools from Diplo and the GIP

DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) have embarked on a series of 14 launches of new events and tools for diplomats, policymakers, and practitioners. Read our blog post with the listing of all the launches and make sure to pencil them in your agenda.

Our first event was the launch of the new Digital Watch observatory web portal, which not only has a fresh new look, but offers AI-assisted analysis and more! Read about the DW launch here.

Upcoming events

◆ IG Briefing: Internet governance in September 2020 (29 September)

Held on the last Tuesday of the month, the Internet governance briefings provide a ‘zoomed-out’ update of the major global Internet governance and digital policy developments. Register here for the September IG Briefing.

Main takeaways from our recent events

◆ Right On Web Chat: ‘Communicating human rights: How to win the global “battle of ideas”‘

Studies show that people tend to gravitate more towards negative news than positive ones. While this may be a worrying trend, hope exists for a more positive type of content. In this event we discussed how outrage moves people, human rights responses to populism, the EU’s efforts on communicating human rights, and adjusting to new circumstances. Watch the recording and read the summary.

◆ WebDebate: ‘The UN at 75: Evolution or revolution?’

75 years after its inception, is the United Nations going through an evolution or a revolution in some of the key topics and how they are addressed? The discussion focused on three core pillars of the UN: peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development, together with the emerging theme of digital co-operation. Watch the recording and read the summary.

Blogs and publications

◆ French translation: 52nd issue of the GIP Digital Watch newsletter

For the benefit of our French-speaking followers, we have published the French translation of the 52nd issue of the GIP Digital Watch newsletter. This issue provides an analysis of the salient trends in July and August, including tech disputes between the USA and China, the invalidation of the EU-US Privacy Shield, antitrust issues, and digital finance. Get your copy here / Téléchargez votre copie. Didn’t manage to read the English version? Access it here.

◆ Blog post: 15 years of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)

As we celebrate the 15th anniversary of WSIS, Prof. Jovan Kurbalija (DiploFoundation, Executive Director; Head, Geneva Internet Platform (GIP)) takes a look back at the origins of WSIS, its achievements, and reflects on what we can learn from the WSIS experience in regard to future digital developments. Read the blog post.

We have also reported from a selection of sessions from the final week of the 2020 WSIS Forum. Find them here.

Diplo team at external events

◆ Round table on the future of Internet governance in Geneva (16 September)

Prof. Jovan Kurbalija (Executive Director, DiploFoundation; Head, Geneva Internet Platform (GIP)) will participate in a round table discussion on the future of Internet governance in Geneva. Read more on the official event page.

◆ SEEDIG 6: ‘Privacy and Data Protection in SEE+ during the COVID-19 pandemic’ (24 September)

Ms Pavlina Ittelson (Project Officer, DiploFoundation) will contribute to the South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance (SEEDIG) 6 session titled ‘Privacy and Data Protection in SEE+ during the COVID-19 pandemic’. Read more on the official event page.

Updates from the Diplo family

Dr Katharina Höne has assumed the role of DiploFoundation’s Director of Research. She is not a new face at Diplo, as she was previously serving as Senior Lecturer, Researcher, and Project Manager. Congratulations Katharina!