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DiploNews – Issue 481 – 15 December 2023

Diplo Academy upcoming courses and programmes

🆕 Special assistance fund for LDCs! 2024 MA in Contemporary Diplomacy (with internet governance specialisation)

We are pleased to announce a special assistance fund for applicants from least developed countries (LDCs). Through this fund, eligible applicants can receive financial support of up to 75% of the postgraduate fee. The fund is supported by the Government of Malta through the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade (MFET).

The programme starts on 29 January 2024, and is run in cooperation with the Department of International Relations, University of Malta.

During 16 to 20 months of online study, the programme guides 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.

❗ Financial assistance available:

  • Diplo alumni are entitled to a 20% reduction in tuition fees.
  • Applicants from developing countries can be awarded a limited number of partial scholarships.
  • Maltese applicants can benefit from up to 70% off the fee in tax credits as part of the Get Qualified scheme.

For further information and to apply, please visit the MA/PGD in Contemporary Diplomacy web page. Interested in learning more or in applying? Write to us at admissions@diplomacy.edu

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❄️ Winter 2024 online courses!

Reserve your place in our popular winter course!

👉🏼 Application deadlines for certificates issued by Diplo: 15 January 2024

For further information and to apply, click the course titles above or visit Diplo’s course catalogue.

Need financial assistance? Scholarships 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 2024. Browse our course catalogue and contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu for further information.


Blogs and publications

◆ Geneva Manual on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace

The inaugural edition of the Geneva Manual focuses on the implementation of the two norms related to ICT supply chain security and responsible reporting of ICT vulnerabilities, thus building on earlier results of the Geneva Dialogue to collect good practices by industry and private sector in reducing vulnerabilities in digital products and securing their design and development.

It highlights the diverse perspectives of non-state stakeholders, emphasising the importance of multistakeholder participation in the implementation of norms, and identifies areas of agreement and divergence among non-state stakeholders.

At the same time, the Geneva Manual raises critical questions for future discussions, including but not limited to, the role and responsibility of citizen customers in implementing cyber norms, enhancing accountability of private and state actors exploiting vulnerabilities, and the feasibility of developing global rules for ICT supply chain security in the current global context of increasing technological and economic competition between countries.

Get your copy of the Geneva Manual on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace and watch the recording below!

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◆ Digital Watch newsletter #85, December 2023

In the latest issue of the Digital Watch Monthly:

  • The four seasons of AI
  • EU lawmakers warring over the bloc’s AI Act
  • Higher stakes in the race for artificial general intelligence (AGI)?
  • Balancing online speech: Combating hate while preserving freedom
  • Launch of the Geneva Manual on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace
  • Everything else in a snapshot!

Read the newsletter!

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◆ UNCTAD eWeek reporting

UNCTAD eWeek: 127 session reports, 624 unique speakers, and 833 speeches totalling 1,440,706 words!

By using DiploAI (Diplo’s domain-specific AI), we have provided summaries from all UNCTAD eWeek sessions, together with some interesting statistics.

Read the reports and event statistics!

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◆ Digital Watch Weekly #139

  • EU lawmakers reach a deal on AI Act
  • Microsoft, OpenAI partnership faces antitrust scrutiny
  • India launches repository for DPI

Read the weekly!


◆ ConfTech Digest #30, November–December

What’s new in online meeting platforms? Some highlights:

  • Microsoft: New Copilot features in Whiteboard and Teams
  • Google Meet gesture detection
  • Zoom Clips for recording, editing, and sharing concise videos

Read the ConfTech Digest!


◆ Challenging conventions: The vital role of contrarians in shaping policy and knowledge

In an era marked by cancel culture, Aldo Matteucci’s examination of contrarians gains new relevance. As we navigate a world quick to silence dissent, this piece illuminates the crucial role of contrarian voices often targeted by cancel culture. It invites readers to reflect on the delicate balance between challenging norms and the rapid judgment that defines our current cultural landscape.

Read the blog post!


◆ Machiavelli’s hypotheses vs historical facts

How do Machiavelli’s views on religion and power compare to the actual historical facts of empire-building in China and Rome? Analysis by Aldo Matteucci.

Read the blog post!


Upcoming events

◆ Webinar: The Impact of AI on Data Collection, Exploitation, Protection, and Privacy in Africa (17 Jan)

Join us as we explore the transformative impact of rapidly advancing AI technologies on data collection, exploitation, protection, and privacy in Africa, focusing on the implications of AI use in various domains.

By also looking at the Malabo Convention, the webinar aims to assess risks and challenges in data-related domains, explore opportunities, highlight ethical considerations, and propose policy recommendations.

Join us on 17 January 2024, 13:30–15:00 UTC (16:30-18:00 Nairobi time)

Read more and register to attend!


Latest videos

◆ Geneva Digital Atlas: Why, When, What, How, Who

  • Why does technology meet humanity in Geneva?
  • When did the interplay between technology and humanity begin in Geneva?
  • What AI and digital policy issues are dealt with in Geneva?
  • How are AI and digital governance issues addressed in Geneva?
  • Who are the main digital actors in Geneva?

Learn more in the video below and check out the Geneva Digital Atlas page.

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Don’t miss…

◆ Session: New Metaverse Frontiers for National Governments

Diplo’s Director for Digital Policy Dr Stephanie Borg Psaila participated in the discussion ‘New Metaverse Frontiers for National Governments’ at The Metaverse Spectrum Business Conference & Expo. Watch the session recording below.

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