Dear alumni, Starting in May this year, we are offering three of our most tried-and-tested online courses. Please keep in mind that courses fill up quickly apply early in order to be sure of a spot. Looking forward to seeing you in our online classrooms this spring! Best wishes Hannah Slavik Educational Programmes Director DiploFoundation <http://www.diplomacy.edu/> www.diplomacy.edu DiploFoundation May 2011 Courses Courses <http://www.diplomacy.edu/img/courses.gif> Diplo offers three postgraduate-level online courses starting the week of May 9, 2011 * Bilateral <http://www.diplomacy.edu/Courses/bilateral.asp> Diplomacy Ambassador Kishan Rana * Diplomacy <http://www.diplomacy.edu/Courses/smallstates.asp> of Small States Ambassador Victor Camilleri and Ms Solange Cross * E-Diplomacy <http://www.diplomacy.edu/Courses/ediplomacy.asp> Mr Stefano Baldi, Ms Marília Maciel, Dr Andrei Mikheyev and Dr Jovan Kurbalija For more information on each course please click on the titles above. These online courses are available as University <http://www.diplomacy.edu/Courses/display.asp?Topic=Programmes#Credit> of Malta Accredited Courses (application deadline: 7 March 2011) and Diplo <http://www.diplomacy.edu/Courses/display.asp?Topic=Programmes#Certificate> Certificate Courses (application deadline: 4 April 2011). Who should apply? Working diplomats, professionals involved in international relations, and others who wish to learn about new topics in the field of diplomacy or expand and refresh their knowledge of more traditional topics. How much study time will I need? Ten weeks of part-time study, around seven to ten hours per week. How does the online course work? You will work through study materials provided in the online classroom together with other participants, following a weekly cycle. Each week, you read lecture texts, adding questions and comments and responding to those added by other participants and the lecturer(s). Other weekly activities may include self-assessment quizzes, short assignments, discussion forum topics and group tasks. At the end of the weekly cycle, you will meet with other participants and lecturers in an online chat room to discuss the topic for the week. For more information on studying online and to apply, please visit Diplos courses website <http://www.diplomacy.edu/Courses> or contact admissions@diplomacy.edu. This course [Diplomacy of Small States] helped me to understand more clearly the vulnerabilities of small states and how, despite their smallness, these states can maximize the opportunities afforded by the multilateral system to enhance their causes. Nancy Nicholas, Consul, Embassy of St. Lucia in Cuba Bilateral <http://www.diplomacy.edu/Courses/bilateral.asp> Diplomacy Effective bilateral diplomacy is essential to advancing a countrys external interests. Bilateral diplomacy is one of the building blocks of international relations. This course offers a practitioners perspective, looking at concepts, and how these operate in real life as countries work to promote their interests in the contemporary global environment. The course provides participants with the tools to analyse world affairs, and to learn the craftsmanship of diplomacy. Adapted versions of this course, in a self-learning format, are currently being used by the Canadian Foreign Service Institute and the British Foreign Office. By the end of this course, participants should be able to: * describe, prioritise and provide examples of the key tasks and methods of diplomacy today, including the security dimension; economic tasks; and culture, media education and public diplomacy; * explain how the different institutions involved in bilateral diplomacy (the foreign ministry, embassies and consulates) are organised, and describe current reforms to these institutions; * explain and analyse the complex and concurrent objectives that countries pursue in their external relationships; * identify the actors, state and non-state, that compose the foreign ministrys dynamic network, and explain the role that each plays in foreign affairs; * assess current trends and methods of bilateral diplomacy, and anticipate likely future developments in this field. Diplomacy of <http://www.diplomacy.edu/Courses/smallstates.asp> Small States Diplomatic means can transform the smallness of a state into an asset when promoting national and international interests. This course examines the manner in which small states conduct their diplomacy to pursue their foreign policy objectives, and to manage their participation in the global community of nations. The subject takes two aspects as starting premises: that diplomacy as practiced by small states is a subset of the basic themes and methods of diplomacy in general; and that small states, however defined, are necessary and active partners in the global community of nations. By the end of the course, participants should be able to: * provide examples, and discuss the implications of different definitions of small states; * describe the role of small state diplomacy within the matrix of actions and interests which collectively determine a countrys foreign policy objectives; * identify and explain the economic constraints, security threats and environmental vulnerabilities which influence the definition and pursuit of a small states foreign policy goals, and the diplomatic methods available to address these; * describe the systems of multilateral and regional diplomacy, provide examples, and analyse tactics of groupings for the purpose of negotiation as well as alliances of interest and concern; * argue for and defend the import role of small states within the global community of nations. E-Diplomacy <http://www.diplomacy.edu/Courses/ediplomacy.asp> Should diplomats blog? Can we negotiate effectively online? Are there security risks for diplomats in using online tools? Diplomatic activities increasingly take place with the aid of current and emerging Internet tools. For example, diplomats rely on the Internet to find information, communicate with colleagues via e-mail and negotiate draft texts in electronic format; diplomats are also increasingly using new social networking platforms such as blogs and Facebook. This course focuses on the opportunities and challenges Internet tools offer for diplomatic activities. It examines and analyses the use of new tools in the context of everyday diplomatic activities. The course offers both an overview of this emerging field, and concrete skills for the cyber diplomat. By the end of the course, participants should be able to: * list, describe and analyse the current or potential use of Internet tools for diplomatic activities; * describe the use, and assess the risks, of e-mail in diplomatic communication; * identify security risks in the use of online tools for diplomatic activities and describe practices to improve security; * locate relevant information on the Internet, evaluate the validity of that information, and describe appropriate contexts for using the information in diplomatic activities; * explain how to participate in social networking platforms such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter, suggest appropriate use of these tools in diplomatic activities, and organise effective diplomatic campaigns using such tools; * identify appropriate situations for online negotiations; plan, and run such negotiations. spacer <http://www.diplomacy.edu/poolbin.asp?IDPool=781> DiploTeam © Diplo Logo <http://www.diplomacy.edu/poolbin.asp?IDPool=1160> DiploFoundation <http://www.diplomacy.edu>