UOC - UNITAR Master in International Affairs and Diplomacy and related qualifications - 2024 Field Visit to Geneva
UNITAR is an autonomous institution within the United Nations system with a mission to deliver innovative training and conduct research on knowledge systems to develop the capacities of its beneficiaries. As the training arm of the United Nations, UNITAR’s mission is to develop capacities to enhance global decision-making and to support country level action for shaping a better future.
The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) is an innovative university that offers people life-long learning to help them and society advance. Its educational model is based on personalization and teaching students using e-Learning. From the UOC-UNITAR field visit, participants can expect the following:
- Participate in executive style workshops delivered by UNITAR
- Attend lectures from policy practitioners and decision-makers
- Visit UN facilities in Geneva, such as UNHCR, WTO and others
- Attend a real UN conference at one of the UN facilities in Geneva
- Experience a private guided tour of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG)
- Network with high-level officials, UN personnel and diplomats
As part of the Online Master Programme in International Affairs and Diplomacy and related qualifications, offered in cooperation with the University Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), UNITAR designed a 5-day field visit to Geneva, Switzerland offering participants a full immersion into the city's multilateral working environment.
In line with UNITAR’s mandate, the field visit's main purpose is to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills related to international affairs and diplomacy. This will enable them to work more effectively and efficiently in any multilateral setting.
UNITAR lastly intends to strengthen the participants’ conviction of the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, especially multilateralism. In the long term, this does not only result in participants’ more favourable view on the organisation, but also in a higher willingness to cooperate across borders.
Hosting 35 international organizations and more than 250 NGOs, the city of Geneva offers a variety of formative experiences to enhance visitors' understanding of diplomacy and world affairs. UNITAR hosts the field visit in the historic Palace of Nations and provides a nuanced balance between the following different components:
Expert Lectures:
UNITAR’s professional network across Geneva allows it to organize a series of 1-2-hour expert lectures, in which participants can directly learn from UN personnel or other high-level officials. Previous UOC-UNITAR field visits have included lectures from the following organizations:
- United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG)
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- The Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva
Training Workshops:
As its core activity and raison d’être, UNITAR provides several face-to-face workshops for the participants. Delivered by experts such as former ambassadors, previous programmes have included the following workshops:
- Leadership and Negotiation Skills
- United Nations Resolution Writing
- Diplomatic Communication Skills
Multilateral Conferences:
With its more than 10,000 conferences a year, the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) is one of the most active international conference centres in the world. UNITAR offers participants the chance to attend, for example, the following meetings and thereby experience multilateral negotiations first-hand:
- Human Rights Council
- United Nations Committee against Torture (UNCAT)
- United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Guided Tours:
Geneva is rich in historic buildings important to international affairs. Thanks to its access across the city, UNITAR can provide a series of private guided tours. Previous programmes have included tours through the following places:
- The United Nations’ Palace of Nations (3-hours extensive private guided tour)
- The headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
- The headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Career Development Sessions:
UNITAR also provides several 1-2-hour sessions on how to advance your professional career and find a solid footing in the world of international organizations. These sessions can include the following components:
- Information sessions on internships and other entry positions in the UN system
- Review of application material, including CV, motivation letter, PHP Form, LinkedIn profile
- Counselling on proposed entrepreneurial projects related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Cultural Activities:
Students will have the chance to participate in cultural events, such as a dinner cruise in Lake Léman.
Given the complexity of Geneva's multilateral environment, UNITAR will cover a series of different thematic areas during the course of the Programme. These will include the United Nations, conference diplomacy, core diplomatic skills, humanitarian affairs, trade and commerce, sustainable development and other topics of interest.
The UOC-UNITAR field visit is designed to be highly interactive and participatory. Activities will include a high level of direct exposure to policy practitioners and diplomatic settings, thereby allowing participants to gain a thorough knowledge and understanding of the United Nations.
All of the activities will take place in the English language. Should there be any component, such as a multilateral conference or an expert lecture, not available in English, UNITAR will ensure the participants will be provided with simultaneous interpretation.
At the end of the field visit, participants will be awarded a certificate of participation. They will also be asked to complete a feedback questionnaire to evaluate the success of the field visit in achieving the learning objectives.
!!! Only students enrolled in UOC - UNITAR Master in International Affairs and Diplomacy and related qualifications can register for this activity. The field visit is also open to students enrolled in the UOC Master Programme in Human Rights, Democracy and Globalization. In case you are not enrolled in one of these programmes, kindly refer to the UN Immersion programme (www.unitar.org/immersionprogramme) !!!
The field visit is intended for current and former students of the following UOC-UNITAR Online programmes:
Master's Degree in Lifelong Learning in International Affairs and Diplomacy
Specialization Diploma in Multilateral Diplomacy and International Institutions
Specialization Diploma in Regional Studies and International Institutions
Expert Diploma in International Institutions
Expert Diploma in Regional Studies
Expert Diploma in Multilateral Diplomacy
The field visit is also open to students enrolled in UOC Master Programme in Human Rights, Democracy and Globalization.
Participants are responsible for complying with Swiss immigration and travel policies to enter the country. In addition, participants must have a health insurance plan that is valid in Switzerland and comply with Swiss health rules and recommendations during their stay in the country.
UNITAR will be responsible for the overall design, coordination and implementation of the field visit.
The participants are responsible for purchasing their own travel tickets to and from Geneva as well as applying for a visa to Switzerland (if applicable). UNITAR can provide an official invitation letter to support students who may need a visa to enter Switzerland. Participants will also be responsible for securing their own accommodation and covering their daily meals.
UNITAR will sponsor a welcome dinner for the participants as well as provide a welcome package, including relevant training materials and entry tickets to sights and museums. Please note that unfortunately there are no scholarships available for this activity.
I understand that the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) does not insure participants in the above-described activity and I am advised to arrange at my own expense insurance against sickness, accident, permanent or temporary disability, death, and third-party risk for the period of the meeting, including travel time.