UNITAR Online Catalogue
UOC - UNITAR Master in International Affairs and Diplomacy and related qualifications - 2023 Field Visit to The Hague
Multilateral Diplomacy
Background
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, while carrying out research into the knowledge society. Its educational model is based on personalization and accompanying students using e-Learning. From the UOC-UNITAR field visit, participants can expect the following:
- Attend lectures from policy practitioners and decision-makers
- Visit the ICC and ICJ in the Hague
- Network with high-level officials, UN personnel and diplomats
Event Objectives
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 the Hague, the Netherlands offering participants a full immersion into the city's international working environment.
In line with UNITAR’s mandate, its 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.
Content and Structure
Hosting close to 200 international organizations, along with figureheads like the Peace Palace, the International Court of Justice, Europol and the International Criminal Court, The Hague is known as the international city of peace and justice. Tens of thousands of people from all over the globe are working every day in the city to build a more peaceful and just world by collaborating together on solutions to global problems. In partnership with many international institutions, UNITAR provides a nuanced balance between the following different components:
Expert Lectures:
UNITAR’s professional network across The Hague 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. Programmes may include lectures from the following organizations:
- The International Court of Justice (ICJ)
- The International Criminal Court (ICC)
- The Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT)
- The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
Training Workshops:
As its core activity and raison d’être, UNITAR provides several face-to-face workshops to the participants. Delivered by experts such as retired ambassadors, previous programmes have included the following workshops:
- Negotiation Skills
- Mediation Skills
- Simulation Exercises
Guided Tours:
The Hague 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. This may include tours through the following facilities:
- The Peace Palace
- The International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
- The Hague Municipality
- The Hague Humanity Hub
Public Hearing Sessions:
If available, UNITAR also provides access to public hearings in the world of international organizations. These sessions can occur in the following:
- International Court of Justice (ICJ)
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
Methodology
Given the complexity of the Hague's multilateral environment, UNITAR will cover a series of different thematic areas during the course of the Programme. These will include peace and security, human rights and humanitarian affairs, global health and well-being, trade and technology as well as the environment and sustainable development.
The 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 thorough knowledge and understanding of the United Nations.
All of the activities will take place in the English language. Should there be any component not be available in English, UNITAR will ensure the participants will be provided with simultaneous interpretation.
Targeted Audience
!!! 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) !!!
At the end of the field visit, each participant 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.
Additional Information
-------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON COVID-19 --------------------------------------------------------------
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNITAR will assure the programme will entirely conform with up-to-date health safety standards, including social distancing, hygiene measures and contact tracing. The programme's agenda may be subject to modifications in line with the most recent developments in this regard. Kindly find the most recent travel advice from the Dutch authorities on the Dutch foreign ministry's website.
Participants are responsible for complying with Dutch immigration and travel policies to enter the country. In addition, participants must have a health insurance plan that is valid in the Netherlands and comply with Dutch health rules and recommendations during their stay in the country.
In case that due to any COVID-19-related travel restrictions, participants registered for the field visit to the Hague are unable to travel to the Netherlands this time, their slot for the field visit to the Hague will be automatically transferred to a following edition in 2024, with no additional costs charged. For more information, kindly contact the UNITAR event focal point.
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UNITAR will be responsible for the overall design, coordination and implementation of the Immersion Programme. It will liaise with participants on a regular basis prior to the activity's implementation in order to ensure a smooth and flawless organization for everyone involved.
The participants are responsible to purchase their own travel tickets to and from the Hague as well as to apply for a visa to the Netherlands. UNITAR can support this process with the help of an official visa invitation letter. Participants further need to take care of their own accommodation and daily meals.
UNITAR will sponsor a welcome dinner to the participants, welcome package including relevant training materials, entry tickets to sights and museums as well as the transportation cost during the activity. Please note that as of now, no scholarships are available to facilitate participation.