Diplomacy 4.0 - Beyond the Digital Frontier - E-Learning Course
Humankind is indisputably entering a new digital era. The impact of rapid technological and scientific advances on our lives is so great that World Economic Forum’s founder Klaus Schwab termed this process as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We are the witnesses of the transcendence through new frontiers.
These new frontiers go beyond traditional understanding of every aspect of human activity. Unlike in the past, diplomacy and international affairs can no longer afford to slowly adapt to those changes as their pace demands almost business-like agility to stay abreast and relevant.
Diplomacy 4.0 is UNITAR’s answer to these new challenges. The concept explores the nexus between diplomacy and areas of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, scientific advancements and other significant issues, paving the way for the next generation of international affairs professionals.
Building up on the Diplomacy 4.0 concept, UNITAR designed its first ever comprehensive e-learning course tackling the most pressing issues at the intersection of diplomacy and technology. The programme will provide its participants with theoretical knowledge and practical skills on how to implement best practices in this field.
Its overarching purpose is to prepare participants for the continuously deepening interdependence between diplomacy and technology and equip them with necessary skills to exercise those innovations in practice. The programme further intends to raise awareness about Diplomacy 4.0 to stimulate modernisation of diplomatic practices.
Last but not least, it aspires to build up a knowledge hub, bringing experts and policy-practitioners together to form a community discussing latest developments in the field and producing practical solutions. This will be done through the UNITAR alumni platform, in which a separate chapter for all participants worldwide will be established.
In our rapidly changing world, diplomats and governments cannot afford to stay behind. The e-Learning course on Diplomacy 4.0 will provide them with competitive edge and all necessary knowledge to effectively navigate the cross-section of diplomacy and technology.
The e-Learning course provides a broad overview on Diplomacy 4.0, preparing the participants for the challenges and opportunities in this field. It is 6 weeks of length and encompasses an approximate workload of 6-8 hours per week. The course will contain the following modules:
- Module 1.0. - The Neoteric Diplomat
- Module 2.0. - Digital Diplomacy
- Module 3.0. - Cybersecurity
- Module 4.0. - Artificial Intelligence
- Module 5.0. - Internet Governance
- Module 6.0. - Science Diplomacy
The backbone of the e-Learning course will be the six e-Learning modules, which will be enabled on UNITAR ́s virtual platform each week. Every module contains reading material, a discussion forum and a multiple choice assessment quiz on the content.
The e-Learning modules will be complemented by one live-webinar per week with the expert on the module`s content as well as UNITAR staff as moderators. These live-webinars will be delivered through the software Zoom.
The materials on UNITAR’s e-Learning platform can be studied in a self-paced manner. The live-webinars will be at fixed times in the afternoon Geneva time and will also be recorded. This allows participants from all time zones to see them.
This edition of the e-Learning course on Diplomacy 4.0 is aimed at introducing the concept to the wider public and raising awareness in the international community about the present and upcoming related challenges and opportunities facing diplomats and international affairs professionals.
For this reason, the Diplomacy 4.0 e-Learning course is mostly geared towards diplomats and foreign ministry officials. The target audience can also include other government officials and participants from the broader diplomatic community, including private sector, civil society and academia.
In order to stay abreast of the quickly changing landscape, each edition of the course will be evaluated and adapted to the newest developments in the field. In the long run, the course will also be complemented by high-level panels, field-visits, interactive discussions and a master’s degree.
To ensure the highest quality standards, the registration will be closed after 30 participants. Slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. At the end of the programme, participants will receive a UNITAR certificate of completion.
UNITAR will be responsible for the overall design, coordination and implementation of the Diplomacy 4.0 - Beyond the Digital frontier 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 ensure they are in possession of the basic necessary hardware, software and connectivity to engage in online training activities.