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Consular and Diaspora Diplomacy online course

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In recent years, consular and diaspora diplomacy have both emerged as important areas in diplomatic studies; governments are becoming more citizen-centric.

Consular diplomacy has gained prominence in many foreign ministries, a dramatic turnaround from its earlier status as a routine activity. This is directly connected with the enhanced role of publics in foreign affairs. Consular diplomacy deals with two sets of people. The first is one’s own citizens, who need travel documents to go overseas, and protection and help while they travel abroad: extradition, emergency assistance, and repatriation. The second group includes foreign citizens who need visas, illegal migrants, and overseas workers.

Migration produces diasporas. Globally, some 215 million people are migrants (i.e. the first generation of those that have gone to foreign countries). Subsequent generations sometimes merge into the local population, but often retain their connections with the home states, over many generations. Today diasporas are active in international affairs. The interconnected areas of providing citizens with consular services, and working with the diaspora, are now priorities in international affairs.

Reviews

Consular and Diaspora Diplomacy

Text – Charmaine L. Mckenzie

Ne4swjqc Charmaine L. Mckenzie alumni reviewsI not only met and networked with other foreign service officers from around the world, but was exposed to and learned in depth about consular practice, different experiences, and dexterity from all the course participants. I also learned about the importance and mutual benefits involved with the relationship between countries and their diasporas, and how technology and well-rounded consular officers can work hand-in-hand to provide renowned consular services to citizens and foreigners alike. I recommend this course to all foreign service officers to increase their capacity in various aspects of the foreign service.

– Ms Charmaine L. Mckenzie, Foreign Service Officer, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth of The Bahamas

Text – Drehounou Evelyne Gbeuly

Drehounou Evelyne Gbeuly alumni reviewsThis course has been a life changing experience for me. It has made me familiar with consular work and provided me with great understanding of diaspora diplomacy. Networking with great people at strategic positions in their respective countries was also a reward. As a business consultant, the course has opened doors to new potential markets.

– Ms Drehounou Evelyne Gbeuly, Rolycom Group AS, Norway

What will you learn?

  • Describe the international law basis of consular diplomacy and the elements of consular diplomacy in practice, including the use of honorary consuls.
  • Explain and provide examples of how consular diplomacy connects to related subjects, including outreach to a diaspora, migration, labour affairs, services to own citizens working abroad, and emergency management in delivering consular services.
  • Effectively organise and plan work at a consular post in a mission abroad, including building relationships with diasporas.
  • Explain the importance of diasporas in world and national affairs, and their potential as non-official agents of diplomacy.
  • Plan and operationalize a diaspora policy for their own countries and handle outreach to the diaspora in political, economic and public affairs activities.

How will you learn?

In this course you will interact intensively in discussions with classmates and lecturers from around the world. You will receive guidance and personalised feedback on your classwork from the course team.

How long will you learn?

The course lasts for 10 weeks:

  • 1 week of course introduction and orientation to online learning
  • 8 weeks of addressing the course topics one by one (see below for more details)
  • 1 week for the final assignment and completing pending tasks

Course lecturers

Kishan S Rana

Professor Emeritus, former Indian Ambassador, and a joint secretary to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi

Who should apply

This course will be of interest to:

  • Practising diplomats, civil servants, and others working in international relations who want to refresh or expand their knowledge under the guidance of experienced practitioners and academics.
  • Postgraduate students of diplomacy or international relations wishing to study topics not offered through their university programmes or diplomatic academies and to gain deeper insight through interaction with practising diplomats.
  • Postgraduate students or practitioners in other fields seeking an entry point into the world of diplomacy.
  • Journalists, staff of international and non-governmental organisations, translators, business people and others who interact with diplomats and wish to improve their understanding of diplomacy-related topics.

 

 

Overview

The course consists of 8 modules:

  • Consular diplomacy: The basics and the operation of consulates: relationship with other segments of diplomacy; increased prominence; the home and foreign dimension of consular diplomacy; link with diaspora diplomacy; different offices that perform related functions. The working of consulates; their role in sub-state diplomacy; mobile posts and virtual outposts; application of technology; role following severance of diplomatic relations.
  • The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR), and honorary consuls: key provisions and relevance of the VCCR; strengths and limitations; consular functions, facilities, privileges and immunities; consular agreements and other bilateral instruments; honorary consuls and their role; bilateral consular agreements and regional approaches; VCCR and other international instruments.
  • Protection of citizens, and visas: the two primary functions of consular diplomacy: the necessity, role and formulation of visa policy; reciprocity and other issues; visa power, visa diplomacy; protection of citizens; nature of citizen services and limitations; labour protection and welfare; disaster relief, piracy, terrorism, repatriation, deportation; responding to new situations.
  • Migration and diplomacy: the economics and social circumstances of migration; demographic compulsions; the handling of undocumented aliens, the political, social and other dimensions; world trends; migration as issue in global dialogue and future trends.
  • Diaspora diplomacy: the importance of diasporas; home role of diasporas; political, economic and other impact in relationship building; evolution over generation change; best practices; hazards of this form of diplomacy.
  • Diasporas and public diplomacy: relevance for public diplomacy in win-win mode; helping country of origin to project interests in countries of adoption; role in the original home state; ‘reverse diplomacy’ used by country of adoption aimed at homeland.
  • Diasporas and home states: emerging importance of diasporas; different concepts of diaspora; need for diaspora policies and contours of such policies; organisational structures in states; evolution and implementation of policies; country practices and variations; diaspora organisations; exploring feasibility of a template for diaspora policies.
  • Diasporas and economic diplomacy: economic diplomacy, the heart of diplomacy; various facets of economic diplomacy; diaspora, trade and investment promotion; diaspora and development; diaspora and knowledge transfer; diaspora and remittances; diaspora organisations; linking diaspora with home and host countries.

Methodology

The Consular and Diaspora Diplomacy online course is based on a collaborative learning approach, involving a high level of interaction over a period of 10 weeks. Reading materials and the necessary tools for online interaction are provided in a virtual classroom.

Each week, participants study and discuss course materials and complete additional online activities. At the end of the week, participants and lecturers meet to discuss the topic of the week. For successful completion, this course requires a minimum of 5 to 7 hours of study time per week.

Participants who successfully complete the course receive a certificate issued by Diplo, which can be printed or shared electronically.

Prerequisites

All course applicants must have regular internet access (broadband is preferred). 

Applicants for certificate courses must have:

  • An undergraduate university degree OR 3 years of work experience and appropriate professional qualifications in diplomacy or international relations
  • Sufficient English language skills to undertake postgraduate-level studies

Fees and scholarships

The fee for this course is €690. 

Note: Diplo alumni can benefit from a 15% discount on the fee for this course.

A limited number of partial scholarships are available for diplomats and others working in international relations from developing countries. Discounts are available for more than one participant from the same institution. 

You can apply for this course as:

How to apply

If interested in this course, please contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu.



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