“Diplomacy in the Digital Age” provides application-oriented knowledge about the effects of digitalization on diplomacy and international relations. This advanced continuing education course deals in depth with the topic of public affairs and the influence of digital communication in the public sector. It includes segments on Social Media, Artificial Intelligence, digital governance, and media training. A field trip will take participants to the capital of Europe's digital leader - Tallinn.

The continuing education course “Diplomacy in the Digital Age” is part of the DAS in Applied Diplomacy, which is still in the planning stages and for which successful participants will be able to earn credit.

This continuing education course is aimed at anyone working in, or planning to work in, foreign relations and related fields. This includes professionals in the private sector and all areas of public administration, as well as trade associations and NGOs. In the past, participants worked in fields such as public affairs, communication, security, as well as compliance and law.

• The course focuses on the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to operate successfully in an international environment.
• Practical abilities are taught by means of media training, interactive workshops with experts, and networking events.
• Participants understand the effects of digitalization on diplomacy and are able to apply the content of this course to practical situations in their individual professional lives.

The curriculum of “Diplomacy in the Digital Age” focuses on current developments at the intersection of diplomacy and digitalization. It covers topics such as public diplomacy, digital communication channels of diplomacy, and media training. In the subsequent field trip to Tallinn, participants consolidate and apply the knowledge acquired in the first part of the course.

For a review of WBK Diplomacy in the Digital Age, see the SML blog: a Conversation with Siim Sikkut, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Estonian Government.

The continuing education course “Diplomacy in the Digital Age” is characterized by methodological diversity. In addition to their lectures, exercises, practical case studies, e-learning assignments, and simulations, students are encouraged to continually reflect on and interpret current events. The course concludes with a practical exam (presentation).

Part-time course of study:
Friday and Saturday, 8:45 am to 4:45 pm.
Exception: Field trip to Tallinn, Thursday to Saturday (3 days). Recommended arrival: Wednesday evening.

Languages of instruction are German and English.
Participants are expected to be proficient in both languages (oral & written communication).

• Danny Bürkli, Co-director and co-founder, staatslabor
• Markus Herrmann, Director und Managing Director Switzerland bei Sinolytics
• Jürg Hostettler, Leiter Kommunikation ZHAW School of Management and Law
• Pascal Lago, Senior Researcher Smart Government and Swiss Security Policy, Avenir Suisse, Author of “An International Think Tank Report on Security in Europe”
• Tim Lloyd, Strategy & Client Service Director at Helpful Technology Ltd
• Siim Sikkut, Government CIO for Estonia
• Nicolas Zahn, Expert on Digital Governance, Co-Author of “Making Sense of Artificial Intelligence: Why Switzerland Should Support a Scientific UN Panel to Assess the Rise of AI”

Applications will be processed in the order in which they are received.