Continuing Education Course in Diplomacy in the Digital Age
ApplyAt a glance
Qualification:
Continuing Education Course in Diplomacy in the Digital Age (certificate of attendance) (6 ECTS)
Start:
28.08.2026
Duration:
7 days of instruction, more details about the implementation
Costs:
CHF 3'900.00
Comment on costs:
The course fee includes course materials and networking events during the field trip as well as accommodation in Tallinn (3 nights). Not included is the cost of travelling to and from Tallinn.
Location:
- ZHAW several Schools / Campus Zentrum, Lagerstrasse, Lagerstrasse 41, 8004 Zürich (Show on Google Maps)
- Zurich and Tallinn
Language of instruction:
- German, English
- Participants are expected to be proficient in both languages (oral & written communication).
Objectives and content
Target audience
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.
Objectives
- 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.
Content
The continuing education course takes an in-depth look at the topic of digital transformation and foreign policy: how do governments deal with artificial intelligence, how do states attempt to influence these new developments via digital diplomacy and what ethical challenges do these new technologies entail? The excursion to the Estonian capital Tallinn will provide a look back at how interoperability enablers have been established in the 1990s, including the eID. Visits to innovative private companies and public institutions will show what a digital society looks like and what this means for the foreign policy of a small state that is a member of the EU and NATO.
A review of the WBK Diplomacy in the Digital Age is available here: a Conversation with Siim Sikkut, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Estonian Government.
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Methodology
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).
More details about the implementation
Part-time course of study:
Friday and Saturday, 8:45 am to 4:45 pm.
Exception: Excursion to Tallinn, Sunday evening to Wednesday noon (4 days, 3 nights).
Languages of instruction are German and English.
Participants are expected to be proficient in both languages (oral & written communication).
Enquiries and contact
-
Head of Program:
Dominique Ursprung
+41 58 934 78 43
E-Mail -
Administration:
Giulia Frey
+41 58 934 68 84
E-Mail
Provider
- International Management Institute
- Department International Business
Instructors
- Danny Bürkli, Co-director and co-founder, staatslabor
- Yannick Heiniger, Expert on Tech Diplomacy
- Markus Herrmann Chen, Managing Director bei China Macro Group
- Dr. Ilan Manor, Digital Diplomacy Scholar, Assistant Professor, Ben Gurion University, Israel
- Tobias Naef, Dr. iur., Data Protection Commissioner of the City of Winterthur
- Johan Rochel, Co-Founder and Co-Director Ethix: Lab for Innovation Ethics
- Siim Sikkut, former 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”
Application
Information for applicants
Applications will be processed in the order in which they are received.
General terms and conditions
Start | Application deadline | Registration link |
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28.08.2026 | 27.07.2026 | Application |