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 continuing education course takes an in-depth look at the topic of public affairs and the influence of digital communication in the public sector. Blocks on social media, artificial intelligence, digital governance, and media training are offered. The field trip leads to the capital of Europe's digital leader, Tallinn.

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 WBK Diplomacy in the Digital Age is part of the DAS Applied Diplomacy and can be credited to it.

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, Monday to Wednesday (3 days). Recommended arrival: Sunday 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 Chen, Managing Director bei China Macro Group
• 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, Managing Director and co-owner at Helpful Technology Ltd, London, UK
• Dr. Ilan Manor, Digital Diplomacy Scholar, Assistant Professor, Ben Gurion University, Israel
• 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”

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