Online course: Introduction to Internet Governance (last day to apply ...

Professionals working in specialised Internet governance and ICT-related areas often need to supplement their knowledge by learning about other areas which affect or impact on their area of specialisation. Just as the Internet brings down geographical boundaries, it also creates overlaps and intersections among the different areas of IG and ICT policy.

One way to understand how different issues affect each other (tech, social, development, economic, legal, security, etc), and to fill in any gaps across professional and issue areas is to step back and take a look at the big picture of the overall issues. You can analyse how they affect each other, discuss the topics with colleagues who work in one area, and share your expertise in another. You can see how experts from different regions are addressing the same issues or different priorities. You can do this online, in just 8-10 hours a week, by participating in DiploFoundation?s Introduction to Internet Governance course, starting 18 February 2013.

Call for applications

DiploFoundation is currently accepting applications for its online course, Introduction to Internet Governance (IG). This course is designed to improve ?Internet policy and IG-related knowledge and skills for participants from both developed and developing countries. It empowers them to participate in global policy-making on IG, and stimulates critical and dynamic debate among individuals with different national, cultural, and stakeholder backgrounds. Participants focus on controversial IG topics from different perspectives: security/privacy, protection/human rights, economy/access, and other apparent dichotomies.

About the course

The Introduction to Internet Governance is spread over 10 weeks, starting with an online classroom orientation week, followed by 8 weeks of coursework, and a final exam week.

The course introduces IG policy and covers five thematic areas -?Infrastructure and Standardisation, Legal, Economic, Sociocultural, and Development aspects - and also has a section on IG processes and actors. Discussions will cover issues such as broadband policy; management of domain names and IP addresses, including the transition from IPv4 to IPv6; network neutrality; jurisdiction, intellectual property rights, open source and piracy; privacy protection; data security and cybersecurity; child protection; human rights; content management; digital signatures; emerging issues such as policies related to social networks and cloud computing, and more, with space for regional and other issues raised by participants.

Learning activities take place in an online classroom and include the analysis of course materials; interactive group discussions using a variety of communication tools, assignments, and exams; and other dynamic methodologies.

This course can be taken (subject to application deadlines):

The Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme (IGCBP) The course Introduction to Internet Governance is part of Diplo?s Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme (IGCBP). The 2013 programme consists of five phases: The Foundation Phase introduces the main IG issues through the course Introduction to Internet Governance. This course is recommended if you are new to IG, or perhaps an expert in one specific area and would like to obtain an overview of IG issues and observe how they interrelate. The Thematic Phase offers in-depth courses that provide deeper understanding of a particular issue: either a specific professional area, or an area outside of your expertise that you need to learn more about. The topics include Cybersecurity, E-participation, History of Internet Governance, ICT Policy and Strategic Planning, Infrastructure and Critical Internet Resources, Intellectual Property Rights, and Privacy and Personal Data Protection. The Research Phase offers valuable techniques if you are planning to undertake academic or policy research and writing. The Policy Research Methodology course addresses IG issues of relevance to participants? respective countries and regions, and introduces action policy research with the aim of helping you develop solutions which you can apply in practice. The Policy Immersion Phase is aimed at successful participants of the Foundation and Thematic Phases, and invites them to apply their knowledge and skills in the real-life policy space. The Community of Practice Phase is an ongoing networking phase in which participants gather, work and network together around concrete projects in order to link the global policy process with local policy needs. Diplo offers many networking resources: an online community, a blog dedicated to IG, monthly webinars, and other activities and events. More information about the programme is available here.

Languages

The course materials, our e-learning platform, and the working language of the course is English. Applicants should consider whether their reading and writing skills in English are sufficient to follow university-level materials and discussion. Spanish, Portuguese, and French options may be offered. More information will be available later on possible second language options.

In addition to English-speaking groups, a bilingual group may be formed for the course, having English as the primary language, and either Arabic, French, Spanish, or Portuguese as the secondary language for communication and interaction. This option will be offered depending on the needs of the applicants. Applicants to the bilingual groups (if offered) are asked to note that both languages are considered working languages within these groups. Reading and writing skills in English must be sufficient to understand learning materials and instructions, and for basic communication and interaction. Reading and writing skills in the second language must be sufficient for discussion and research purposes. Please request more information if you are interested in a second language option.

Target audience

Diplo seeks applications from the following categories of individuals from both developed and developing countries:

• Officials in government ministries, departments, or institutions dealing with Information Society, Internet and ICT-related policy issues (e.g. telecommunications, education, foreign affairs, justice).
• Postgraduate students, academics and researchers in the IG field (e.g. in telecommunications, electrical engineering, law, economics, development studies).
• Civil society activists in the IG and Information Society fields.
• Journalists covering IG issues.
• Individuals in Internet-business fields (e.g. ISPs, software developers).

This course may also 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.

Timeline

• 10 October: Call for applications for Introduction to Internet Governance begins
• 17 December: Call for applications for Introduction to Internet Governance accredited course ends
• 14 January: Call for applications for Introduction to Internet Governance certificate course ends
• 18 January: Final selection results announced
• 11 February: Classroom orientation week
• 18 February: Introduction to ?Internet Governance course begins
• To be announced: Call for applications for ICT Strategy and IG thematic courses begins

Taking the course as a DiploFoundation Certificate course

Fees and scholarships

The course fees for the certificate course is ?600.

A limited number of partial scholarships may be offered to participants from developing and emerging countries.

As Diplo's ability to offer scholarship support is limited, you are strongly encouraged to seek scholarship funding directly from local or international institutions. Our guide to Finding Scholarships for Online Study may provide you with some useful starting points.

Requirements

Applicants for the certificate course must have:

• IG knowledge and/or experience of the multistakeholder approach in international affairs.
• Sufficient ability in the English language to undertake postgraduate level studies (including reading academic texts, discussing complex concepts with other course participants, and submitting written essay assignments).
• Fluency in the second language for the applicants to any of the bilingual groups (if offered).
• Regular access to the Internet (dial-up connection is sufficient, although broadband is preferable).
• A minimum of 8-10 hours commitment per week, and the readiness to participate in class online sessions (once a week at specified times).
• An undergraduate university degree OR three years of related work experience.

Deadlines

The call for applications for the certificate course is?14 January, 2013

How to apply

Complete the Online Application Form; kindly follow the on-screen instructions to complete the application process.

For more information, visit?http://www.diplomacy.edu/courses/IGCBP-foundation, or e-mail ig@diplomacy.edu

Source: http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/xn/detail/780588%3ATopic%3A804858?xg_source=activity

Hurricane Isaac Path Isaac Hurricane earthquake san diego Hurricane Isaac Sam Claflin Tony Farmer West Nile virus symptoms