[bestbits] Fwd: Open call for applications: Introduction to Internet Governance course
Carolina Rossini
carolina.rossini at gmail.com
Fri Jan 2 05:29:31 EST 2015
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Stephanie Borg Psaila" <stephaniep at diplomacy.edu>
Date: Dec 31, 2014 8:20 AM
Subject: Open call for applications: Introduction to Internet Governance
course
To: <igcbp at diplomacy.edu>
Cc:
Dear friends,
In my last message for 2014, I'd like to share Diplo's call for
applications for the upcoming* Introduction to Internet Governance *course,
which kick-starts on 16 February. As many of you know, the 10-week course
introduces IG policy and covers main issues, including Infrastructure and
Standardisation, Legal, Economic, Sociocultural, and Development aspects,
and a section on IG processes and actors.
Details about the course are below, and at
http://www.diplomacy.edu/courses/IGCBP-foundation
We appreciate if you could forward to those you think may benefit from this
course, especially anyone whose New Year resolution is to deepen one's
knowledge on Internet governance :-)
All the best to you and your loved ones for the New Year!
Stephanie
Introduction to Internet Governance
*Course details:*
*Internet Governance (IG) may be more important to you than you realise.*
Have you been reading and worrying about cybersecurity threats? Does online
surveillance concern you and your colleagues? These are important IG
issues. Learning more about IG will help you understand these personal and
professional issues, and what can and should be done about them. Net
neutrality? Privacy in online storage? Guidelines for cross-border Internet
issues? How can regulators enhance and protect without interfering with the
innovative principles that are the core of the Internet?
The 10-week Introduction to Internet Governance online course introduces IG
policy and covers main issues, including Infrastructure and
Standardisation, Legal, Economic, Sociocultural, and Development aspects,
and a section on IG processes and actors. The course covers 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 the participants.
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
- Understand Internet-related terminology, concepts and issues
- Understand the international aspects of Internet governance
- Identify institutional and negotiation aspects of Internet governance
- Explain the various regional and professional understandings and
approaches to Internet governance
- Engage in the Internet governance policy processes in their countries
and regions, as well as in global policy processes.
The course forms part of Diplo's Internet Governance Capacity Building
Programme <http://www.diplomacy.edu/courses/IGCBP> Foundation Phase.
Excerpt from course materials
*‘...IG is sometimes used interchangeably with Internet regulation and
Internet policy. Although there is a considerable overlap, there are still
specific differences between these concepts. Regulation implies the
existence of legal rules with prescriptions of behaviour and sanctions,
while policy is a broader term, usually referring to a plan to guide
decisions and actions.’*
Course outline
The Introduction to Internet Governance online course includes one week of
hypertext practice and platform familiarisation and introduction, and 8
in-depth course texts.
Course topics include:
- Introduction to Internet governance: issues, processes and actors;
evolution, international context, basic terminology, guiding principles;
- Infrastructure and Standardisation Basket: infrastructure, TCP/IP,
DNS, Root Servers, Internet Service Providers, economic models, security,
Network Neutrality;
- Legal Basket: legal mechanisms, jurisdiction, arbitration,
Intellectual Property Rights, cybercrime;
- Economic Basket: e-commerce, e-banking, and e-money;
- Socio-Cultural Basket: content policy, privacy and data protection,
multilingualism and cultural diversity;
- Development Basket: the Digital Divide, access to knowledge, capacity
development
- Process (WSIS, IGF, ICANN), and actors (ICANN, RIR, ISOC, UN, ITU,
regional organisations, governments, private sector, civil society)
*Who should apply:*
Diplo seeks applications from the following, 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; and
- Individuals in Internet business-related fields (e.g. ISPs, software
developers).
This course may also be of interest to:
- 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.
- Postgraduate students or practitioners in other fields seeking an
entry point into the world of diplomacy.
- 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.
- Practising diplomats, civil servants, and others working in
international relations who want to refresh or expand their knowledge on
the subject, under the guidance of experienced practitioners and academics.
*Methodology:*
This course is conducted online over a period of ten weeks, including one
week of classroom orientation, eight weeks of dynamic class content and
activities, and one week for the final assignment. Reading materials and
tools for online interaction are provided through an online classroom. Each
week, participants read the provided lecture texts, adding comments,
references, and questions in the form of hypertext entries. The tutor and
other participants read and respond to these entries, creating interaction
based on the lecture text. During the week, participants complete
additional online activities (e.g. further discussion via blogs or forums
or quizzes). At the end of the week, participants and tutors meet online in
a chat room to discuss the week’s topic.
Courses are based on a collaborative approach to learning, involving a high
level of interaction. This course requires a minimum of eight to ten hours
of study time per week.
The course materials, the 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 postgraduate level
materials and discussion. Spanish, Portuguese, and French options may be
offered. Please request more information if you are interested in a second
language option.
In addition to English-speaking groups, bilingual groups 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.
Participants are invited to join Diplo’s global Internet governance online
community of over 1,400 members, and to attend monthly webinars and other
IG-related events and activities.
*Prerequistes:*
Applicants for the *certificate course* must have:
- Basic 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).
In addition to the above, applicants for the *accredited course* must also
meet University of Malta prerequisites:
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject with at least Second Class
Honours.
- Proof of English language proficiency obtained within the last two
years (minimum requirements TOEFL: paper-based – 650; Internet-based – 95.
IELTS: 6.5. Cambridge: Proficiency Certificate with Grade C or better). If
when applying you are still waiting for your English language proficiency
results, the University may issue a conditional letter of acceptance.
*Fees:*
Course fees depend on whether you wish to obtain university credit for the
course:
- €790 (University of Malta Accredited Course)
- €650 (Diplo Certificate Course)
Applicants must pay full fees upon official acceptance into the course. The
fee includes:
- Tuition fee
- Access to all course materials online, via Diplo’s online classroom
- Personal interaction via the online classroom with course lecturers,
staff and other participants
- Online technical support
- University of Malta application fee (for University of Malta
Accredited Courses only)
- Access, via the Internet, to the University of Malta e-journal
collection (University of Malta Accredited Courses only
- For Diplo Certificate Courses, postgraduate level certificate issued
by DiploFoundation on successful completion of course requirements
(interaction and participation, all assignments)
Financial assistance
A limited number of partial scholarships (maximum 20%) will be offered to
participants from developing and emerging countries. Participants who would
like to apply for financial assistance must upload the following documents
with their application:
- a CV or resumé;
- a motivation letter outlining relevant professional and educational
background, and interest in the course.
As Diplo's ability to offer scholarship support is limited, candidates are
strongly encouraged to seek scholarship funding directly from local or
international institutions. Our guide to Finding Scholarships for Online
Study <http://www.diplomacy.edu/poolbin.asp?IDPool=725> may provide you
with some useful starting points.
*How to apply:*
A number of routes for application are available:
- Apply for this course as a Diplo Certificate Course (see below)
- Apply for this course as a University of Malta Accredited Course (see
below)
- Take this course as part of the Master/PGD in Contemporary Diplomacy
<http://www.diplomacy.edu/courses/MAPGD>
------------------------------
Apply for a Diplo Certificate Course
Applicants for certificate courses should apply online
<http://learn.diplomacy.edu/registration/>.
Late applications will be considered if there are spaces available in the
course.
------------------------------
Apply for a University of Malta Accredited Course
Complete application packages must be received by specified application
deadlines in order to be considered.
1. Two copies of the University of Malta application form (click here
<http://www.diplomacy.edu/poolbin.asp?IDPool=1433> to download and
print) filled out in full.
2. Certified copies of original degree(s) and official transcripts.
3. English translations of degree(s) and transcripts if they are not in
English, signed and stamped by translator.
4. English language proficiency certificate obtained within the last two
years (minimum requirements TOEFL: paper-based – 650; Internet-based – 95.
IELTS: 6.5. Cambridge: Proficiency Certificate with Grade C or better).
Please indicate on the application form if you are still waiting for your
English language proficiency results.
5. Photocopy of personal details pages of your passport.
6. Application fee or proof of payment (€100 – non-refundable – see methods
of payment) <http://www.diplomacy.edu/courses/learning/payment>.
Please mail complete application packages to Ms Tanja Nikolic,
admissions at diplomacy.edu
*Application deadline: *
Credit: 15 December 2014
*. Late applications are still being accepted. Please contact Ms Tanja
Nikolic at admimssions at diplomacy.edu <admimssions at diplomacy.edu> for
details.*Certificate: 12 January 2015
------------------------------
Cancellation Policy
Diplo reserves the right to cancel this course if enrolment is
insufficient. In case of cancellation, Diplo will notify applicants shortly
after the application deadline. Applicants who have paid an application fee
may apply this fee towards another course or receive a refund.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
email to igcbp+unsubscribe at diplomacy.edu.
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