Doha / Information Office / March 16  

The Diplomatic institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Doha Institute for Graduate Studies (DI) singed cooperation agreement for the implementation of the the Executive Master of Diplomatic Studies and International Cooperation Program, which was launched by the DI's School of Public Administration and Development Economics (SPADE) in partnership with the Diplomatic Institute for the academic year 2020-2021.

The agreement was signed for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Director of the Diplomatic Institute Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Horr, and for the Doha Institute by Acting President Dr. Abdul Wahab Al Afandi.

On this occasion, Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Horr said that the program is in implementation of the vision and directives of HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani to develop human resources in the ministry to perform the diplomatic role in an outstanding manner, to prepare reports, studies and research specialized in the field of foreign policy and international cooperation to contribute to the decision-making process in foreign affairs, and to achieve the Ministry's vision of excellence in performance to have cadres capable of representing the State of Qatar in a decent manner in international forums, and perform its diplomatic duties efficiently, protect the interests of the State in line with developments in diplomatic work, and follow-up international changes.

HE affirmed that this program achieves a number of goals that allow those in the field of diplomatic corps and international cooperation, official representations in regional and international organizations, official envoys and those working in international mediation from the State of Qatar, to deal with the world of international and diplomatic relations with its political, cultural and legal ramifications, in addition to enabling them to have the tools of written diplomatic work (international law, treaties), and unwritten (international norms), serving the national interest of the State of Qatar in its bilateral relations, and multilateral relations. He stated that the program is based on an approach that combines the theoretical path (education) and the practical track (learning and application).

He explained that the theoretical path starts from a base that includes the fields of foreign policy, international law and international cooperation, as they are the foundations that frame this program, as these pillars are based on a complex and forked conceptual legacy that stems from a broad understanding of diplomatic practice, as one of the tools to which states resort in managing their relations and serving their interests outside their national borders in times of peace, crises and war.

In this regard, HE Director of the Diplomatic Institute emphasized that this understanding requires recognition of major trends in the theory of foreign policy and international relations, international law, international organizations and others. To achieve this, it is necessary for the diplomat to familiarize with the foreign policy-making mechanisms, tools and levels diplomatic work, its various issues, and the new technologies emerging in this field, he added.

He also indicated that the practical track works to activate what is at the core of the theoretical competence through mechanisms that move the learner from the horizon of receptivity to the space of self-learning and peer learning, taking advantage of their experiences and the experiences of others, and getting closely acquainted with the work of international organizations through organized field visits ad networking with those with distinguished experience in diplomatic work and in policy-making who will join the program as visiting lecturers to enrich students' knowledge and refine their experiences.

He pointed out that the practical track requires training the student in communication skills, conducting interviews, unpacking information, sifting, documenting and analyzing it, and drafting it in the form of reports that adhere to objectivity, provide evidence and express opinion supported by a weighted argument in order to train in oral presentation skills and immediate response to the questions of others.

HE the Ambassador stated that the program will resort to studying specific cases to deepen the understanding of foreign policy paths, their outcomes and the lessons learned from them, in addition to field visits to give practical dimensions to the theoretical principles that establish international cooperation and conflict resolution. He added that the program will host, in each of its sessions, two experienced diplomats from America, Europe, the UN, the Arab world or elsewhere, to hold workshops aimed at presenting reference cases in diplomatic work and international cooperation to deepen the experience dimension and students' knowledge of international organizations, in addition to organizing the program for a field visit to the UN headquarters in Geneva. He also pointed out that the program is open to nomination only by students' employers to cover tuition fees, noting that the executive programs are not subject to the conditions of the scholarship policy at the Doha Institute.

For his part, Acting President of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies Dr. Abdul Wahab Al Afandi said that the Executive Master of Diplomatic Studies and International Cooperation Program offered by School of Public Administration and Development Economics (SPADE), is the first of its kind in the State of Qatar, and came as a result of coordination and cooperation between the Doha Institute and the Diplomatic Institute. He explained that the program will provide learners with a global level of study and training, supervised by a team of institute professors, supported by elite professors and international experts, through international academic and professional partnerships.

The active participation of learners in it, who are elite diplomats and experts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and high-level professionals from other ministries who are determined by the desire to deepen their academic knowledge as well as diversify and enhance their practical skills in the diplomatic field, will enhance the value of the program, which includes study visits abroad in cooperation with the Institute's partners in international organizations, and will allow students to communicate and exchange experiences with selected groups of professors, diplomats and experts, he said.

Dr. Al Afandi also indicated that these experiences and knowledge and the development of skills and capabilities will contribute to supporting the effectiveness of Qatari diplomacy, and will enhance its advanced position on the regional and international arenas, and its serious role in mediation, conflict resolution and support for peace and stability in the world.

With regards to admission, the applicant must have a Bachelor's degree received from an accredited institution of higher education with a cumulative GPA of at least 3 out of 4 and an official IELTS or TOEFL report or other evidence of English proficiency, in addition to management experience not less than two years.

The applicant must also submit a personal statement written in Arabic (approximately 700 - 1000 words), explaining to which the degree of Executive Master of Diplomatic Studies and International Cooperation is compatible with his/her future academic and professional objectives.