On the campus of Qatar Foundation partner Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), members of the Executive Master’s in Diplomacy and International Affairs (EMDIA) - a custom one-year programme designed for the Diplomatic Institute of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) - gained valuable perspectives and feedback with attendance by special guest HE Lolwah Rashid AlKhater, Assistant Foreign Minister and MoFA spokesperson.
HE AlKhater, who is also a member of the Joint Advisory Board of GU-Q, was invited to attend the EMDIA degree programme’s module on 'Small States and Alliance Diplomacy: Gulf Case Study' taught by Dr Rory Miller, professor of government at GU-Q, and Dr Fahad al-Marri, adjunct assistant professor of government at GU-Q.
Through a mix of lectures, discussions, and scenarios tailor-made for the participants, the module explores how small states deal with traditional and non-traditional threats and challenges and how they can use alliances to deal with the realities of the regional and international system.
HE AlKhater said, “The world of international affairs is changing in fundamental ways, which means the role of diplomats is also evolving. It was a pleasure to attend a course of this customised degree programme, which will give our talented team the skills and experience needed to adapt to ongoing changes. As a knowledge-driven sector, international diplomacy’s most important assets are its people.”
Dr Miller added, “It was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to teach such a talented group of young officials from MoFA and the Diwan,” he said, adding: “They were engaged, articulate and highly motivated and we had a productive interaction over the duration of the course.” Dr Miller and Dr al-Marri will be teaching another module in Spring 2022 on geopolitics.
The EMDIA degree programme, offered by the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, seeks to enhance the ability of MoFA diplomats from Qatar and diplomats from the Middle East region to formulate and implement effective foreign policy. Its interdisciplinary curriculum covers significant diplomatic challenges in global politics and economics, critical thinking skills related to the major tools of statecraft, and areas of strategic importance to Qatar and the Middle East region.
Through a mix of lectures, discussions, and scenarios tailor-made for the participants, the module explores how small states deal with traditional and non-traditional threats and challenges and how they can use alliances to deal with the realities of the regional and international system.
HE AlKhater said, “The world of international affairs is changing in fundamental ways, which means the role of diplomats is also evolving. It was a pleasure to attend a course of this customised degree programme, which will give our talented team the skills and experience needed to adapt to ongoing changes. As a knowledge-driven sector, international diplomacy’s most important assets are its people.”
Dr Miller added, “It was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to teach such a talented group of young officials from MoFA and the Diwan,” he said, adding: “They were engaged, articulate and highly motivated and we had a productive interaction over the duration of the course.” Dr Miller and Dr al-Marri will be teaching another module in Spring 2022 on geopolitics.
The EMDIA degree programme, offered by the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, seeks to enhance the ability of MoFA diplomats from Qatar and diplomats from the Middle East region to formulate and implement effective foreign policy. Its interdisciplinary curriculum covers significant diplomatic challenges in global politics and economics, critical thinking skills related to the major tools of statecraft, and areas of strategic importance to Qatar and the Middle East region.