Graduate School USA’s International Institute in Washington, D.C. in collaboration with the Pacific and Virgin Islands Training Initiatives (PITI-VITI) in Honolulu, Hawaii, is administering a three-years long training and professional exchange experience for the diplomatic corps of the U.S. Freely Associated States (Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau). The program is funded by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
Program Overview
The Freely Associated States (FAS) Diplomatic Training program is a theoretical and interactive learning experience for a core cohort of about 15 participants. This project will help build public sector capacity by addressing the need for an experiential diplomatic training program for FAS government foreign affairs officials. This project will empower the Freely Associated States to be effective self-advocates on the world stage and to promote the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The program will incorporate several learning modalities to include online sessions, in-person training, site visits, networking opportunities, participant-driven events, and asynchronous activities. The program is coordinated between Graduate School USA’s Washington, D.C. and Honolulu, Hawaii offices. Program content is also offered by the Public Diplomacy Council and Diplomatica Group. Participants will be awarded a certificate of completion after successfully meeting program requirements.
Project Objectives:
- Advance knowledge of diplomatic protocol, multilateral diplomacy, foreign policy, and interagency coordination, as well as digital diplomacy;
- Bolster participants’ proficiency in key professional skills including oral and written communication, public speaking, and leadership; and,
- Strengthen participants’ ability to effectively promote their national foreign policy priorities on the global stage.
Program Components:
- Synchronous online sessions throughout 2021 – to include a virtual tour of Washington, D.C.; program opening; federalism briefing and training on protocol, cross-cultural communication and presentation skills, and leadership
- Asynchronous program activities between synchronous sessions (reviewing of books, articles, short videos; online forum contributions) – throughout the life of the program
- Six-day in-person component in Washington, D.C. for the core cohort – classroom and hand-on training on geopolitics and digital diplomacy, diplomacy simulations, visits with Embassies and the international diplomatic corps, networking opportunities and site visits to relevant organizations.
- One-day in-person component in Honolulu, Hawaii for the core cohort – site visits and meetings with statemen.
- Three post-program virtual meetings and lectures organized by GSUSA on a quarterly basis. Topics will be based on feedback from participants during the in-person program component.
- Three post-program participant-led blended sessions. Participants from each county will organize a hybrid session with local resources and statemen.
Programming Team
Graduate School USA – DC
Graduate School USA – Hawaii
Program Partners
Graduate School USA will partner with the Public Diplomacy Council (PDC) and Diplomatica Group in Washington, D.C. for the delivery of some training sessions and experiential learning opportunities.
Diplomatica Group will focus on providing theoretical and hands-on diplomatic protocol and etiquette training for the visiting cohort of entry-level diplomats. The classroom sessions will be accompanied by mock diplomatic luncheons and networking opportunities. The company, through its Founder and CEO, Thea Richard, is experienced in providing training to teach protocol and executive presence, to assist with cultural adjustment, and to educate individuals on cross-cultural understanding. Diplomatica Group is dedicated to improving interpersonal relations, protocol, and public diplomacy skills while focused on personal and professional growth.
The Public Diplomacy Council, through its prominent membership, will provide training expertise in region-specific affairs and public diplomacy know-how. The Council was founded in 1988 and, today, is a membership organization whose members serve and advocate for public diplomacy as a part of statecraft and an academic discipline. With over 200 members, two-thirds of whom are retired foreign service officers, 16 of whom are former Ambassadors, the Council maintains close ties with the Public Diplomacy Association of America (PDAA) and collaborates with the American Foreign Service Association and the American Council of Ambassadors. Many of its members engage in teaching the public diplomacy discipline at institutions of higher education, the Foreign Service Institute, or consult in areas such as digital diplomacy and geopolitics.
The Digital Diplomacy Coalition — a group focused on leveraging technology for the advancement of diplomacy and social good — was established in 2012 as a community and resource for diplomatic and international affairs professionals seeking to better understand and utilize emerging digital tools. The Coalition, in collaboration with partners from across tech, international organizations and governments, hosts panels, workshops, socials and conferences for diplomats, technologists, NGO practitioners, and policy influencers to explore new ideas and best practices in digital diplomacy. To date, the Coalition has welcomed more than 4,000 participants to events in Washington DC, Ottawa, New York City and The Hague.
TENTATIVE Program Calendar:
June 7-11, 2021 – four online sessions
August 4, 2021 – one online sessions
October 2021 – four online sessions
January - February 2022 – two online sessions
July 2022 - Six-day in-person component in Washington, D.C. and one day in Hawaii
Fall 2022 - Fall 2023: Three quarterly online sessions organized by GSUSA and three participants driven online sessions
*Exact number of events to be determined as program plans are firmed up
Program Participants:
The main cohort of about 15 participants are comprised of entry level diplomats with no more than five years of public sector experience in the diplomatic corps. All candidates are nominated by the head of their government’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and demonstrate commitment to professional development and growth in the foreign service field. All participants who are able to meet the 85% attendance requirement and complete all asynchronous activities, will be awarded a Certificate of program completion. Some online training sessions and meetings could be attended by more seasoned diplomats as deemed appropriate by their respective ministries.
Contact Us
General Inquiries: PADL@graduateschool.edu
GSUSA, Hawaii Office
Jason D. Aubuchon, Sr. Program Manager
Pacific & Virgin Islands Training Initiatives
T: (808) 523-1650
Email: jason.aubuchon@graduateschool.edu
GSUSA, Washington, D.C. Office
Nina A. Bankova, Director
International Programs
T: (202) 314-3508
Email: nina.bankova@graduateschool.edu
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