In May 2020 the S4D4C project launched the European Science Diplomacy Online Course – at the end of last year more than 6.000 trainees have started the course, 600 of them have already received a certificate! The project team has really been thrilled by this amazing turnout and outcome and so we decided to polish the course a little bit further.
Why did we decide to update the course?
The motivation of our trainees was limitless: We have received lots of suggestions about topics that could be added and how we could improve the content and presentation of the course. Our satisfactory survey among the trainees has additionally shown how to ensure the attractiveness of the course in the mid- and long-term: A better visualisation, critical reflections and debates on current developments are needed. Therefore, less than one year after the launch, the S4D4C team has updated the course: The new version is now available online.
What´s new?
Module 1: How to Get Started? We have described and visualised the necessary steps for completing the survey.
Module 2: What Is Science Diplomacy? The use of science diplomacy for addressing global challenges and societal needs has been object of extensive academic studies and policy reports. We have erlaborated concrete stoppers, warnings and drivers in these fields as well as a critical reflection on the science diplomacy discourse.
Module 3: Who Are the Science Diplomacy Stakeholders? We have extended the list with science diplomacy examples by adding further networks like the European Scientific Diasporas in North America, etc.
Module 4: How Does the European Union Practice Science Diplomacy? We have additionally presented the structure of the new Framework Programm for research and innovation: Horizon Europe as well as the current development of the European Research Area (ERA) vision.
Module 5: What National, Regional, and Thematic Approaches of Science Diplomacy Exist? We have analysed differences and similarities in national and regional approaches as well as principles how to design science diplomacy approach. Furthermore, we have collected recommendations based on the experiences with the COVID-19 crisis.
Module 6: What Set of Skills Do I Need to Be a Good Science Diplomat? We have included an overview of roles as well as an overview on institutionalised and non- institutionalised positions in science diplomacy.
Module 7: Hands on! Case Studies. We have summerised the main outcome of the transversal analysis of our S4D4C case studies and have explaned what “matters” in science diplomacy.
Module 8: How Can You Dive Deeper into the Topic? We have listed a few new publications related to science diplomacy.
How to use the content?
The new version of the online course is still licensed under a CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION INTERNATIONAL LICENCE 4.0. This means you can share and adapt this content and give appropriate credit (*), provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
* Please use the following acknowledgement: This course has been created by the project “Using science for/in diplomacy for addressing global challenges -S4D4C” co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 770342. The contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.
