Geodiplomatics

Introduction & Dedication
Diplomatic Practice and consequently, Diplomatic Training, must keep abreast in our rapidly evolving world. News! In September 2024, Professor Nabil Ayad , Director of the Global European Diplomatic Academy (GEDA), together with a team of academics, experts and professionals who have a proven track record in running Master’s Degrees, executive programmes and training courses for members of the Diplomatic Corps in London, Paris and Rome, staff of overseas Ministries for Foreign Affairs and other government departments international and regional organisations as well as graduates aspiring to an international career, will lead the introduction of an MBA in Diplomacy The unique and innovative MBA Diplomacy will be offered by the University of Europe for Applied Sciences in Berlin, Germany and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Training Activties and Webinars - 2020 - 2023 1. Acted either as convenor or contributed to a number of online Webinars which were organised either by embassies in London, universities or international organisations: • The New Communications Reality Shaping Global Society: Webinar organised by Embassy of Turkmenistan - 3rd December 2020. Gave a presentation on Positive Diplomacy and Foreign Policy Neutrality • Acted as a convenor: Science Diplomacy, International Policy, and the Move from the Wealth of Nations to the Health of Nations. An international webinar which was organised by the Embassy of Nepal, London, 26th November 2020. 2. Assisted in the organization of the Online Education without Social Distance: Challenges for Internationalisation and Culture of Peace Online Conference. The conference was Organised by Pegaso International, Malta in cooperation with European Universities and Organisations including UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Acted as a Discussant in the Panel: Education for a Culture of Peace , 23–24 October 2020 3.Acted as a convenor: Culture, Science, Diplomacy and International Relations.An international webinar hosted by International Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, United Arab Emirates 22 September 2020 The event was overseen by Professor Daryl Copeland, Senior Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, and Policy Fellow, Centre for International Studies and Research - Field of Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence Reserch (CERIUM) author of Guerrilla Diplomacy: Rethinking International Relations 4.Acted as a convenor: The Impact of the Social Media and Fake News on Cultural Diplomacy, given by Professor Richard Harvey who is Professor, School of Computing Sciences and the Academic Director of Internationalisation at University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK 5. Assisted with the organisation of an international webinar in June 2020 hosted by the International Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, United Arab Emirates, whose mission, according to Dr Mohammad Kamil Almuaini, Founder/Chairman is to help people foster a mutual understanding of cultural differences. My pesentation to the webinar Science Diplomacy, International Policy and Solidarity in the Age of Fear was given on 9 July 2020. 6.Assisted with the organisation of an International Webinar : Solidarity in COVID-19 – An Essential Instrument in Tracking the Pandemic . Hosted by Abdulaziz Saud Al Babtain Cultural Foundation which references the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report points out that 2020 is a landmark year – the “Year of Biodiversity”and the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. The foundation asks for countries to ratchet up their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which until today are insufficient to reach the Paris Agreement goals. I gave a presentation on: Diplomacy, Security, NationBranding and Statecraft 7.Acted as a Convenor: International Security & the New Disorder: An Emerging Paradigm in Cultural Diplomacy An international webinar hosted by International Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, United Arab Emirates. The introductory seminar was presented by Professor Roger McNally on 25 June 2020. 8.Acted as a Discussant: The Impact of COVID 19 on Diplomatic Training, a webinar hosted by the Academy for Diplomatic Studies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Bahrain. Participants included members of the International Forum on Diplomatic Training 09 June 2020 9.Acted as a Convenor: The Role of Cultural Diplomacy in Times of Crisis. Major presentation given by Dr Myszka Guzkowska, Higher Education Consultant, London, United Kingdom. An international webinar hosted by the International Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, United Arab Emirates, 11 June, 2020 10.Acted as a Convenor: The Impact of Cultural Diplomacy on Nation Branding and Statecraft, given by Barry Tomalin . An international webinar hosted by International Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, United Arab Emirates 26 May 2020. Barry Tomalin lectures in International Communication and Public Diplomacy at the British School of Leadership and Management, Glasgow Caledonian University London and Birkbeck College, University of London 11.Gave a presentation on: The Dynamics of Diplomacy, National Interests and Performance Assessment to the members of the Institute of International Relations, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the students of the University of Humanities and Development. 21 May 2020 12. Gave a presentation on; Diplomacy, Practice Procedures and Dynamics to students from University of Tirana, Faculty of Social Sciences, 14 May 2020 Diplomatic Practice and consequently, Diplomatic Training, must keep abreast in our rapidly evolving world. Please see a copy of my recent article on Science Diplomacy and Diplomatic Practice which was published by Diplomat Magazine, May/June 2019 >> As a result of my lengthy academic career with extensive links to world governments and international and regional organisations; as well as contacts with thousands of alumni who occupy senior positions in governments, professional organisations, universities, and national parliaments, I have been approached by a number governments to establish to establish national diplomatic academies for the training of their Diplomats and other government officials. When I started the Diplomacy programmes at the University of Westminster in 1980 and later set up the Diplomatic Academy of London, Diplomacy was a minor branch of international relations; due to my efforts and innovative training, Diplomacy became a discipline unto itself. Hence, I was approached by the University of East Anglia in August 2010 to set up the London Academy of Diplomacy at their London campus, followed by Loughborough University London in November 2014 to set up the Academy of Diplomacy and International Governance (Renamed recently as Institute of Diplomacy and International Governance). In August 2018, I joined Glasgow Caledonian University London (GCU London) >>, initially to supervise a number of my former PhD students who transferred from Loughborough University. GCU London was keen to introduce Diplomacy programmes to serve the needs of governments, organisations, and graduates aspiring for an international career. As a result, I have developed three Master’s Degree programmes at the British School of Leadership and Management (GCU London) which are currently being offered. These include: 1. MSc International Diplomacy and the Digital State Information about programme >> 2. MSc International Security and Diplomacy Information about programme >> 3. MSc International Business, Trade and Diplomacy Information about programme >> Recent Doctorate Degrees which I have supervised and examined: Supervised the following four PhD theses by students who were registered initially at Loughborough University London and transferred afterwards to Glasgow Caledonian University London where they were awarded the PhD Degree 1. Thesis entitled: Diplomacy and Security: An Analysis of the Response to Emerging Security Threats in the MENA Region Post- Arab Spring (2010-2017): United Arab Emirates , a Case Study , by Dr Abdulla Bin Ahmed Al Shaikh 23 August 2019 . Sponsored by Dubai Police. Programmes at the University of Westminster in 1980 and later set up the Diplomatic Academy of London, Diplomacy was a minor branch of international relations; due to my efforts and innovative training, Diplomacy became a discipline unto itself. Hence, I was approached by the University of East Anglia in August 2010 to set up the London Academy of Diplomacy at their London campus, followed by Loughborough University London in November 2014 to set up the Academy of Diplomacy and International Governance (Renamed recently as Institute of Diplomacy and International Governance). Tirana, Albania November 21st, 2019 'Relgion as an Instrument for Peace' Conference 'Relgion as an Instrument for Peace' Conference in Tirana, Albania. His Excellency Ilir Meta, President of Republic of Albania and Ambassador Sam Brownback Ambassador at Large for Religion Freedom, Department of State as well as Ambassador Genci Mucaj, Advisor for International Affairs to the President of Albania gathered participants from all parts of the world. "World Religions teach the spiritual value of duty to care for others. This belief comes from: the African tradition, the Moslem obligation of hospitality, the Christian “golden rule,” and similar beliefs in other religions. Yet, it is quite ironic that the source of much world conflict is at least in part based on differing interpretations of religious text and conflicting religious claims on ownership of lands. Religion is frequently blamed in many world conflicts including Kosovo (Christianity and Islam), Bosnia (Catholicism; Orthodox Christianity; Islam), India (Hinduism and Islam), Israel (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), Sri Lanka (Buddhism and Hinduism), and Ireland (Catholic and Protestant Christianity). However, the root causes of these conﬂicts are much more holistic. They involve: tribal or racial enmity, economic disparity, and political differences. It can be noted that although, on the one hand, certain religious leaders sometimes sanctify wars making violence “holy”, on the other, the most persistent voices for non-violence come from religions." Professor Nabil Ayad(l) His Excellency Ilir Meta, President of Republic of Albania(r) The Hague, Netherlands, June 13th, 2019. The World Forum for the Culture of Peace with speakers calling for the promotion of culture and dialogue for global peace and security through education. George Vella, President of Malta gave the keynote address stressing Education for Peace. Organized by the Al-Babtain Cultural Foundation in partnership with the World Peace Foundation of New York, Leiden University in the Netherlands, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Carnegie Foundation Peace Palace. (Photos: Session I of the World Forum for the Culture of Peace and Professor Nabil Ayad with HE Dr. George Vella, President of Malta In February, 2019, I organized the 25th International Conference in the series Diplomacy in the 21st Century in Abu Dhabi, UAE in collaboration with the International Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (IICD). The Conference was entitled: "The New Nexus 2: The Impact of the Media on Diplomacy, Security, Nation Building and Statecraft: Image Projection and Reputation Management ." Professor Nabil Ayad and conference participants with His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance February, 2019 Plenary Session III - Ambassadorial Panel (l-r) Professor Nabil Ayad, Ambassador James Watt CVO, Chairman, Council for British Research in the Levant, former British Ambassador to Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon; H E Mr Navdeep Suri , Ambassador of India to UAE; Ambassador Michael Corbin. former American Ambassador to UAE; HE Mrs Iruthisham Adam, former Minister of Youth and Sports, Republic of Maldives and Ambassador to the UN Office of International Organisations, Geneva; and Professor Daryl Copeland, Senior Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute; former Senior Advisor, Strategic Policy and Planning, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada In addition, I am acting as an external diplomatic adviser to HE Mr. Behgjat Pacolli - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo. IIn May 2018, in Kosovo, I organised the 24th International Conference in the series Diplomacy in the 21st Century in collaboration with the Kosovo Diplomatic Academy and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung on "Economic Diplomacy - Regional Cooperation and Integration Through the Berlin-Process". This 5th Kosovo Diplomatic School Conference was held at Hotel Queen Vali Palace, Gjilan, Republic of Kosovo, 06-10 May 2018. In March 2018, in Kosovo, Professor Dr Nabil Ayad organised the conference on: Diplomacy, Gender Empowerment and Nation Building in collaboration with Kosovo Diplomatic Academy. The conference coincided with the International Women’s Day and the celebration of the 5th anniversary of establishing the Kosovo Diplomatic Academy. It was the 23rd International Conference in the series of Diplomacy in the 21st Century. H E Prof. Dr. Beqir Ismaili, Professor Dr. Nabil Ayad, H E Dr Albena Refki Reshitaj – Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning who spoke about Diplomacy and Gender Professor Dr. Nabil Ayad spoke on "Empowering Women in Government: Diplomatic Challenges" Professor Dr. Nabil Ayad addressing the conference (MP4) >> ________________________________ Website for Global Council for Tolerance and Peace (GCTP) >> gctpnews.org Launch of GCPT in Republic of Malta, November 2017 (l-r) HE Bourhane Hamidou, President of the National Assembly of Comoros; Ambassador Ahmed al-Jarwan, President Global Council for Tolerance and Peace; HE Mr. Behgjat Pacolli, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of Kosovo; Professor Nabil Ayad, Assistant for Diplomatic and Academic Affairs to the President GCTP Launch of GCPT in Republic of Malta, November 2017 Football for Peace, UK House of Commons on November 8th, 2017 Another notable enterprise in which I am currently involed is Football for Peace which was launched at the UK House of Commons on November 8th, 2017. I was appointed to the Steering Committee for this renowned organisation. Launch of London as City for Peace at UK House of Commons on November 8th, 2017 (l-r)Professor Nabil Ayad, Assistant for Diplomatic and Academic Affairs to the President GCTP; Mr Kashif Siddiki, Chairman, Football for Peace ; Ms Seema Malhotra, MP Past Academic Achievements As founder and former Director (November 2014-October 2017) of the Academy of Diplomacy and International Governance at Loughborough University London, I worked to develop the Academy as a recognised international institution. The aim of the Academy was to offer a suite of Master’s Degrees in Diplomacy and related disciplines. My career has been a study in questioning conventional approaches while embracing global education. My greatest success has been the integration of theoretical and practical concepts using innovative and creative approaches. When I developed the Diplomatic Academy of London (DAL) at the University of Westminster and later the London Academy of Diplomacy (LAD) at University of East Anglia, London Campus, as well as their satellite centres in Paris and Rome, I created a new model for university education for professional diplomats, other government officials, and graduates aspiring for an international career. The Vision of Geodiplomatics This site is dedicated to Sir Peter Marshall, KCMG, who is recognized as the master of geodiplomatics. In his book entitled Positive Diplomacy, as well as in his lectures and seminars, he discusses the evolution of diplomacy. He describers a major shift in the practice of diplomacy towards a public model which he referes to as geodiplomatics. [l-r ] Professor Nabil Ayad and Sir Peter Marshall Introducing the concept of 'Geodiplomatics' in the context of the conduct of International Relations, at the 16th Diplomatic Academy of London Symposium entitled Transformational Public Diplomacy: Shaping the Future of International Relations, May 2008 Diplomacy is a business, a multinational business. It is as dynamic as the policies of the country it serves. If it gets out of tune with the realities of the day. it will fail. But it cannot afford to follow changing fashion light-heartedly. It must temper experience and accumulated expertise with imagination and receptiveness. Sir Peter Marshall . The Dynamics of Diplomacy This site is also dedicated to many people with whom I have worked both academics and administrative staff. These include Senior officials at the University of Westminster for supporting the Diplomatic Academy of London, including: Professor Colin Adamson-Maceda, Professor Terence E. Burlin, Dr. Geoffrey Copland, Professor Margaret Blunden, Professor Keith Phillips, Professor Geoffrey Petts. Professor Rikki Morgan-Tamosunas, and Dr Myszka Guzkowska. As well as many colleagues for their valuable contribution including: Mr. Stanley Martin CVO, Sir David Miers KBE CMG, Professor Riad Nourallah, Professor Daryl Copeland, Mr. David Rees, Mrs Rosalie Rivett, Mr. Abdel-Ilah Bennis, Mr. Rob Williams, Professor Jack Lonergan, Professor Michael K. Simpson (President of the American University of Paris, and Professor Ali Fatemi In addition, many officials from the University of East Anglia, including the Vice-Chancellor Professor Edward Acton, the Dean of UEA London Dr. Richard Harvey , Professor Hussein Kassim, and staff of INTO University Partnerships, including its Chairman Mr. Andrew Colin. and Mr. Martin Halsall, as well as His Exellency. Professor Vincenzo Scotti (President of LINK Campus University in Rome). Special thanks and appreciation go to Mrs. Fatmah Lallmahamood for her dedication and exemplary service for more than fifteen years. It is also dedicated to thousands of Alumni who have studied at the Academies. The Standing of the Academy In May 2008, the Diplomatic Academy of London,in colaboration with the American Embassy in London and Centre on Public Diplomacy, University of Southern California, organized the Sixteenth International Symposium in the series Diplomacy in the 21st Century. The theme was Transformational Public Diplomacy: Shaping the Future of International Relations During the Symposium Reception which was hosted by Professor Geoffrey Petts, Vice- Chancellor and Rector, University of Westminster & Professor Nabil Ayad, Director, Diplomatic Academy of London comments were made about the standing of the Academy. Diplomacy in the 21st Century: Sixteenth International Symposium: Closing Dinner >> Evolution in the Study of Diplomacy When I started the diplomatic studies programme at the University of Westminster in 1980, Diplomacy was a minor branch of International Relations. Through my efforts and determination, Diplomacy has become a discipline unto itself, and my work at the Academies has been recognised for leadership in the field. Over more than three decades. I have been involved in the training of diplomats (including heads of diplomatic missions) and other government officials from the Commonwealth, the Arab World, Africa, Eastern and Central Europe, the Caribbean, Central Asia and China. Most of these training programmes were sponsored by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council, as well as groups who were sponsored by their own governments. These include China, Kuwait, Iraq, the UAE, Tanzania, Swaziland and Saudi Arabia. In addition, I have advised governments on setting up institutes for diplomatic training and lectured extensively, at various Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Training Institutes and universities in many countries, including, Australia, Russia, Austria, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt, France, Italy, Malta, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Croatia , Poland ,Thailand, Malaysia, Spain, Uzbekistan, Italy, China, USA, Germany and in the UK (Universities of Birmingham, Reading and Salford). The areas covered have included such relevant topics as: international security, international relations, and the media and the impact of information technology on Diplomatic Missions and Government Departments. Diplomatic courses and training programmes offered have been valued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, British Ministry of Defence, overseas Ministries for Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Missions in London, international and regional organisations, multinational corporations and individual students for their relevance and focus on career development. Many of the diplomats for whom I have developed training programmes occupy senior positions in their countries as Ministers and Ambassadors; others are working as members of staff for international and regional organisations such as the UN, NATO, EU, the League of Arab States, the media, multinational corporations, defense and security organisations.