Section CA: Consular Affairs

Basic Consular Course

This course offers a general overview of the basic duties and responsibilities of consular officers. Intensive training will be offered in areas of consular affairs’ policies, responsibilities and procedures. Students are introduced to key issues, such as the issuance of passports and criterion for citizenship, types of visas, visa ineligibilities, and Azerbaijani citizen services. Consular management is a focal point of the course. Lectures will be complimented with small group sessions, case studies and role-plays. The course will also reinforce interviewing skills.

Passports and Citizenship

This course presents the legal foundations of acquiring Azerbaijani citizenship. Consular officers are taught to interpret laws and regulations and apply them to passports and citizenship. Procedures for issuing Azerbaijani passports are taught in detail. The course is also designed to teach consular officers what passports look like, highlight passport their security features, and provide tips on how to determine whether a passport has been tampered with or forged.

Detecting Fraudulent Documents and Impostors

The course instructs consular officers how to determine whether a document has been altered or counterfeited and explains the procedures for identifying impostors during an interview or through photographs.  Students will be taught the criteria for judging the authenticity of documents, common printing methods, printing defects, characteristics of counterfeiting, visual cues for recognizing counterfeit versions of photocopied documents, and building blocks for recognition of fraudulent documents. Consular officers learn how to visually break down an image in component parts in order to detect differences between two or more faces.

Crisis Management and Assisting Victims of Crime

This course is designed to provide consular officers with the information and skills needed to assist Azerbaijani citizens who become victims of serious crimes while abroad. Serious crimes include homicide, assault and abuse, armed robbery, kidnapping, hostage taking, terrorism and other crimes in which the victim suffers serious physical injuries and/or emotional trauma. The course teaches key actions that consular officers can take at times of crisis. Teaching methods include presentations, videos, case studies, and interactive exercises.

Consular Interviewing

This course is designed to teach consular officers proper techniques for interviewing individuals. Topics include establishing rapport, building a baseline, looking for verbal and non-verbal communication clues (including micro-expressions) and how to communicate a decision once one is made. Consular officers learn about cognitive and emotional clues to deception, and discuss methods for structuring a good consular interview and supervising interviews. The course builds critical skills which apply to all areas of consular work.

International Parental Child Adoption

This course is designed to expose students to the role of the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry in responding to international parental child abductions and unlawful retentions.  Students will be introduced to the various tools for returning abducted children and methods for obtaining parental access including civil remedies.   Consular officers will be taught how to engage with host country officials in support of Azerbaijani parents left behind, interagency cooperation, and other legal issues. 

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Section IPLO: International Politics, Law and Organizations

National Security Interests of Azerbaijan

This bi-annual seminar examines the National Security Concept of Azerbaijan and its fundamental principles, goals and values. The first part of the course will introduce a number of theoretical perspectives on national security policy making. The seminar will then review the security environment in the South Caucasus, the geostrategic role that Azerbaijan plays in the region, and examine strategies for promoting the national security interests of the State. The course studies external and internal national security threats and challenges that the State faces today such as terrorism, globalization, and crisis management and outlines strategies utilized to overcome them. Moreover, the course discusses a range of factors that affect the national security policymaking process in Azerbaijan, including: the international system, domestic politics, bureaucratic politics, and individual personalities.

Advanced Seminar on Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict

This quarterly seminar will provide an in-depth understanding of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Each session will discuss a particular component of the conflict, including the history and causes of the conflict, the role and efforts of the global and regional powers involved in the peace process. The course will also address the role of international organizations such as the UN, OSCE and Council of Europe in conflict resolution as well as interests of the Minsk Co-Chair countries. This advanced seminar will include simulations, group discussions, video presentations, and mock negotiations. Guest speakers will include the Minister and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as officials from the Ministry of Defense and representatives from the Office of the President.

Bilateral Diplomacy

Bilateral diplomacy is one of the building blocks of international relations. This course offers a practitioner’s perspective, looking at various diplomatic concepts, and how these operate in real life as countries work to promote their interests in the contemporary global environment. This course provides participants with the tools to analyze world affairs, with a focus on the craft skills of diplomacy. Participants will look at the complex and concurrent objectives that countries pursue in their external relationships.  Finally, the role of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry as the hub of a dynamic network charged with balancing many actors (including state and non-state actors) each with a legitimate role in foreign affairs will be analyzed.

Multilateral Diplomacy

This course prepares participants for work with international organizations such as the U.N. and OSCE or for serving as an Azerbaijani delegate to multilateral meetings. Students will be offered an introduction to interest-based negotiation as applied to regional conflicts, human rights cases, trade disputes, and environmental conflicts. Emphasis will be placed on developing analytical and political skills necessary for conducting multilateral diplomatic work, such as negotiation strategy, consensus building, and the ability to work within the rules governing multilateral meetings. The course explores Azerbaijan’s key policy priorities in the multilateral diplomatic arena and how the Government approaches multilateral work. This course is a practical workshop to help officers become familiar with key aspects of conference diplomacy.

Current Global Issues

This course introduces students to key analytical concepts such as balance of power, unipolarity, multipolarity, unilateralism, multilateralism, and major theoretical perspectives for analysis of international politics. Students will also be introduced to key contemporary issues such as globalization, the environment, climate change, internationally displaced persons, democracy building, human rights, terrorism, and human and drug trafficking. Using experts from government and non-governmental organizations and the private sector, this course will discuss the impact of these issues on Azerbaijan’s policy priorities. Students will also explore the complex relationship between governments, international organizations and NGOs in addressing these issues.

Arms Control and Nonproliferation

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is one of the most significant threats to the security of the international system. The first part of the course will use historical case studies to examine the theory of arms proliferation and control, focusing on motivations for states to obtain weapons, why other states have sought to regulate them, and how proliferation affects international security. Students will examine the nonproliferation regime in detail, concentrating on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the conventions banning chemical and biological weapons, supplier regimes and export controls, and verification and compliance issues. The second part of the course is designed to teach how arms control and nonproliferation factor into Azerbaijan’s national security policy. The implications of the current nonproliferation regime for the Caucasus and Central Asian regions are also considered.

Intelligence and Foreign Policy

This course explores the role of the intelligence community in the formulation of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. It examines how information is collected, analyzed and processed for policymakers. The course also explores and debates issues concerning how policymakers utilize intelligence and coordinate intelligence activities. The primary focus of the course is on how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including its embassies abroad, uses intelligence to advance Azerbaijan’s foreign policy priorities.  In addition, the course examines the role of the Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Defense and other intelligence organizations involved in the foreign policy process. Common approaches as well as differences in interagency perspectives of the intelligence community are discussed.

Human Rights in the Foreign Policy Process

This course covers current topics on human rights. The globalization of markets, the dissolution of states, new generation of conflicts, the growing role of the private sector, and the increasing stress on ecological systems have generated new vulnerabilities and new categories of victims. This course explores the activities of governments, international organizations and non-government organizations that promote human rights. The course examines the utility of human rights treaties, regimes, organizations, and coalitions for assessing accountability, promoting reconciliation, and protecting the abused. The competing priorities of national and international human rights agendas are studied in detail. Furthermore, students will examine existing and planned programs promoting democracy and the rule of law. 

Self-Determination and Minority Rights

This seminar looks at the origins of the Self-Determination principle, role in the international law and historic precedents when applied for the protection of the minorities. The contemporary application of this principle in international affairs and how that impacts the evolution of the relations between states as well as the global security is another focus and subject of discussion during the course. Students analyze practical cases, such as the recent developments in East Timor, Eritrea, Kosovo, where the principle of Self-Determination was used as a mean to solve the conflicts. At the same time, the key element of the course remains the understanding for the need to balance between the right to self-determination versus the territorial integrity of a nation-state. Interractive role-plays are an integral part of the course.

International Terrorism: Threat and Response

To be effective in overcoming terrorism, we need to understand why it occurs. Students will examine the potential causes of terrorism such as political, economic, religious, and cultural factors, as well as individual and psychological explanations. In addition to examining the causes of terrorism, this course outlines Azerbaijan’s strategies and policies for coping with these threats. Speakers from government and non-government entities will explain the process for developing and implementing counter-terrorism strategies and how different agencies coordinate their efforts to combat terrorism. Specific components of counter-terrorism strategy that will be discussed include: enhancing national and international cooperation, controlling the flow of finances across borders, improving intelligence, and improving the legal framework. The course will also address the rise of radical Islamic fundamentalism and its implications for Azerbaijan.

Caspian Sea Legal Status and Demarcation of Borders

The course examins the legal status of the Caspian Sea and demarcation issues involving the Caspian seabed and national borders of Azerbaijan. Students will be briefed on the negotiation process between the five litttoral states of the Caspian Sea, with a focus on the official position of Azerbaijan in these negotiations. Moreover, the course examines the outstanding demarcation issues and border disputes with neighboring states.

Population, Refugees and Migration

Refugee influx and other migration problems can present a challenge to national and regional stability. This workshop provides an intensive overview of how refugees and migration affect population. The course will examine the effects of human mobility on factors such as birth and death rates, ethnic diversity, and urbanization. The course will examine how international humanitarian aid agencies address these issues, with a focus on the needs of refugees and victims of war. Students will be able to discuss the policy of the Azerbaijani Government in the area of population, refugees and migration. This includes a review of the government’s strategy for the solicitation and management of multilateral and bilateral project assistance, as well as coordination issues between government agencies, international and non-governmental organizations.

Policy Analysis and Communication

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of policy analysis and provides initial professional training in communication of policy options to internal and external audiences. Students will be introduced to the stages of the public policy process, including agenda setting, formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Students will also develop basic policy analysis skills, including problem definition, stakeholder identification, summarization of current policy, development of policy options, elaboration of criteria for selection, and recommendation of course of action. These concepts are illustrated by examples of policies on global issues including but not limited to security, trade, human rights, environment, development, migration, and other topics. Students will demonstrate the competencies developed through this course by preparing policy memos for internal policy communication, writing op-eds for external policy communication, and giving a presentation or briefing on a policy issue.

Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution

This course equips the students both with the theory, concept and practice of the conflict resoilution. It starts with the description of common pitfalls and shortcomings when managing or preventing conflicts around the world and moves on to empowering students with proven tools for successful conflict resolution, such as active listening, couragious dialogue, trust-building, etc. The facilitators engage the students in practical games and interractive role plays in which they can use these tools for conflict resolution. The course also discusses a number of conflicts around the world and analyses the reasons for their successful resolution. Peace studies component of the course analyses the nature of conflicts both within and between societies and provides context for the compemporary humanitarian interventions and peacebuilding initiatives.

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Section EA: Economic Affairs

International Trade Relations and Diplomacy

This course introduces students to the basic economic principles underlying the costs and benefits of international trade. Students will analyze patterns in trade flows to better understand trends in the international system. Emphasis will be placed on the changing international environment, its trading institutions, key actors and issues as well as practices of analyzing, formulating and negotiating key trade policy issues. Furthermore, the course will address the effects of the expansion of world trade on Azerbaijan’s domestic economy.

WTO History and Core Principles

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is one of the most important, significant and powerful international organizations, setting the basic rules for international trade in goods and services in the global economy. This course is an introduction to the history, basic rules, and future of the WTO, as well as the WTO's unique system of dispute resolution. Students will examine the evolution of multilateral trade agreements and gain a basic understanding of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the emergence of the WTO. The WTO’s subordinate and specialized entities and agreements are explained. The course provides information on intellectual property rights, trade in services, customs issues and government procurement. Students will become familiar with Azerbaijan’s trade policy and its evolution over time.

Petroleum and Gas Industry

The objective of this course is to provide a basic understanding of global energy markets and challenges facing the oil and gas industry. Along with studying the fundamentals of oil exploration, transportation and marketing, the operations of multinational energy companies in Azerbaijan will be examined. Representatives of foreign oil companies working in Azerbaijan will provide unique insights into the economics of the oil business. The coursework is followed by a visit to Sangachal Terminal.

Telecommunications Industry

This seminar provides an overview of the rapidly changing telecommunications industry in Azerbaijan. Emphasis is placed on advancing technologies, transformation of the industry, market structures, regulatory environments and ways of promoting the industry. The course highlights recent developments in the telecommunications industry.

Tourism Strategy and Promotion

The tourism industry is undergoing a rapid transformation due to an influx of foreign investment into Azerbaijan. This workshop will discuss various strategies to develop tourism in Azerbaijan and explore ways of promoting the sector internationally. The workshop will conclude with a visit to several cultural and historic sites.

Transportation Development Concept of Azerbaijan

This seminar, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation of Azerbaijan, will provide a general overview of the State’s strategy for the development of Azerbaijan’s transportation sector. The seminar also places this strategy within the context of the broader Caspian Sea region. A special focus of the seminar is on the transformation of Azerbaijan (and the broader Caspian region) into a transport hub between the East and the West; the North and the South. Participants receive a snapshot of current and potential investments into transport infrastructure projects, both inside and outside of Azerbaijan. Projects such as Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway are addressed as a case study.

Resource and Asset Management

Azerbaijan is in the midst of a large but temporary oil boom that currently generates significant revenue for the state. The long term success of the nation’s economy crucially depends on the ability of the government to manage this oil wealth. As Azerbaijan faces the issue of long-term resource management and prevention of the Dutch Disease, this course is designed to examine the Government’s policy regarding the use of the country’s oil and gas revenues. One positive step has been the establishment of the State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) to promote macroeconomic stability and preserve revenue for the future. Students of this course will focus on the objectives and function of SOFAZ and the rules that guide the management of the Fund’s assets. The course is conducted in close cooperation with the State Oil Fund.

Transformations in Banking and Finance Sector

The course focuses on Azerbaijan’s rapidly growing banking sector and provides an overview of the country’s financial markets. The course covers a range of issues and topics, including: the relationship between the government regulators and private banks, the role and function of the National Bank of Azerbaijan (NBA), the number, size, and operational areas of private banks, national reserves, the manat’s convertibility, and major investment projects involving local banks. The course also examines how banks raise, invest and diversify their portfolios and highlights the current challenges facing the banking sector.

Investments Promotion and Facilitation

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is recognized as a key factor in economic growth and wealth. Successful investment promotion requires a strong commitment from host government as well as unique tools and marketing strategies to target the foreign investment companies. This course will help participants understand the key tools for investment promotion and facilitation, as well as identify key entities within the government which are to respond to an interest for investment. The course will also discuss main trends and factors that impact FDIs, investment climate in Azerbaijan and the wider region, legislation in that area and policy action plans for diplomats and civil servants in the area of investment promotion. Special focus will be on routing investors through appropriate government channels successfully and following up on their progress. The course will attract foreign experts and local policy-makers as speakers.

Customs and Taxes: Duties, Tariffs and Regulations

The primary focus of this course is to inform participants about existing tariffs, duties and regulations related to the customs and taxes in Azerbaijan. The course will equip participants with basic skills and enable them to use this information in their daily work with foreign investors. It will cover the development of Azerbaijani customs and tax systems, current customs and tax legislation and its comparison against international norms. The course describes the composition of customs and tax codes and explains the types of taxes, duties and tariffs applied in Azerbaijan and their administration. Speakers from the Ministry of Taxes and State Customs Committee, as well as foreign and local audit companies will teach this course.

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Section PD: Public Diplomacy

Models and Trends of Public Diplomacy

This seminar is dedicated to the theory and practice of public diplomacy in the 21st century, including the ability to inform, influence, and establish dialogue with international public and institutions. It is designed to provide a broad-based overview of the shifting role of Public Diplomacy and focuses on the challenges and opportunities posed by a range of global issues. Through interactive workshops and discussions, this course offers a contemporary and conceptual view of Public Diplomacy, along with a look at how information technology is fundamentally changing the conduct of both public and traditional diplomacy.

Media Relations: Strategies, Techniques and Applications

The purpose of the course is to instruct students how to best get their message across through the media to their target audience. The course will prepare students to better understand the role of media in the conduct of international relations. Students will learn how to build strategic media plans, tailor messages for successful placement, serve as spokespeople, handle crisis situations, and adapt internet communication tools for organizational success. Public relations and media professionals will share their insights and engage with students on such topics as advocacy campaigns, broadcast PR, new media, reputation management and ethics.

Foreign Cultural Policy

The globalization of international relations brings new challenges to Foreign Service officers. Increasingly, Foreign Service officers are required to interact with ordinary people, rather than state officials in their posted countries. Therefore, spreading the culture, history, music and traditions of Azerbaijan has become a very important part of modern-day diplomacy. This course will equip students with a wide range of activities in the field of foreign cultural policy as a complimentary tool to traditional Foreign Service activities. The course is complimented with cultural activities.

Role of Civil Society in Diplomacy

The goal of this course is to prepare students to constructively engage with non-state actors such as NGOs, media outlets, human rights advocates, and influential international personalities such as Bill Gates or George Soros. Students will focus on establishing common partnerships with these non-state actors while preserving the sovereign interests of Azerbaijan.

Telling Azerbaijan’s Story

This course is designed to provide training and skills that will enable students to explain Azerbaijan’s foreign policy to a full range of interlocutors. Instructors will use classroom presentations and case studies to give participants effective tools for foreign audience presentations. The course aims to develop concise and coherent messages related to Azerbaijan’s story. Students practice the techniques of delivering that message through role-playing and media interview simulations. Students will also develop strategies for handling difficult issues.

Education Programs and Exchanges

This one-day course is designed to provide Foreign Service officers and other interested civil servants with a list of current educational exchange programs between Azerbaijan and other countries, and to equip them with skills to further research and utilize these exchange programs. A practical exercise on how to find out more about such exchange programs upon arrival in a host country will be part of the course. The course will also provide online resources and tools for better research on this issue.

Outreach to Diaspora

Azerbaijan’s international relations benefit from close involvement with and participation of its Diaspora. The well-organized Diaspora with strong lobbying skills and strategy, as well as willingness to stay actively involved in Azerbaijan’s economic, social and cultural life serves the long-term interests of both the country and Diaspora. This course explores a wide range of tools for a better outreach program to the Diaspora. It discusses mindset, mentality, culture and preferences of the Diaspora in different parts of the world. The course identifies and studies in detail the most active Diaspora organizations, groupings and leaders. Guest speakers include Diaspora leaders and representatives from around the globe. The course is conducted in close collaboration with the State Committee of the Work with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad.

Diplomatic Protocol

This course consists of two parts: etiquette and operations. In the first part of the course, participants develop practical skills on internationally accepted etiquette, communication styles, behavioral norms, and culturally sensitive customs used in diplomatic posts, events and functions. Topics to be examined include: proper introduction of oneself, addressing others, using titles, accepting, refusing or responding to invitations, understanding roles of guests, dress codes, decorations and medals, gifts, social customs, engaging in conversations, managing gender, race and ethnicity sensitivities. The second part of the course addresses the operational side of diplomatic protocol; specifically, planning and implementation of official visits, summit meetings, bilateral and multilateral events.

Cyber Diplomacy

With the rapid development of telecommunications and internet technologies, the power of internet and modern communication tools to conduct diplomacy has increased. Traditional methods of disseminating diplomatic messages is being replaced by the use of new venues and tools, such as blogs, internet op-eds, emails, chat-rooms, palm-pilots, mobile phones and internet search engines. This course provides participants with an overview of the broader developments and trends within the telecommunications and technology fields. Students are shown practical ways to use the internet in their daily work, both for research as well as the conduct of events and public diplomacy. The course also provides students with a better understanding of the consequences of relying on this “non face-to-face” mode of interaction.

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Section LD: Leadership Development

Organizational Development and Change Management

This course provides a detailed overview of organizational development methods such as team building, work flow planning, assessment, strategic planning, work simplification, process consultation and conflict management. Participants will learn how developmental principles, models and tools can benefit the organization. Students will learn how to identify problems and apply diagnostic concepts and appropriate treatments to solve real-world situations. Special focus will be placed upon the importance of managing organizational change. Effective change management within an organization is a dynamic process that can result in creativity, innovation and renewed commitment to an organization’s missions and goals. Topics include the role of transformational leadership, interpersonal skills, systematic interrelationships and change implementation.

Designing and Delivering Effective Presentations

This one-day hands-on workshop helps participants become comfortable and confident presenters. Students will master the tools that make presentations effective. Course content is customized to focus on the interests and concerns of course participants., Students will learn how to clearly organize a presentation using techniques and methods that most powerfully and persuasively illustrate their findings. Participants will also learn to effectively deliver their presentation by becoming more in tune with oneself, the audience, and the material. Instructors will provide a creative and dynamic model of communication that allows students to confidently present to audiences of any size.

Becoming an Effective Communicator

This course addresses the total communication process – the thought, feeling, and skills that are essential for active listening and straight talking. Students actively engage in a learning process that will include lectures, discussions, self-assessment, and role-playing. Topics include understanding non-verbal means of communication, the theory and practice of cross-cultural communication as well as two essential verbal skills in listening – paraphrasing and question-asking, and assertive communication – what it means and how to do it.

Effective Feedback Skills

Giving effective feedback to subordinates, peers and superiors can sometimes be difficult. This workshop will develop skills and techniques to make the student more effective at giving and receiving of feedback. Students will learn to distinguish between different types of feedback, identify roadblocks in the feedback process, identify basic components of effective feedback, as well as enhance active listening skills. The course will utilize role play and other simulation methods to aid students in the feedback process.

Manage to Motivate

This course introduces strategies you can use to build and maintain your personal motivation and to create and maintain motivation in those you supervise. The course identifies styles and approaches to management that create incentive and stimulus for staff. The course also covers practical methods for dealing with specific motivational issues, focusing on identifying causes and involving all parties in generating solutions. Practical tools are provided for diagnosing problems and developing effective solutions. The course focuses on theories of motivation by creating awareness of the factors involved in personal motivation and extrinsic and intrinsic rewards. In the course, you will conduct motivational analysis by learning to focus on four key motivational factors. You will gain experience in applying motivational strategies to yourself and others to create a more positive and energized work environment; diagnosing motivational problems and identifying possible solutions; and involving employees in creating solutions to their own motivational problems.

Running Effective Meetings

This workshop presents a variety of power methods and strategies you can use to conduct focused and result-oriented meetings. Participants will use case studies to gain experience in the planning, staging and concluding elements required to conducting effective meetings. The course will teach you how to plan a meeting by setting realistic goals, establishing the scope and agenda of the meeting and working out the logistics that ensure that your meetings run smoothly and effectively. Students will brainstorm to identify factors that lead to successful meeting as well as the determinants that can cause meetings to fail in meeting their objectives. Students will develop their skills in problem solving process to analyze alternatives and make important decisions.

Team Building

This workshop applies key concepts of team development, developing roles, assigning and fulfilling responsibilities, decision-making, inclusive leadership, and how to effectively communicate in team contexts. Participants will learn through experience by actively engaging in teambuilding activities throughout the workshop.

Writing Effective Letters and Memos

This course helps to develops skills in drafting well-organized, concise and effective letters, speeches, cables, memos, and e-mails. Students practice clarifying the purpose of communication and then writing correspondence that directly address the purpose of diplomatic writing, which can be different from academic writing. They are taught how to use appropriate tone with natural, positive language; write unified paragraphs with precise topic sentences that address specific concepts, issues and ideas; and use active vs. passive voice and concrete vs. abstract wording. Students will be taught how to organize their writing in order to achieve coherent, logical progression of ideas and clear transitions and how best to edit their work to ensure the correspondence gains the reader’s interest through the use of succinct and straight-forward language.

International Negotiation: Art and Skills

Growing interdependency among nations has made negotiating an indispensable tool in the international political arena. Complex problems in the fields of economy, trade, energy, environment, diplomacy and security require intensive international negotiations within multilateral settings. Conducting such negotiations is a professional art. This course aims to improve the participants’ insight into the negotiating process; thus, allowing for better negotiation skills and techniques.

From Strategy to Action

This course allows the participants to look at their daily tasks from the strategic perspective and link the strategy that their organizations strive for to their daily duties. It applies five actions steps for meaningful goals that contribute to business results. The course is highly interactive and is linked to performance review and development planning for performance management.

Implementation of Action Plans

This course helps participants to apply four action steps for successfully implementing plans, decisions and goals. It reviews such important aspects of day-to-day operations, as delegating, conflict management, time management and problem solving and empowers participants to use them in developing and implementing their action plans. The course is interactive and designed for senior managers of an organization.

Mentoring by Ambassadors

This is the first program of its type, whereby, Foreign Service officers are paired with a select group of Ambassadors, who serve as mentors. The objective of this mentoring partnership is to set professional development goals and explore strategies for achieving them. The skills developed in this process include clear communication, giving and receiving feedback, active listening and goal setting. The partners define their own roles as well as the anticipated benefits of the mentorship. Each partnership is bound by their agreement to work together towards the accomplishment of their partnership goals.

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Section AS: Area Studies

The Area Studies section offers a wide range of courses that provide an in-depth analysis of the history, economy, domestic politics, foreign and military policy, demographic and social make-up of a particular region/sub-region and its member states.

The Area Studies section is divided into sub-sections: Eurasian Studies, North American Studies, European Studies, Middle East Studies, Africa Studies, East and South Asia Studies, and Central and South American Studies. The sub-sections include monthly, bi-monthly and quarterly seminars with distinguished guest speakers and advanced area and country-specific analysis with regional experts.

The 2008 Curriculum covers the following regions and countries:

• Caucasus and Central Asia
• Middle East: Iran Series
• Eurasian Studies
  • Russia
• European Studies
• Middle East Studies
  • Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf
  • Turkey
  • Israel
• Africa Studies
  • South Africa and Subsahara
• East and South Asia Studies
  • Pakistan and Afghanistan
  • India
  • ASEAN
• Central and South America Studies
  • Mexico and Caribbean
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Chile
• Formulation of the US Foreign Policy

Formulation of the US Foreign Policy

This course analyzes the factors that have affected the formulation of American foreign policy in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The course examines the principal players in formulating foreign policy including, the White House, the State Department, the defense and intelligence communities, the U.S. Congress, think-tanks and lobby organizations. The United States foreign policy is becoming increasingly involved in the Caucaus and Central Asia. The course therefore reviews the design and implementation of American foreign policy towards the countries of these regions. Teaching methods include presentations, videos, simulations and case studies.

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