The course Scientific Diplomacy and Foreign Policy in Ibero-America: actors, instruments and experiences, co-organised with the Organization of Ibero-American States
(OEI), offers a general overview — both theoretical and applied — of scientific diplomacy as an instrument and practice of state foreign policy in Ibero-America.
The main objective of the course is to contextualise and understand scientific diplomacy within the framework of states’ external action, with special attention to the Ibero-American region. The course also aims to examine its theoretical and practical foundations through the study of its processes, instruments, actors and experiences.
At the global level, scientific diplomacy is an emerging field of knowledge that is undergoing a process of increasing institutionalisation and professionalisation. In the Ibero-American context, states have made significant progress, including the holding in 2022 of the First Ibero-American Forum on Scientific, Technological and Innovation Diplomacy, which considered, among other initiatives, the possible creation of an Ibero-American Scientific Diplomacy Network.
MODULE 1: New forms of diplomacy and foundations of scientific diplomacy in states’ foreign policy
Review of the debate on the role of international relations in addressing global challenges (climate change, pandemics, digitalisation, inequalities)
Analysis of the concept of scientific diplomacy: definitions, objectives and instruments
Scientific diplomacy strategy and foreign policy: scientific diplomacy in the context of the foreign policy of Ibero-American states
Global governance and scientific diplomacy: treaties, agreements and multilateral international organisations incorporating elements of scientific diplomacy
MODULE 2: Understanding and comparing scientific diplomacy strategies
The emergence of scientific diplomacy in Ibero-America
Comparative analysis of the main scientific diplomacy strategies in Ibero-American states (selected cases such as Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, etc.)
Analysis of international scientific networks and cooperation experiences
Scientific outreach and dissemination as a field of scientific diplomacy action
MODULE 3: Actors in scientific diplomacy
Key elements of the scientific diplomacy ecosystem: stakeholder networks across different Ibero-American states
Non-state public actors: provinces, regions and cities
International networks and consortia with an impact on scientific diplomacy
MODULE 4: Instruments, experiences and practices of scientific diplomacy
Examples of successful instruments and good practices in scientific diplomacy experiences
Internationalisation indicators in the context of science, technology and innovation and their use in diplomatic relations
Relevant experiences: AECID, AMEXCID, COLOMBIA, etc.
General aim
The general objective of the course is to contextualise and understand Scientific Diplomacy (SD) within the framework of states’ foreign policy, with particular attention to the Ibero-American region. The course aims to present and analyse the theoretical and practical foundations of scientific diplomacy through its processes, instruments, actors and experiences.
The course combines, in a balanced way, the necessary theoretical foundations with an applied perspective on scientific diplomacy, based on a selection of training contents focused on the processes and dynamics of scientific diplomacy in the context of state foreign policy.
Learning aims
The specific objectives of the course are:
To analyse the emergence of scientific diplomacy within the framework of International Relations and diplomatic studies from both academic and applied perspectives;
To contextualise scientific diplomacy within states’ foreign policy, with attention to the most recent institutional processes and changes;
To analyse different scientific diplomacy strategies at territorial level (international, national, regional and local);
To compare different scientific diplomacy strategies;
To provide information on the skills and knowledge required to work in this field;
To analyse the practices, dynamics and instruments of scientific diplomacy in the context of states’ foreign policy.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to critically understand the dynamics and debates surrounding scientific diplomacy in Ibero-America and the rest of the world.
To enrol in the full course, you must meet the following admission requirements:
Hold a bachelor’s, licentiate or equivalent university degree. Individuals without a university degree may also participate if they can demonstrate a professional, academic or other type of link with the field of international cooperation.
Required documentation to accredit admission requirements:
Copy of national identity document, ID card or passport
Copy of the academic degree certificate or proof of payment of the degree issuance fees (if the degree certificate is not yet available)
Curriculum vitae
Application for admission
If you have any questions or would like to make a prior enquiry, you can contact us using the following form:
+ Information
