Free Online Course offered by FutureLearn: British Diplomacy Overview

Future Learn Platform offers a new free online course on British Diplomacy. That aims to help learners gain a deeper insight into the work of the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its diverse global workforce.

This course is presented in partnership with British Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

Course Duration:

2 hours per week for two weeks.

The course is intended for:

1. This course has been designed as an introduction to the UK’s diplomatic network for any job applicants (UK or overseas), for new starters at any level, and for existing UK government employees moving into international roles or going on an overseas posting for the first time.
2. However, this course will be suitable for anyone interested in the inner workings of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Topics Covered:

1. How the FCO works: inside King Charles Street (headquarters) and cross-Whitehall coordination.
2. How the UK overseas network functions: the role of Embassies and High Commissions.
3. Diplomacy Demystified: the legal framework for diplomacy, theoretical approaches and what diplomats actually do (e.g. reporting, negotiating and representing).
4. How the FCO supports its staff through associations and networks (e.g. BAME and FCO Women) and development opportunities: including honest accounts of what works and what doesn’t.

Course Outcomes:

By the end of the course, learners will be able to:

1. Identify the main characteristics of the UK’s diplomatic network including the role of Directorates and the importance of cross-Whitehall coordination.
2. Assess the varied role of Embassies, High Commissions and other Posts in promoting UK interests abroad including consular and political work.
3. Explore the legal and historical framework of diplomacy and what diplomats actually do.
4. Discuss how the FCO supports its employees and encourages diversity including through the important role of staff associations.

Course costs:

• Learner can join this course for free and get access to it for 4 weeks.
• Or upgrade this course for $59 and gets:

• Access to this course for as long as it’s on Future Learn.
• Access to this course’s tests as well as a print and digital Certificate of Achievement once he/she is eligible.

• Or buy unlimited for $199 for one year and gets:

• Access to this course, and hundreds of other FutureLearn short courses and tests for a year.
• A printable digital Certificate of Achievement on all short courses once they are eligible.
• The freedom to keep access to any course he/she has achieved a digital Certificate of Achievement on, for as long as the course exists on Future Learn.
• The flexibility to complete own choice of short courses in learner’s own time within the year.

Foreign & Commonwealth Office:

The FCO promotes the United Kingdom’s interests overseas, supporting its citizens and businesses around the globe.

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