The Faculty of Social Sciences of University Ljubljana hosted an international student training module on Digital Diplomacy titled “Diplomacy at the Crossroads: Mixing Tradition and Digitalization” between Monday 26th of February and Friday 1st of March.
It was attended by 50 students and professors from faculties in Turkey ((Istanbul University and Istanbul Ticaret University), Italy (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Milan), Estonia (University of Tartu), Romania (University of Bucharest) and Slovenia (University of Ljubljana).
Monday, 26.2. began with the welcome address by Prof. Özgün Erler Bayir and Prof. Boštjan Udovič. The first lecture “Old” and “New” Diplomacy was given by Prof. Andrea Zotti from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Milan. Prof. Luciana Alexandra Ghica from the University of Bucharest followed on with a lecture on the Emergence of Digital Diplomacy. The day was concluded with two case studies. First was presented by Prof. Uğur Yasin Asal from the Istanbul Ticaret University and addressed the Contextual and Executive Roots of Digital Diplomacy. Secondly prof. Stefano Braghiroli from the University of Tartu concluded the day with a case study on Small State Diplomacy in the Digital Age: Between Nation Building and Multi-Level Governance.
Tuesday, 27.2. started with a lecture on What is Global Diplomacy? by Prof. Boštjan Udovič from the University of Ljubljana. Prof. Nicoletta Vittadini from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart continued with a lecture Twitter Diplomacy: Opportunities, Risks and Future Developments. Prof. Boštjan Udovič then lectured about How did COVID-19 pandemic change diplomacy? Prof. Claudiu D. Tufiș from the University of Bucharest concluded the day with a lecture on The State of Democracy in Europe: How Much Can the Data Tell Us?
Wednesday, 28.2. began with the lecture Digital Campaigns to Promote Human Rights: How to Make Them by Prof. Andrea Locatelli from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Milan. Assist. Prof. Iris Koleša from the University of Ljubljana followed on with a lecture Digital Diplomacy in the Context of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations Lastly, guest lecturer Prof. Milan Jazbec built on this by explaining the role of preambles of VCDR and VCCR.
On Thursday, 29.2. the participants of the conference visited the Slovenian parliament building, where they were given a guided tour of both chambers of parliament, the National Assembly as well as the National Council. As on Tuesday and Wednesday, students had time on Thursday to prepare their presentations.
The conference was concluded on the 1.3. when the students presented their team presentations, which they had been working on during the week. This was followed by the second guest lecture by dr. Ilan Manor who concluded the student training module with a lecture on Digital Diplomacy via Zoom.