About
The Cybersecurity Diplomacy online course aims to equip Geneva Dialogue partners and professionals with the knowledge and skills to understand global cybersecurity negotiations and act effectively to shape and implement international and regional cyber norms and confidence-building measures. The course will run from 26 February till 29 March 2024.
Context
The use of cyberattacks by states – and, more generally, the behaviour of states in cyberspace concerning maintaining international peace and security – is moving to the top of the international agenda. States are looking for ways to secure cyberspace their societies and economies depend upon. Negotiations about cyberspace take place within the United Nations committees, the General Assembly and the Security Council, various regional organisations like the OSCE, OAS, AU and ASEAN, and multilateral fora like G7, G20, and the WTO. Within the UN, through the work of the UN Group of Governmental Experts (UN GGE) from 2004 to 2021, and the UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) since 2019, states have developed and agreed on the international framework of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace (visit here for more).
There is an increasing awareness and recognition among states that, to implement the agreed cyber norms, they should partner with relevant stakeholders and non-state actors: businesses, civil society, academia and the technical community. At the same time, these stakeholders are realising that they, too, need to play a role in shaping and implementing political decisions. Cyber(in)security is impacting international peace, sustainable development, digital cooperation, human rights and privacy, as well as the global digital business environment, and the stakes are getting higher for everyone: ministers, diplomats, business executives, civil society leaders, tech gurus, and researchers.
Online course
This 4-week online course on Cybersecurity Diplomacy is offered to partners and contributors of the Geneva Dialogue on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace. The course discusses how the abuse of technology impacts security and stability in cyberspace and geopolitics, outlines the existing framework of responsible behaviour in cyberspace agreed by states within the UN GGE and OEWG (namely the applicability of international law to cyberspace, cyber norms, confidence-building measures, and capacity building), and maps relevant multilateral and multistakeholder political processes that will further shape the agenda.
Using Diplo’s well-recognised, engaging, and interactive learning methodology, this online course provides a space for exchanging experiences and views within a select group of professionals who contribute to the Geneva Dialogue, as well as with topic experts and course facilitators. The course is based on group readings, on-text reflections, and weekly live discussions.
Learning objectives
Participants will learn:
- To understand cybersecurity agreements and open issues within the UN and regional frameworks, as well as topics on the broader diplomatic agenda
- To identify multilateral and multistakeholder political processes that shape global and regional cybersecurity political agendas
- To map roles that stakeholders (states, companies, ICT incident responders, civil society, and academia) should play in achieving cyber stability
- To prepare to take an active role in international processes around strategic digital/cyber policy
Methodology
This course is conducted online over four weeks. It is based on a collaborative approach to learning, involving a high level of interaction. Reading materials and tools for the interaction are provided through an online classroom. Each week, the participants – at their own pace – read lecture texts and watch videos, and add their comments, references, and questions. Course facilitators and participants read and respond, creating asynchronous interaction. At the end of each week, participants meet course facilitators and thematic experts for an hour-long audio-video session to discuss the week’s topic. The participants will require a minimum of 3-4 hours of study time per week at their own pace (though they may be motivated to spend more due to the level and quality of the exchange among participants). Groups are limited to a maximum of 25 participants. At the end of the course, participants are awarded a certificate. The working language of the course is English.
Eligibility and costs
Partners and contributing organisations of the Geneva Dialogue, as well as the involved experts, are encouraged to attend the course. Participation costs are covered through the Geneva Dialogue.
Dates
The course will be launched on 26 February 2024, allowing a few days to get acquainted with the classroom, the learning methodology and the group. Learning activities will start as of 1 March 2024, and end on 29 March 2024.
Geneva Dialogue
The Geneva Dialogue on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace (Geneva Dialogue) is an international process established in 2018 to map the roles and responsibilities of actors – states, the private sector, civil society, academia, and the technical community – in contributing to greater security and stability in cyberspace. It is led by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and implemented by DiploFoundation, with support of the Republic and State of Geneva, C4DT, Swisscom, and UBS. To learn more, visit here.