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on the experience and materials initially developed for the graduate
program, ITCD now designs and delivers training courses for a global
audience. In April 2005, ITCD launched a module-based Online Certificate
Program on the Professional Practice of Commercial Diplomacy.
The structure of the program provides a roadmap for individuals seeking
to learn about Commercial Diplomacy or to strengthen their Commercial
Diplomacy skills and knowledge acquired through practice. Visit www.itcdonline.com
for information on registration, frequently asked questions, and a
full program description.
ITCD also supports the development of professional training in Commercial
Diplomacy by other institutions, particularly in developing countries,
by partnering with such institutions and by making available
educational training materials in Commercial Diplomacy through its
web site, www.commercialdiplomacy.org. The materials produced by ITCD
include model curricula and teaching guides, manuals, case studies,
simulations, Power Point presentations, model advocacy and negotiating
documents, and resource guides. Learn more about ITCD's training materials
and programs by visiting ITCD's web site, www.commercialdiplomacy.org.
Commercial Diplomacy involves the application of the traditional tools of diplomacy
to the removal of barriers to international trade and investment, and to the
resolution of policy conflicts arising from the globalization of the world economy. Commercial
Diplomats use public advocacy and negotiating tools to advance stakeholder interests
with respect to public policy issues related to international commerce. Both
the government and the business community need trained trade negotiators and
trade policy experts who understand the economic, legal, political, institutional,
and public policy dimension of international commerce, and who have the communication
and political skills required to persuade foreign governments to changes public
policies that affect trade. The fact is, in today's global system of trade,
the success or failure of new business ventures as well as the achievement of
a wide range of public policy objectives requires the negotiation of better trade
agreements, and that requires greater professionalism on all sides.
Training in Commercial Diplomacy is a relatively recent development. Traditionally,
trade policy professionals have learned how to make or influence trade policy
or how to negotiate trade agreements on the job. ITCD’s staff and
associated trade policy experts are pioneers in this area. In 1995 they
developed the first comprehensive Master of Arts in Commercial Diplomacy (MACD)
program (now the Master of Arts in International Trade Policy [MAITP]) at the
Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS). Their aim was to achieve the
same level of professionalism as has been achieved in professional training for
business management or public administration, and to establish a network of training
programs in Commercial Diplomacy around the world. Today, ITCD works directly
with governments, universities, corporations, international donor agencies, and
NGOs to identify training needs and design customized training programs.
The educational
philosophy of ITCD is that training in Commercial Diplomacy, as is
the case generally with professional training programs, should be based
on the application of the tools of the trade to real world situations. This calls for the analysis of real world trade issues
in terms of their commercial, economic, political, legal, institutional,
and public policy dimensions, and the integration of the analytical
results into real world strategies and negotiating solutions. It
calls for the preparation of operational documents used in the
trade, including options papers, white papers, briefing memoranda,
press releases, speeches, and public testimony. Finally, it calls
for simulations of real world activities involving Commercial Diplomacy,
including negotiations, press conferences, and public hearings. The
objective is to enable students to master all of the operational tasks
of a Commercial Diplomat and to apply the tools of the craft on behalf
of any government agency, industry association, corporation, union,
or other non-governmental
organization upon completion of the program.
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