Staff at MOFA Diplomatic Institute Train with Georgetown

Employees of the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) participated in an exclusive five-day International Relations course provided by Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar (GU-Q).

48 employees representing departments of the Ministry as well as the Emiri Diwan gathered to learn about contemporary issues facing today’s diplomatic corps. Critical topics included water security, nuclear proliferation and WMD, China, the European Union, and US foreign policy in the Middle East.

Director of the Diplomatic Institute, H.E. Dr. Hassan Bin Ibrahim Al Mohannadi, said: “Cooperating on workshops like this is in keeping with the MOU signed between Georgetown and the Institute last September. Georgetown’s development of this course is helping Qatar’s foreign ministry train the next generation of diplomats.”

“The Diplomatic Institute is an excellent partner and Georgetown faculty members are enthusiastic about sharing their expertise and research results with the Institute and Qatar’s young diplomats,” explained Gerd Nonneman, dean of Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar. “We look forward to future collaboration and exchanges with the Institute’s staff and diplomats that will benefit us both.”

Course lecturers for the event included Dr. Robert Wirsing, Ambassador Miguel Angel Moratinos, Dr. Steven Ward, Dr. Kai-Henrik Barth and Dr. Daniel Stoll.

Georgetown in Qatar’s aim is to help build global leaders who will make a difference for their communities, their region and the world. By sharing Georgetown’s two-centuries-old tradition of teaching excellence with members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Institute, the University is proceeding with its promised outreach and relationship development efforts to build mutually beneficial support between Qatar and Georgetown University.