Applications are open for the 7th ASEF Public Diplomacy Training 2019. Public diplomacy involves strategies and activities aimed at influencing both the foreign and domestic public. Further,  understanding their attitudes towards foreign policy and shaping their views on related issues. Also, These efforts help establish a dialogue across borders that improves understanding of each other.  Shapes more positive perceptions of a country’s foreign policy priorities or an organization’s international relations. For this reason, it is important that those actors responsible for improving the image of their country. Also, the organization has a well-informed understanding of how they are currently perceived. This ensures that new initiatives can be implemented to build on strengths, address any perceived misunderstanding, and improve the overall relationship.

As a contribution to public diplomacy efforts of the 53 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Partners, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) established the ASEF Public Diplomacy Training in 2013, in partnership with the DiploFoundation (Diplo) of Switzerland. Since then, 6 tutored online courses and 6 face-to-face workshops have been conducted and more than 220 participants have benefited from the training.

Benefit

• Successful applicants will have the privilege to take part in both the Online Training and Face-to-face Training.
• Only participants that have successfully completed the Online Training will be eligible to take part in the Face-to-face Training on 21-25 October 2019 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Organization will cover

• Airfare on point-to-point economy class and/or train ticket to travel to/from Siem Reap, Cambodia, through reimbursement
• 5 nights of accommodation in the training venue with check-in (details to follow)
• Meals and refreshments during the training program

Eligibility

• Young diplomats in departments dealing with Asia, Europe, or ASEM in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs or the equivalent of the ASEM Partners
• Diplomats posted by ASEM Partners to ASEM countries who are dealing with public diplomacy
• Representatives from government agencies (culture, tourism, trade and investment, etc.)
• Civil society members whose work is influencing public diplomacy