Introduction
The course provides the learner with the skill of identifying and analyzing major trends and developments in international security. By the end of the course, the student is expected to have familiarized himself or herself with the EU policies, laws, and plans, particularly those that affect people, governments, and companies.
Through the international skills course, the student will be expected to develop skills that are pertinent in managing the interests of professionals from businesses, organizations, and governments in politically sensitive environments. Finally, the course equips the learner with the expertise of selecting credible partners to work with across the globe.
Preparation for the Course
The international relations discourse is heavily involved in interactions with foreign nationals. This situation has prompted me to improve my skills in Arabic and French languages. In addition, due to the need to appreciate different cultures, I have opted to study different histories such as the American accounts in addition to behavioral sciences such as sociology.
The accounts have helped me to have a better perspective of the sources of human conflict in the political arena (Prady, Dorff, Kauffman, & Smith, 2001). I have also engaged myself in preliminary studies of international law and philosophy, which have provided me with a solid foundation for my learning experience during the course of my study.
Assignments
Policy Recommendation/Memo
A policy recommendation is a document that provides an analysis and/or recommendations for a specific target audience that concerns a particular problem or situation. Preparing the document requires one to determine the target. Nonetheless, this process is usually well stipulated by the hiring organization.
This assignment required me to learn how to organize an effective memo, right from its introduction to its style and formatting, thereby providing me with the skills of writing a clear and concise memo and in short notice that is convincing to the targeted audience through proper structuring of thoughts.
Preparing Talk Points for a Minister’s Meeting
This assignment taught me how to prepare talk points for ministers’ meeting in short notice through identifying the fundamental points that I intend to make during a dialogue with the ministers. In addition, the assignment also made me appreciate the importance of identifying the talking points such as allowing me to anticipate issues that may arise to provide their appropriate responses (Rana, 2002).
Strengths and Weaknesses for the Course
Strengths
The course was very effective and useful. I learned many diplomatic skills such as how to write and deliver a speech. For instance, I was able to prepare an effective 3-minute speech by applying tips such as communication hierarchy that created understanding, reinforced values, changed attitudes, and elicited actions, including thinking about my ethos, pathos, and logos, and learning how to use rhetorical devices such as staying positive, using metaphors, and repetition of key words.
In addition, the course is holistically delivered through a wide range of methods, which include lectures, group discussions, and individual assignments. These approaches allow the learner to be actively engaged throughout the learning process. He or she can employ critical thinking that enables him or her to raise pertinent questions, assess the relevance of information to practice, and/or come up and interpret ideas and well-reasoned solutions that are useful in solving problems during the professional practice.
Weaknesses
The course fails to deliver a concrete perspective on international law in relation to its application and relationship. In many situations, international law is faced with the challenge of application in other states due to conflicts with the domestic law.
For instance, some articles in international law dictate that a diplomat is immune to arrest, unless the sending country waivers this privilege. However, in some cases, the domestic law may require a mandatory prosecution for specific actions that are considered criminal to the receiving state while they are considered normality in the sending state.
Recommendations
Addition of International Law as a Unit
The course entails a detailed study of peacekeeping and foreign affairs with the view of equipping the learner with the knowledge of the main themes, persons, and international organizations that are involved in global politics and thus. Security is a huge concern in international affairs.
Therefore, I would recommend international law to be studied independently as a unit for the learner to have a better perspective. This move will allow the students to comprehend their rights and duties concerning their observance of international and domestic law.
Integration of Critical Thinking and Communication
The learner is able to identify the major trends involved in international politics based on how such developments have been placed in a broad and comprehensive context. I would also recommend that a sub-unit in critical thinking and communication be added to equip the learners with the ability to communicate effectively while at the same time solving problems that they may be called to handle in their future profession.
Conclusion
Overall, the course was helpful in shaping my professional background in international relations through equipping me with the necessary knowledge and skills that will be instrumental to my practice.
References
Prady, L., Dorff, R., Kauffman, D., & Smith, J. (2001). Educating International Security Practitioners: Preparing to Face the Demands of the 21st Century International Security Environment. Collingdale, PA: DIANE Publishing.
Rana, K. (2002). Bilateral diplomacy. Geneva: DiploHandbooks.