Oxford University Diplomatic Studies Programme Explained

The Oxford University Diplomatic Studies Programme (formerly known as the Foreign Service Programme) is a long-running programme of courses offered by the University of Oxford in the field of diplomacy. The programme was originally established in 1969 in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with the intention of educating diplomats of newly independent Commonwealth countries.[1] The programme has since run continuously, celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in 2019, and now consists of a Master of Studies (MSt) in Diplomatic Studies. It is customised for professionals, typically early to mid-career diplomats and other international relations practitioners who seek the combination of academic and vocational study. The annual intake has a global reach, and participants come from a wide range of countries.[2] Over its many years within the university, alumni of the programme have included royalty and heads of state, as well as senior government figures from all over the world.[3] [4] [5] [6]

History

Building on a long history of Oxbridge being linked to the British civil service, in 1926, Oxford and Cambridge jointly ran a Tropical African Services Course on behalf of the British Colonial Office.[7] This programme continued in varying forms and under different names for another forty-three years, as the Colonial Administrative Service Course (1934), the Devonshire Course (1945), Course ‘A’ and ‘B’ (1953), the Overseas Service Course (1962) and, finally, the Overseas Course in Government and Development (1964).[8]

As many Commonwealth states gained independence, their governments sought trained diplomats to staff their Foreign Services. In response to this need, in the 1960s, the Overseas Course was adapted to allow for a small Foreign Service component, morphing, in 1964, into a coherent and more integrated Foreign Service Training Course under the auspices of the Overseas Service Course. Examinations were instituted in 1966.

When the Overseas Service Course was discontinued in 1969, the Foreign Service element of that course was transformed into the Foreign Service Programme, based out of Queen Elizabeth House.[9] In the decades that followed, the programme expanded its audience to governments in the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. After the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office requested places be made available to newly independent, former Soviet countries to help build their diplomatic capacity. In 2010, the programme moved to the Department for Continuing Education within the university, and in 2017 it changed its name to the Diplomatic Studies Programme reflecting the more common terminology in the modern academic field.[10]

Notable alumni

A number of significant government figures and heads of state have been a part of the Diplomatic Studies Programme or its predecessor the Foreign Service Programme. Alumni have included:

Directors

External links

Notes and References

  1. Marques-Guedes. Armando. 2008. Raising Diplomats: political, genealogical, and administrative constraints on patterns of training for diplomacy. Diplomatische Akademie, Wien, Favorita Series. 61.
  2. Web site: Oxford. University of. Oxford University Diplomatic Studies Programme. 2021-08-27. Oxford University Department for Continuing Education. en.
  3. Web site: DiplomacyOxford Twitter, referring to King of Bhutan visiting his alma mater. 2021-08-27. Twitter. en.
  4. Web site: Lawn. Ciara. 2016-01-09. The King of Bhutan studied the FSP. 2021-08-27. The Mirror. en.
  5. Web site: 2020-01-11. Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, graduated from the Foreign Service Programme in 1979. 2021-08-27. Arab News. en.
  6. Web site: Crown Prince Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, an alumnus of the programme .
  7. Web site: 1930. Tropical African Service courses at Oxford and Cambridge. .
  8. Book: Stockwell, Sarah. The British End of the British Empire. 2018-08-30. Cambridge University Press. 978-1-108-58801-0. en.
  9. Web site: Luscombe. Stephen. The British Empire, Imperialism, Colonialism, Colonies. 2021-08-27. www.britishempire.co.uk.
  10. Web site: History of the Diplomatic Studies Programme.
  11. Web site: RAOnline Bhutan: Politics - Chhoetse Penlop - Royal Highness Crown Prince Dasho Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. 2021-08-27. www.raonline.ch.
  12. Book: Turner, B.. The Statesman's Yearbook 2011: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World. 2017-01-12. Springer. 978-1-349-58635-6. en.
  13. Web site: 2018. St Cross College newsletter, p.22.
  14. Web site: Burns. Jimmy. 2009-02-23. Diplomats to the core - how Oxford continues to 'inoculate the world with Balliol'. Miscelleneous Author of La Roja Papa Spy Jimmy Burns. 2021-08-27. Jimmy Burns. en-US.
  15. Web site: Facebook. 2021-08-27. www.facebook.com. en.
  16. Web site: MINDEF - DPMM Crown Prince. 2021-08-27. www.mindef.gov.bn. en-US.
  17. Web site: 2008-10-27. Grigol Mgaloblishvili's Biography. 2021-08-27. Civil.ge. en-US.
  18. Web site: 2017-09-07. CS Amina Mohamed Tips Chevening Scholars. 2021-08-27. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. en-GB.
  19. Web site: Yolanda Spies . 2021-08-27 . . UK . en-GB.

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