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Diploma in Diplomacy & World Affairs - A Must for Everyone!

  Growing up in India, the subjects of History and Geography and how they influenced International Relations always fascinated me. Though circumstances made me a banker, my passions always lay with the world of Diplomacy. In January 2019, my husband’s posting brought me to Sri Lanka. Within weeks of arriving, at a diplomatic event at the Indian High Commission, I was suggested to explore the ‘Diploma in Diplomacy and World Affairs’ course at BIDTI. The following day, I walked into the offices at BIDTI to find out more. When I went through the curriculum, I simply couldn’t believe my eyes. A course offered by Oxford University UK which I had dreams of pursuing but was out of my reach was being offered right here in Colombo! This was a dream come true! I still recollect the skepticism I felt when signing up for this Diploma, reminded of the fact neither did I have a background in the subject nor was I a Sri Lankan citizen. All my hesitations were simply met with a welcoming smile by the
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Learning experience to change your path and set forth for an unforgettable exposure

Thirst for knowledge, learning, exploring diversified fields and thirst for the exposure in different arenas led me seek my passion towards exploring a completely new field which broadened my horizons and line of thinking. I still remember the day I came across the advert for the Diploma in Diplomacy and World Affairs offered by the renowned institute of Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) and was eagerly waiting for the course to commence. After going through the names of lecturers and the core modules entailed in the Diploma I knew beforehand that this journey towards learning the integrities and core concepts of becoming a Diplomat and exploring this new aspect will be a remarkable experience. Being a student of BIDTI gave me that very reason to grow my enthusiasm and venture into the world of Diplomacy which entailed a wide scope on International Law, World Economics, International Relations, Geo-Political studies of Sri Lanka and other interesting subj
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From the orthodox ‘diplomacy’ to the new age of diplomacy; The requisite to apprehend the know-how of diplomacy.

  In a world of a miscellany of living organisms, humans are renowned for their cognitive and mental capacity to form systems of inter-personal relationships that stretch way beyond the nucleus of the immediate family. There are ample of research that go to form the opinion that today human intelligence stems not to simply solve ecological problems but rather to promote the survival of humans in large and social groups. Henceforth the importance of understanding the thoughts and emotions of others, traits such as empathy, patience, theory of mind and primacy attributed to the use of symbols, tools and language have proven to be necessary for the flexible cooperation of humans in large numbers. With the orthodox belief that diplomacy solely aims to initiate cooperation during peace and war, it is also correct to be of the stance, that to assert your opinion or idea, to know how, when and where to say it without compromise to a relationship you share and without jeopardizing your affairs
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Learn Diplomacy at BIDTI

  Diplomacy is often interpreted by most only in the conventional sense – the art of statecraft. To the common man: the sensitive world of well dressed, serious men and women discussing matters regarding politics, international agreements or something of a similar nature. The first image that comes to mind are the dark suited officials who shake hands with some political figure or speak at an international forum like the United Nations. It isn’t entirely a wrong image – but there’s more to it than that. What most people don’t realize is that diplomacy is something we all employ on a daily basis. Humans, as the world’s most social creatures cannot avoid interactions with others. Regardless of whether it’s family, friends or complete strangers, we will interact. At home, school and work; or even on the road, we rely on diplomacy to bargain for a better outcome. Diplomacy is about being sensitive to the needs and expectations of another and acting with tact. It is about using one’s awar
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As COVID-19 Intensifies in the Global South, so has Gender Inequality

A look into why gender-sensitive responses matter. Sahana 1 applies a thick coat of foundation over her blackened eye – a scarring reminder of her intoxicated husband’s – expected -- outburst last night. A continent away, Rafiya 2 holds on to the last few morsels of tinned fish for the week. Being a sex worker in her locality, food aid can be hard to come by. And with signs of infection on the cards, Valentin 3 grapples with the decision to loosen his chest binding; the odds did not work in his favour. A few borders away, a single mother, Geetha, begs to have her job back. The truth that COVID-19 impacts all genders is a seed that states and decision-makers find difficult to digest. Therein, it goes without saying that the need for gender-sensitive response mechanisms to fight a deadly pandemic has become palpably clear.   Gender inequality is both universal and multi-dimensional. But the political, social and economic workings of gender between the global North and the glob
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