Consul General of India, Mr Siddharth Malik, visits MSc Diplomacy and International Security students.
The University of Strathclyde’s MSc Diplomacy and International Security programme was delighted to welcome Mr Siddharth Malik, Consul General of India in Scotland, for an engaging guest lecture and discussion with students from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Drawing on a distinguished diplomatic career, Mr Malik shared insights from his previous postings at the Embassy of India in Beijing and the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York. Students were particularly interested in his reflections on both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, as well as the practical realities of representing national interests in complex international environments. Mr Malik’s career has included several senior roles within the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. He served as Under Secretary in the East Asia Division and as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Minister of State for External Affairs. As Director in the Economic Diplomacy Division, he worked extensively on bilateral investment and trade-related matters.
Speaking about his current role in Edinburgh, Mr Malik outlined the breadth of his responsibilities, which include maintaining political relations with Parliament and MSPs, engaging with universities and supporting Indian students in Scotland, facilitating business and trade links, community outreach, and overseeing consular services.
Dr Rogelia Pastor-Castro, Programme Director for the MSc Diplomacy and International Security, emphasised the importance of practitioner engagement in students’ academic and professional development:
‘When I created the programme, I embedded practitioner engagement sessions as a key component to enhance student learning and experience. Learning directly from diplomats from around the world provides our students with invaluable insights into the practice of diplomacy and international security.’
Students were particularly keen to explore the day-to-day realities of diplomatic work and the skills required to navigate complex global issues. A lively Q&A session followed the talk, allowing participants to delve into topics such as international negotiation, crisis response, and the role of diplomacy in addressing transnational challenges.
The University of Strathclyde extends its sincere thanks to Consul General Malik for sharing his time, expertise, and perspectives with our students and staff.
For further information about the MSc Diplomacy and International Security, please visit the programme page.
