26 January 2023
Students on the MSc Diplomacy & International Security this week visited Glasgow City Chambers to learn more about city diplomacy and the role local government plays in delivering innovation, sustainability and social justice.
The visit is one of many practitioner engagement opportunities taking place throughout the year, giving students the opportunity to learn from distinguished professionals working in government, diplomacy and foreign policy.
The group received a Civic Welcome from Bailie Paul McCabe and heard from Dr Duncan Booker, COP26 Stakeholder Manager about the role of the Resilient Cities Network, sustainability and social justice at the local and global levels, and how cities can deliver on the global climate agenda.
The group also met the team from the Lord Provost’s International Office to discuss the Twin Cities programmes and Partnership Cities activities. Students were interested to learn about Glasgow’s international strategy and the diplomacy surrounding major events such as COP26.
The visit was completed by a tour of the City Chambers where students delved into Glasgow’s history and explored the planning and delivery of political and ceremonial events in greater detail. This was of particular interest given the internationally diverse nature of this year’s Masters, with students coming from China, India, Kenya, Lithuania, Nigeria, the Gambia, the Netherlands and the United States.
Programme Director Dr Rogelia Pastor-Castro welcomed the visit, emphasising the importance of allowing the Masters students to engage with practitioners.
“Giving the students the opportunity to meet practitioners working on live matters relating to diplomacy is a fundamental part of the MSc,” said Dr Pastor-Castro.
“Today’s tour offered a vital insight into the everyday practicalities and considerations involved in city diplomacy. It gave students greater perspective on the often overlooked role of diplomacy at a local level and showed how city diplomacy also has a major impact internationally.”
Practitioner engagement is at the centre of the MSc Diplomacy & International Security. Speakers in recent years include Lord Ricketts, former National Security Advisor, and Ambassador to France, Dr Olivia Gippner, member of the cabinet of EU Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, and Sir David Omand former director of GCHQ and UK Security and Intelligence Coordinator in the Cabinet Office.
The MSc brings together academic expertise in the Humanities and Social Sciences from History, Government and Public Policy and Law. It has been recognised as contributing to global peace, security and governance, with the Foreign Office awarded the programme a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship for 2023-24.
- Learn more about the MSc Diplomacy & International Security