New Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have revolutionised the context in which diplomats operate, and the way in which they seek to promote their agendas. The digital age has posed challenges, whilst creating opportunity, for national and regional agendas on the international arena. The many crises, with increasing complexity, that the international community faces only further deepens these challenges. To this respect UNITAR is proud to host the UOC - UNITAR Open Webinar on Digitalization of Foreign Policy in Times of Crisis. Our expert lecturer, Mr.Shaun Riordan, former British Diplomat, will explore the obstacles brought by the digitalization of Foreign Policy, and the many potential opportunities it may create in its wake.

• Start of the webinar

• Introductory remarks by Dr. Daniel Rajmil Bonet, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

• Introductory remarks by Ms. Patricia Martín de Briones, United Nations Institute for Training and Research 

• Expert lecture conducted by Mr. Shaun Riordan

• Live Questions & Answers 

• Concluding remarks. 

The Webinar on Digitalization of Foreign Policy in Times of Crisis is free of charge and open to anyone interested in the topic. This webinar will be recorded and live streamed on UNITAR social media channels.

Date: 15 July 2020

Time : 3 PM Central European Time (CET / UTC +2)

Duration: One hour 

Register to the Open Webinar 

To ensure a prompt start, kindly join the event at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the Webinar. Please note the opinions expressed in the course of the webinar are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of UNITAR. 

• Edit your Surname, Name so that other people can see who you are.
• Choose the computer audio and check the audio settings.
• If possible, wear a wired earpiece and avoid bluetooth audio accessories.
• Don’t choose a room with acoustic reverberation.
• Open your camera and check the picture and if your camera is properly centered and focused on your face.
• Remember that you can be seen all the time during the conference; you should be aware of the way you look prior to coming online.
• Avoid sitting with a strong light source behind you. Front lighting is the most recommended for video conferencing.
• Take care of the background. Make sure the background is neutral and if possible, put a backdrop of blur the background.
• If you are on a mobile phone, fix the phone on a stand and avoid holding it in your hand. Put your phone in landscape position, not portrait.
• If you are on a laptop, place it on a shoe box, a couple of books or any other platform to raise it and get a better angle of your face.
• When it is not your time to speak, you may wish to stop your camera, and mute the microphone.
• Raise the hand if you would like to ask a question. Don’t forget to lower it after your intervention.