Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Q) and the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have signed an agreement for partnership and co-operation for the training and advanced education of the ministry staff. The agreement expands the scope of co-operation between the two organisations in a wide range of activities, including course development for the institute’s training programmes, conducting research and consultancy, and mutually beneficial exchanges of expertise, students and staff. While the focus is on meeting the needs of the Diplomatic Institute, the agreement also envisages co-operative opportunities such as internships for the students of SFS-Q.  Both organisations will share their professional expertise with each other in the areas of advanced research in political science and international affairs. The signing ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was led by the dean of Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Prof Gerd Nonneman and the director of the Diplomatic Institute, Dr Hassan bin Ibrahim al-Mohannadi, in the presence of senior administrative officials from both organisations. Dean Nonneman said: “This is the most natural of partnerships:  Georgetown SFS-Qatar has a strong track record of expert knowledge and education in global affairs and that is exactly where the Diplomatic Institute’s interests and needs also lie.  “Our mission has always been to contribute to developing Qatar’s national capacity, and at the same time we expect we will, ourselves, learn from this new partnership. “We will help in curriculum design and delivery, provide consultancy and research where requested, and open our doors to staff and students of the Institute, including to our library. At the same time we will benefit from taking part in some of the Institute’s activities, and we hope to be able to organise joint events as well. ” Dr al-Mohannadi noted that the agreement was in line with the directives of HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani and HE the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah to develop national capacity in Qatar. The director of the Diplomatic Institute added that it was a step in the right direction and the Diplomatic Institute was open to all proposals and possibilities with SFS-Q. The initial scope of the agreement includes co-operation in the realm of research and strategic studies with emphasis on the specific needs of the Diplomatic Institute, on curriculum and course development at the Institute, and co-operation in providing scholarship and training for SFS-Q students. Collaboration in the areas of education and training provided to departments and executive leadership at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and sharing of professional expertise, knowledge and research in political science and international affairs are part of the agenda. Organising joint special conferences, seminars and workshops, encouraging students to engage in volunteer work through the Diplomatic Institute’s activities for community service, and exploring student internships at the Diplomatic Institute are the other items of collaboration. In addition to the areas already identified for collaboration, a joint working group from SFS-Q and the Diplomatic Institute will explore how best to take this forward in terms of practical implementation and implementation of new ideas. “Internships for SFS-Q students at the institute are also an idea we will explore. Now with Qatar playing a critical diplomatic role on the world stage, this is the right time for an agreement of this type in order to support the growing needs of the country and the region,” added  Nonneman. From gulf times.