Courses

Subjects

CET

INTRODUCTORY COURSE OF ENGLISH TRAINING

CET - 1

English

This introductory course focuses on reading and speaking English and will continue throughout the 2-year programme, so that each participant will be conversant enough to hold a dialogue with English speakers.

• After a preliminary participant’s level assessment, instructors will design individual programmes for each participant. The training programme will be supported by the unique materials and pedagogy of the United Nations.
• Continuous participants’ supervision by residents will be monitored by coordination instructors.

TPW

UNDERSTANDING THE TURNING POINT OF THE WORLD

TPW-1

Creativity, Innovation and Economic Dynamics

TPW – 1.1

Creativity and Innovation: the Essence of Human Economy

The course stresses innovative activity as the major force of long-term economic growth and focuses on the social context that inspires and develops creativity and innovation. The organizational technology and the individual preconditions of creative inspiration will be explored. Government’s role in supporting innovation and regulating creative property will be emphasized.

• Value creation and economic growth.
• Social, organizational and individual preconditions of creative process, invention and entrepreneurship.
• The structure of scientific revolutions, adoption and dissemination of innovation.
• Role of governmental facilitation to foster an innovation-driven economy.

The Rules of the New Economy

The course is designed to overview the main features of the new global economy characterised by the predominance of services, the heavy use of ICTs and the networking of systems using them.

The course will surveys the leading theories in living sciences as the new paradigm of complex social systems and the most advanced research and best practices in the knowledge-based economy.

• Characteristics of the new economy, digital era and network society
• Leading theories in complexity paradigm to understand the global economy
• Advancing knowledge and the knowledge-based economy

TPW-2

The Governance of Global Issues

TPW-2.1

United Nations, Ethics and Challenges

The course presents the structure and functioning of the United Nations with emphasis on the permanent organs (including the work of subsidiary bodies and programmes) and the specialized agencies. The course also provides an overview of the recent changes to the international system and reform proposals which aim to respond to such changes.

• The UN philosophy, organs and systems.
• New international order since the end of the cold war. Specificities of multilateral work environment and the role of the United Nations.
• The emerging world order and the role of the UN in promoting global governance.
• The UN agenda and reform proposals.

TPW-2.2

Environmental and societal issues challenging governance

This course provides a multi-faceted overview of the global governance mechanisms, from international to local institutions. The course will focus on the challenges of contemporary governance with applications to a number of social, economic and environmental policy issues and their inter-linkages.

• The global governance architecture and its mechanisms.
• The governments as pivotal actors of world politics in the rising global order. State and non-state actors interlocking and role assignation. Social responses to the governance deficits.
• Governance, state security and individual security. Policies and multiple-level partnerships to cope with threats and insecurity facing states’ vulnerability.

TPW-2.3

Economic Development and Environmental Threats

The objective of the course aims at understanding the global environment change and the natural threats caused by human impact on the natural environment. The course introduces participants to the international agencies and environmental bodies as well as the international environmental law.

• The global environment issues and their inter-linkages (climate change, global warming, sea-level rise, ozone depletion, loss of biodiversity, land degradation and water issues). Past perspectives in global changes and forecasted changes.
• Architecture of the international environmental governance system, political and legal framework.
• Balancing and integrating environmental protection and economic development

TPW-2.4

New Thoughts in Education and Peace

The seminar ends with considerations on the new issues challenging world peace, education and peace promotion. The discussion will introduce the human legacy of traditional knowledge in biodiversity, health and peace.

• New issues in peace prevention and conflict resolution.
• Education programmes and peace promotion, new educational methodologies and technical supports.
• Strengthening peace, health and ecological actionable literacy of citizens.

ECF

ECONOMY AND FINANCE

ECF-1

Strategy and Entrepreneurship

ECF-1.1

Corporate Strategy in the Era of Globalization

This course introduces to the leading theories in corporate strategy and governance principles, and scenario building. Topics include change management issues, methodologies and cultures.

• History of corporate strategic thought. Corporate strategy in the era of globalization and rising complexity. Methodologies in scenario thinking. Corporate governance principles and practices.
• Strategies and rising role of world-spanning corporations in the global arena.
• Methodologies of change management in large corporations, public and quasi-public bureaucracies. Principles of organic change and learning organizations.

ECF-1.2

Entrepreneurship and National Innovation Systems

This course focuses on the foundations and preconditions of the modern economy, the technology of entrepreneurship and the national innovation systems.

• Technology of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial financing, psychology and sociology.
• National innovation systems and entrepreneurship endeavour.
• Innovative SMEs policies and financing.

ECF-2

International Affairs and Finance

ECF-2.1

International Economics and Finance

The course looks at the present institutional architecture and interacting components of the international financial and economic system. The course examines this topic from a balanced perspective, looking at the system’s benefits, limitations and challenges, particularly in light of increasing globalization.

• International finance and money circuits. The role of international institutions (IMF, ECB, FED, World Bank).
• Essential of international economics issues facing state’s governance. The Financial strategies of global corporation and state policies.

ECF-2.2

International Taxation and Business Law

The course presents the legal structure and operation of the world trade system, the multilateral trade treaties and the international business law framework. The course will cover issues related to international taxation.

• The international legal framework for international trade (WTO). Interlinking with other applicable regional and international trade treaties. WTO mechanisms of international litigations.
• Free-trade issues and controversies with civil society, states and regional integrations.
• International law systems and tax treaties. International law of foreign investment and property issues. Globalization and tax competition.

ECF-2.3

Ethics and International Affairs

This concluding course will cover issues related to ethics in international affairs and the public and private responses to labor and environmental issues.

• Normative ethics in international affairs.
• Economic integration and institutional regulatory structures.
• Corporate social responsibility, codes and certifications.

PSR

POLITICS, SOCIOLOGY AND RELIGIONS

PSR-1

Migration and Inhabitant Policies

PSR-1.1.

Migration Policy and Inhabitant Control in the World

This course is designed to introduce participants to human demography models and trends in the developed and developing countries. Topics include the interrelations with economic development, sociological change and urbanization. The main issues related to international migration and refugee will be covered.

• Study of demographic models and trends, population management and inhabitant control.
• Economic and sociological approaches of demography changes. Public policy and family demography.
• Global demographic patterns and trends of international migration in the global labor markets. Governance of international migration.
• Irregular migration, state security and human security. Refugees and asylum-seekers rights.

PSR-1.2.

Urban Development and Territoriality

The course surveys the major theories, issues and good practices of urban development and urban recreation. Further insights will cover the themes of human geography

• Sustainable industrial and urban development. Urban economics, sociology and politics.
• Territoriality, culture and landscape. Psychology of urban and natural environment. Urban anthropology, environmental perception and cognition
• Decentralized cooperation programme (CIFAL), Sustainable urbanisation, organization and good practices.

PSR-2

Global Issues in Cultures and Politics.

PSR-2.1.

Diplomacy and International Affairs Management

Overview of multilateral diplomacy and working methods. Awareness raising, skills and techniques to prepare for and participate effectively in multilateral conferences.

• History of international relationships and multilateral institutions since the post Cold War era.
• Issues in modern multilateral diplomacy.
• Dynamics of multilateral diplomacy and negotiation.

PSR-2.2.

World Religions and civilizations

This course surveys the essential of the world’s major religious systems. Further emphasis is made on the dialogue among religions and the dialogue among civilizations.

• Survey of the major religions of the world. Historical perspectives and development. Philosophical implications, influences on social institutions and politics.
• Inter-religious dialogue
• Dialogue among civilizations

PSR-2.3.

Globalization and Political Issues

The course explores the issues related to the globalizing forces and the states’ political institutions and cultures. The course will draw upon the agenda of democracy and the tensions resulting of the democratic process.

• Challenges to democracy in established democracies and in transitional societies.
• Democracy’s relations to civil society, religions, cultures and media.
• Internet communication, collective action and democratic governance.

SEI

SCIENCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SEI-1

Governing Sustainable Development

SEI-1.1

Development and Environmental Issues

The course will provide an introductory overview of the evolution of environmental threats and responses since the early 1970s ( Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment) to the turn of the century (2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development). The course will include presentations on major multilateral agreements and their interconnections, both within the environmental realm and between environment and social development and trade. Agreements of particular importance for Vietnam and ASEAN will be emphasised.

• Variability weather patterns and damages on natural resources. Advancing global cooperation and national programmes on climate change.
• Sustainable development and environmental changes. Integration of climate and natural resources concerns in development strategies and energy issues.
• Renewable energy, eco-innovation and new pathways to sustainability.

SEI-1.2

Natural Resource Management

Government policies and local/international partnerships to tackle ongoing and emerging environmental problems. Managing the natural resources base in a sustainable and integrated manner.

• International programmes supporting government in environmental issues (FEM, etc.)
• Integrated management of natural resources. Waste management and retro-processing
• Legal and regulatory frameworks supporting sustainable development

SEI-1.3

Monitoring Sustainable Development

This course will continue further discussion on development and environmental issues, and look particularly at implementation and monitoring challenges with policies on sustainable development.

• Global environmental politics and multi-lateral environmental agreements, the role of the environmental agencies.
• International architecture of environmental agencies. Strengthening coherence, coordination and monitoring.
• Surveillance and warning on the state of the environment. Environmental Information systems.

SEI-2

Genetics and Biodiversity

SEI-2.1

Biodiversity and Nutrition Programmes

The course overviews the biological basis of world food security and the issues related to the conservation of the biological diversity and the access to genetic resources.

• Biodiversity and natural and agricultural eco-systems. The Convention on Biological Diversity (UN) programmes and issues.
• Genetic resources and food security. Technology transfer and cooperation.
• The Convention on Biological Diversity.

SEI-2.2

Molecular Biology and Post-Genome Era

The course introduces to majors research trends and applications of biology, predicted to be the science of the 21st century; the course overviews the main impacts of biotechnology on the social, political and physical environment, and the related ethical and legal issues of gene technology.

• Major issues and advances in human molecular genetics, gene therapy and agricultural biotechnology.
• Current issues in bioethics, legal and regulatory aspects of biotechnology. Societal issues and public perception in biotechnology.
• Economics of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.

PHB

PSYCHOLOGY AND HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

PHB-1

The Inner Place of Human Activities

PHB-1.1

Human Development and Economic Dynamics

The course surveys the fields of human development and the economics of development. It will introduce to the advanced researches on human development and social capital and their connection to economic growth.

• Advanced human development theories
• Economic growth connections to human development and social capital.
• Social return on investment. Poverty alleviation, sustainable local development and environmental stewardship programmes.

PHB-1.2

Spirituality and Human Behaviour

This course explores the psychology of spirituality/religiousness and its related issues with personality theory and social psychology. The course explores also the, recent neuro-scientific findings associated with spirituality and the dialogue between science and religion.

• Spirituality /religiousness influences on human behaviour, both adaptive and maladaptive. Influences on decision making and leadership.
• Advanced researches in neurosciences and spirituality.

PHB-2

Communication and Leadership

PHB-2.1

Personal Communication and Leadership

The course stresses the self as the most important leadership issue for leading 21 st century change. It aims to understand the social systems evolution and the underpinning technology of collective leadership. The course also focuses on the essence of personal communication and effective media strategies.

• Leading edge theories in self and collective leadership.
• Leading from the emerging future, the inner dynamics of change and development
• Effective communication and media strategy. Political communication issues and strategies.
• Social networks in digital communication strategies.

PHB-2.2

Negotiation and Mediation Process, Intercultural Communications

The course surveys the underlying dynamics of conflicts and the strategies of negotiation and mediation. It stresses issues on crisis prevention, crisis settlement and communication. Main issues in international dispute resolution and arbitration are emphasized.

• Dynamics of interpersonal and intergroup conflicts.
• Conflict resolution skills and strategies and tactics. Processes of negotiation, conciliation and mediation.
• Crisis management and crisis communication.
• International litigation and arbitration, international dispute resolution.

GMP

GOVERNANCE MODELS AND PRINCIPLES

GMP-1

International Governance Issues

GMP-1.1

World Governance, Institutions and Agreements

The course presents the strengths and weaknesses of the architecture of the global governance system and explores the issues and agenda of effective global governance. Values, actors and mechanisms of the global governance will be discussed.

• International governing systems and main challenges.
• Societal and state-centric aspects of governance.
• Political philosophy, historical perspectives in a global context. Global common goods and values.

GMP-1.2

Effective Multi-Level Governance

The course stresses the importance of the intermediary role of nation-states between the global and the local demands and surveys the principles of balanced domestic governance.

• Effective and legitimate legal, administrative, financial and policy-making institutions.
• Effective nation-state policies in multi-level governance.
• Civil society and citizen participation.

GMP-1.3

Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law

The course surveys the issues related to global governance and human rights. The international humanitarian law, the criminal law and jurisdiction.

• Human rights, global and regional treaties and declarations.
• International jurisdictions.
• International humanitarian law and refugees law

GMP-2

Modern Governance Principles

GMP-2.1

Information Society and Governance Principles.

The course aims to develop an understanding of the role of e-government and e-governance in today's society and in public organizations. The impact of the digital age on civil societies, citizenship and democracy.

• E-governance, information age and government reforms. Leading theoretical perspectives in public information systems.
• Civil society and citizenship in the information society. Digital democracy, ICTs and quality of democracy. Best practices in e-governance.

GMP-2.2

Modern State Governance

Principles and practices in modern state governance. The policies and practices within the modern state and the crucial role played by regulation in governance. Participatory governance and promotion of the civil society.

• The changing role of the state and the modern state governance.
• Competing theories in privatization policies and state-owned sectors, public-private partnerships and private sector development strategy.
• Participatory governance: harnessing the active civil society.