For over 18 years, the USC Center on Public Diplomacy has been the go-to program for public diplomats and international communication professionals looking to sharpen their skillsets and analytical capabilities essential for success in today’s complex environment.

Our training utilizes the latest social science research and cutting-edge communication tools in real-time public diplomacy challenges. It provides a setting for practitioners to re-examine and refine their skills in a group of peers and to build an international network of colleagues.

Spring 2024 Mini-Course I: Integrating AI into Your Public Diplomacy Strategy (POSTPONED...NEW DATES WILL BE PROVIDED SOON)

Why do public diplomacy practitioners need to understand data science and artificial intelligence? How does AI work? And what are the policy frameworks and best practices guiding the development of AI in public diplomacy? This workshop introduces the basic AI and computing concepts underpinning modern public diplomacy work. Participants will develop an informed view about AI and its various applications from data collection to content strategies that enable new forms of public diplomacy engagement.

Modules

AI for Public Diplomacy Storytelling
An introduction to AI's applications for content creation in the context of public diplomacy. Participants will develop an audience-based strategy using AI tools, then prototype a solution that may be used in their organization.

Current Policies and Practices of AI in Public Diplomacy
This module explores AI platforms and tools to navigate the contemporary information environment, as well as policy frameworks to manage and harness the power and potential of AI.

Fundamentals of AI and Applications in Public Diplomacy
Explains the logic of machine learning and artificial intelligence, and their applications in public diplomacy efforts. An overview of what computational thinking means and entails, and its relevance and importance to public diplomacy.

How Will AI Shape the Future of Public Diplomacy
This module provides an overview of the latest developments in AI and explores key issues and challenges. It also discusses potential applications in public diplomacy.

Spring 2024 Mini-Course II: Monitoring and Evaluating Public Diplomacy Campaigns (POSTPONED...NEW DATES WILL BE PROVIDED SOON)

This workshop focuses on using data to measure the impact of public diplomacy campaigns. Participants will learn how to develop a theory of change for their PD campaigns, discuss best practices in data collection and analytics, and delve into building and managing networks to expand and engage their audiences.

Modules

Digital Data and Real-Time Analytics
How can digital analytics increase the effectiveness of PD campaigns? Learn how to bring together digital data from a variety of social media sources and to advance insights based on real-time analytics.

Monitoring and Evaluating Public Diplomacy: Introduction
We begin with exploring some of the key issues in PD monitoring and evaluation. We will review insights from PD evaluation case studies and discuss analytical and practical implications.

Survey Design and Best Practices
This module reviews common analytics tools and methods for PD practitioners, with a focus on survey design for impact evaluation. The instructor and participants will workshop case studies to design the evaluation of a PD campaign.

Theory of Change for Public Diplomacy Campaign Measurement
This module will discuss the importance of developing a theory of change that underlies PD program design and evaluation. This process defines long-term goals and then maps backward to identify necessary preconditions. Participants will outline a theory of change for assigned campaigns that will guide their strategy and evaluation.

Understanding and Designing for PD Network Effects
An introduction to building and managing connected networks of target audiences using social network analysis and visualization techniques. Through this session, participant will better understand the role of networks in expanding and engaging their audiences in a manner suitable to policy objectives.

Schedule

Both Mini-Courses will be held at USC's Washington, DC Campus in Dupont Circle at 1771 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Each workshop lasts for two days and includes 12 content hours with a lunch break and shorter breaks offered throughout each day. You are expected to arrive on time and attend all modules. Unfortunately, there are no make-ups. All scheduled meeting times are in Eastern Time (time zone converter here). Here is the schedule:

Mini-Course I: Integrating AI into Your Public Diplomacy Strategy (POSTPONED...NEW DATES WILL BE PROVIDED SOON)

  • Monday, March 11, 2024, 9:00am to 4:30pm ET
  • Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 9:00am to 4:30pm ET
     

Mini-Course II: Monitoring and Evaluating Public Diplomacy Campaigns (POSTPONED...NEW DATES WILL BE PROVIDED SOON)

  • Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 9:00am to 4:30pm ET
  • Thursday, March 14, 2024, 9:00am to 4:30pm ET
     

Tuition

For 1 Mini-Course

  • Single participant: $2,550 USD
  • Multiple (3+ from the same organization): $2,350 USD per participant
  • Discount for USC alumni: $2,250 USD

 

For Both Mini-Courses

  • Single participant: $4,700 USD
  • Multiple (3+ from the same organization): $4,700 USD per participant
  • Discount for USC alumni: $4,500 USD

Application

For more information, please email Renee Almassizadeh, CPD Assistant Director for Operations and Programming at almassiz@usc.edu.