trade

New International Trade & Economic Diplomacy Degree to Launch in Fall 2015

Anne-Marie Steiger asteiger@miis.edu Featured, International Careers, ITED, newsroom, trade
Robert Rogowosky - Shanghai Free Trade Zone

Prof. Robert Rogowosky (center), program chair for the new Master of Arts in International Trade and Economic Diplomacy, with students on a March 2014 immersive learning trip to the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.

With the increasing interdependence of the global economy accelerating the demand for high-caliber trade professionals, the Monterey Institute of International Studies today announced the launch of its new Master of Arts in International Trade and Economic Diplomacy degree program.

The new 18-month program will feature two semesters of classroom instruction in Monterey, and a final semester based out of the Institute’s new Washington, D.C. office, which includes a large classroom and videoconferencing space and offers direct access to policymakers and career networking opportunities. The program will enroll its first students in fall 2015.

“This unique 18-month program will give students the opportunity to combine two semesters of intensive classroom training with a semester in Washington, D.C. working directly with leading practitioners in the field,” said President Sunder Ramaswamy. “The program will position them well to make a successful transition into the professional world of international trade.”

Students will begin with an introductory boot camp to reinforce basic skills, and progress through the program with the same diverse cohort of classmates and colleagues. The program is designed to foster the leadership, writing, communication, and team-building skills that will allow graduates to excel as professionals in areas including international trade, economics, business and finance, international institutions & law, economic diplomacy, and multicultural negotiation.

The new program builds on the Trade, Investment and Development track previously offered within the International Policy Studies degree program. At various times in the past, the Institute has offered standalone master’s degrees in Commercial Diplomacy (1998-2005) and International Trade Policy (2004-11).

“I’m excited about the opportunity to launch this new degree,” said Professor Robert Rogowsky, chair of the new program. “This program combines existing MIIS strengths with an innovative new approach offering the kind of practical experiences and networking opportunities that will ensure our graduates will become sought-after professionals.”

For more information about the Master of Arts in International Trade and Economic Diplomacy degree program, visit go.miis.edu/trade.

4/18: Renowned Political Scientist Francis Fukuyama to Give Public Lecture at MIIS

Bergthora Gudbergsdottir evag@miis.edu Featured, newsroom, trade
francis_fukuyama_bio

Dr. Francis Fukuyama.

On Friday, April 18 the internationally renowned political scientist and economist Francis Fukuyama will give a public lecture in the Monterey Institute’s Irvine Auditorium. Dr. Fukuyama is the latest in an exceptional line of highly respected and influential speakers to address some of the world’s most pressing and challenging issues as part of this semester’s Spring Colloquium dedicated to economic diplomacy and statecraft. 

Francis Fukuyama is the Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI).  He has written widely on issues in development and international politics but is perhaps best known for his influential 1992 book The End of History and the Last Man declaring the triumph of liberal democracy and arrival of a post-ideological world. His most recent book, The Origins of Political Order was published in 2011 and the companion volume Political Order and Political Decay will be published later this year.

Dr. Fukuyama’s lecture at MIIS will be titled “Economic Diplomacy and Global Governance in a Multi-polar World,” and it will be followed with a session for questions and answers. The lecture begins at 6 p.m. in the Irvine Auditorium at 499 Pierce Street in Monterey, and is free and open to the public.

MIIS Students Have “Eye-Opening” Experience on Spring Trip to Shanghai Free Trade Zone

Bergthora Gudbergsdottir evag@miis.edu Featured, IPS, MBA, newsroom, trade
shanghai_2nd_day

Professors Li Juan Zhang (seated, 2nd from left) and Robert Rogowsky (seated, far right) with MIIS students and local hosts in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.

Last fall, Professors Robert Rogowsky and Li Juan Zhang designed an immersive learning course to give Monterey Institute students the opportunity to experience first hand the real-world issues, impacts and policy implications of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ). Fifteen students then joined them for a week-long trip to China over the March Spring Break, where they visited the Shanghai FTZ, met local policy makers, and learned from guest lectures by industry professionals and scholars. Students also had the opportunity to meet with faculty and students from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics and work with them.

Abdel K. Seck (MAIPS ‘13) calls the trip “a lifetime opportunity” because of the valueless amount of learning it offered him. Minnie Patnick (MBA/MAIPS ‘15) is especially grateful to her professors for organizing such an enriching experience filled with amazing site visits and “phenomenal” lectures. Like many graduate students, Haiben Ren (MAIPS ‘14) is focused on career opportunities and says that it was great to meet so many important people in the Shanghai FTZ, “where potential job positions are from in the future.” All of the students spoke of the importance of well-designed immersive learning opportunities, to put what they learn in the classroom into perspective, and to deepen their understanding of the issues they will face as professionals.

 

April@MIIS: World Class Speakers, Cultural Events, Conferences

Anne-Marie Steiger asteiger@miis.edu Featured, Monterey Cyber Security Initiative, newsroom, social_change, trade
TEDxMonterey

TEDxMonterey returns to the Monterey Institute on April 26 with a look at “Edges.”

April is an exciting month at the Monterey Institute with a plethora of activities, including many events that are open to both the campus community and the larger Monterey Bay area community. Upcoming include:

  • Friday, April 4: The annual International Trade Conference, focusing this year on “U.S.-China Agriculture Trade Barriers,” starting at 8:00 a.m. in the Irvine Auditorium. (Free and open to the public; please register online.)
  • Friday, April 11: The Monterey Institute welcomes Steve Hawkins, executive director of Amnesty International USA, delivering the keynote address “Bringing Human Rights Home” at the annual Human Rights Fair in the Irvine Auditorium at 6 p.m. (Free and open to the public; no registration required.)
  • Saturday, April 12: The annual International Bazaar is one of the most cherished events of the year at the Monterey Institute, where students and other community members come together and enjoy food and entertainment from the various cultures represented on campus. The Bazaar always coincides with Spring Visit Day, offering prospective students and their families the opportunity to visit campus. (International Bazaar is for the MIIS campus community only; prospective students may sign up for Visit Day online.)
  • Thursday-Friday, April 17-18: “Ukraine, Russia and Cyber Threats” is the very timely topic of a unique cyber security conference co-hosted by “Suits and Spooks” and the Monterey Cyber Security Initiative, featuring speakers from Ukraine, Russia, Great Britain, Estonia and the United States discussing the current Crimean crisis and global cyber security risks. (Open to the public; registration fee for public attendees; free registration for MIIS faculty, staff, and students.)
  • Friday, April 18: As part of the Spring 2014 Colloquium on Economic Diplomacy and Statecraft, the Institute will host renowned political economist and commentator Francis Fukuyama for a public lecture in the Irvine Auditorium at 6 p.m. The title of his talk is “Economic Diplomacy and Global Governance in a Multi-polared World.” (Free and open to the public; no registration required.)
  • Saturday, April 26: In its fifth year at the Monterey Institute, the theme for TEDxMonterey 2014 is “Edges” – a celebration of what emerges when we embrace the edge: discovery, invention and transformation. A diverse group of speakers will share their stories, insights and scientific discoveries, and audience members will have ample opportunity to interact with each other as well as presenters during breaks, over lunch and at the reception to be held after the program concludes. (Open to the public; ticket purchase and registration online.)

In addition, the week of April 21 will also feature a host of activities organized by Monterey Institute staff, faculty, and students to celebrate Earth Day, with each day of the week be devoted to an issue or area such as energy, food, and water.

Whatever your area of interest might be, we hope to see you on campus this month! 

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine to Lecture on Russian Power Diplomacy at MIIS on March 24

Bergthora Gudbergsdottir evag@miis.edu Featured, IPS, newsroom, NPTS, trade
steven_pifer_2

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer will speak at the Monterey Institute on March 24.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer, currently director of the Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative at the Brookings Institute, will give a public lecture on “Russian Power Diplomacy and Eurasian Intergration” in the Monterey Institute’s Irvine Auditorium at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 24.

Ambassador Pifer is a senior fellow with the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence and the Center on the United States and Europe in the Foreign Policy program at Brookings. Pifer’s career as a foreign service officer centered on Europe, the former Soviet Union and arms control. Pifer also had postings in London, Moscow, Geneva and Warsaw, as well as on the National Security Council. At Brookings, Pifer focuses on arms control, Ukraine and Russia issues.

This lecture is free and open to the public, and is part of the Monterey Institute’s spring 2014 Colloquium on Economic Statecraft and Diplomacy.