UCL has won a flagship contract to train the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s staff and diplomats around the world in economics, with specialist subject matter to include how different markets and exchange rates operate, the economics of the environment and more.

In a significant coup for the university’s Economics department, UCL will train up to 300 FCO staff a year over four years. UCL won the contract through an open competition in which it scored particularly highly on content and focus on learner needs.

Shamik Dhar, FCO Chief Economist and Head of the Diplomatic Academy Economics and Prosperity Faculty, said: “UCL won the contract by really thinking through what our diplomats need in their day jobs and are designing a course that is accessible to the whole of the FCO’s global network.”

Bespoke online courses

The bespoke courses, aimed at degree level learners, will be predominantly delivered online. They will modernise the FCO’s current economics teaching and provide FCO staff with practical insights on the markets and economies in which they are posted.

The programme has been designed to suit staff out in the field who might be studying after the working day, and includes video on demand elements. Teaching will be broken into 15 to 20 minute sections, along with live interactive webinar sessions, to ensure staff can work at their own pace.

“We will be introducing learners to cutting edge research,” said Parama Chaudhury, a principal teaching fellow at UCL. “Learners in this programme will be equipped with the knowledge of the most reliable and current research on pressing issues, and what the experts in the field are presently recommending in terms of policy.”

Specialist subject matter

The course will consist of two main parts, with one billed as Core Learning (CL) and one as Job Specific Learning (JSL). Both will be practical in nature, enabling learners to see how the course subject matter can be applied practically in both their individual roles and the markets in which they work.

The specialist subject matter will include the macroeconomic crises, economics data, regulating markets, economic growth and development and more.Image

Image: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (credit: p_a_h, source: Flickr)

A group of talented young leaders from around the world visited UCL to find out more about our work and discuss the challenges facing global higher education.

The rising stars took part in a roundtable discussion with Vice-Provost (International) Dame Nicola Brewer and Russell Group Director of Policy, Dr Tim Bradshaw, as part of a visit arranged by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)’s International Leaders Programme.

During the visit the delegates, who were visiting from countries including Brazil, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, learned more about UCL’s research impact around the world.

They enjoyed a whistlestop tour of our London campus, including the Auto-icon of Jeremy Bentham, the main library and the Institute of Making.

The FCO programme identifies potential global leaders of the future and brings them to the UK for a week’s programme of high–level meetings, discussions, visits and briefings. It includes engagement with the UK government, media, business, education and civil society.

It aims to highlight the UK’s innovation, economic vibrancy, tradition, global outlook, diversity and values as well as the challenges it faces, ultimately promoting lasting partnerships with a new generation of global decision makers.