City Diplomacy Melbourne Masterclass 2024

Apply for the 2024 program

Applications close Sunday 25 February 2024

Cities are on the frontline of climate challenges, but also at the forefront of climate action globally. In spite of national action limits, local government have consistently demonstrated high climate ambitions whilst battling climate hazards like bushfires, heatwaves and floods. Building on this global momentum the City Diplomacy Melbourne Masterclass supports the next generation of city leaders to step up their skills, networks and impact.

The City Diplomacy Melbourne Masterclass: specialist program on climate action

Delivered as a specialist track of the City Diplomacy Masterclass, the specialist program on climate action is an exchange and capacity-building program focused on strengthening the influence of city diplomacy in tackling climate change.

The ‘Melbourne Masterclass’ model involves both a set of online exchanges and intensive in-person workshop activities. They are devised to suit the busy schedules of local government officials, and the program provides joined executive training and tracks engagement opportunities. The program is targeted explicitly to early- to mid-career city officials, and is open to all domains of municipal practice, not just staff from international offices.

The Masterclass capitalises on the mounting popularity of city diplomacy and urban action on climate by both offering knowledge and skills-based training to sharpen cities’ diplomacy.

It is designed on the basis of extensive expertise in this area of capacity building by the University of Melbourne and thus to suit complex schedules by local government officers with minimal disruptions, as well as to facilitate access to cities of various shape and positioning at a minimal cost. At the same time as practical training, the masterclass provides a space where participants deliver a capstone policy output that is implementation ready and of direct use to their cities, focused on a foresight and strategy analysis of their cities’ city climate diplomacy.

Schedule

Applications close Sunday 18 February 2024

Online program: 29 April - 24 May 2024 (2 sessions, 3 hours total per week)

The program culminates in an in-person intensive workshop in Hong Kong, delivered in partnership with Hong Kong University (HKU). This is a unique opportunity to meet and learn from climate and city diplomacy experts in a vibrant and forward-thinking metropolis.

Intensive workshop
Location: Hong Kong
Dates: 27th - 31st May, 2024

An intensive workshop in Australia may be added if there is sufficient demand. Please indicate in the Application Form if you are available to attend the Hong Kong intensive or would prefer an Australian option.

Participants need to be available to complete both the online and in-person program components.

Masterclass participants in Hong Kong

Course details

The Masterclass consists of a one-month intensive online training (2 sessions per week, total 3 hours per week), and a five-day in-person skills and networking workshop for course participants.

Fees: $3500 (inc. GST) and flight expenses.

Accommodation and local costs for the intensive week are covered by the program.

Mode: Online and in-person

The City Diplomacy Melbourne Masterclass is explicitly run to facilitate small cohort engagement that offers a tight-knit experience with the Melbourne Centre for Cities team and international partners, as well as a well-balanced participant-educator ratio, including through small group tutorials and direct advice and individual feedback on capstone work as well as career development.

Apply for the 2024 program Contact Us

FAQs

  • What is city diplomacy?

    ‘City diplomacy’ is the international engagement of local authorities. It is more and more a commonplace activity undertaken not only by mayors but by a widening group
    of internationally-engaged city officials, and their partners. This is not just a
    global city story: city diplomacy is increasingly common in regional and smaller centres, with more than 10,000 cities involved as members of transnational city networks today. As internationally recognised research from the Melbourne Centre for Cities underlines, a growing entrepreneurialism is now shown by cities to engage in environmental action both regionally as well as globally. The City Diplomacy Melbourne Masterclass takes stock of these advancements and draws on research and practice expertise within the Melbourne Centre for Cities and its international partners.

  • What does city diplomacy have to do with climate change?

    Cities are on the frontline of climate challenges, but also at the forefront of climate action globally. In spite of national action limits, local government have consistently demonstrated high climate ambitions whilst battling climate hazards like bushfires, heatwaves and floods. Building on the global momentum generated in the past three decades by cities on this front through the effectiveness of city networks and other city diplomacy initiatives, and looking explicitly at how cities can deliver tangible action internationally, the City Diplomacy Melbourne Masterclass bolsters shared climate ambitions of cities and forges a new generation of cosmopolitan city leaders. Targeted to enhance the international abilities of early career local government officers, the program offers a suite of manageable and up-to-date training to focus specifically on shared climate action and tangible commitments toward a step change in the urban governance of climate, but also more generally to enhance a new generation of internationally-networked city diplomats.

  • What is the format of the Masterclass?

    The Masterclass capitalises on the mounting popularity of city diplomacy and urban action on climate by both offering knowledge and skills-based training to sharpen cities’ diplomacy.

    It consists of a 1-month intensive online training (of approximately 48 ‘class’ time hours delivered virtually), and a 5-day in-person skills and networking workshop for course participants. It is designed on the basis of extensive expertise in this area of capacity building by the University of Melbourne and thus to suit complex schedules by local government officers with minimal disruptions, as well as to facilitate access to cities of various shape and positioning. At the same time of practical training, the masterclass also provides a space where participants deliver a capstone policy output that is implementation ready and of direct use to their cities, focused on a foresight and strategy analysis of their cities’ city climate diplomacy.

  • Who can apply?

    This Masterclass is open to all municipal staff currently employed by local governments and with an interest in city leadership and climate action.

  • How do I apply?

    Please complete the Application form.

    Applications close Sunday 18 February 2024.

  • How will applications be assessed?

    Applications will be assessed based on:

    • Current employment (permanent or fixed term, consultants accepted too) in a local government
    • Relevance of experience and achievements per curriculum vitae
    • Quality and contents of personal statement
    • Previous academic achievement
  • Will I receive a certificate or qualification from this Masterclass?

    You will receive a certificate of completion as a Professional Masterclass from the Melbourne Centre for Cities. This does not contribute to an academic qualification at the University of Melbourne.

  • My title doesn’t include ‘climate change’ or ‘diplomat’ – is this relevant for me?

    If you think so, then it probably is. Climate change is a whole-of-government, global challenge that intersects with work areas from waste to sustainability to social planning to economic development. Likewise, diplomacy is an activity of advocacy teams, infrastructure and major projects, inter-governmental relations, and many others. If you see value in upskilling and learning more about city diplomacy and climate change, we encourage you to apply.

  • I work in climate change or diplomacy but not for a city – can I apply for this Masterclass?

    No. This Masterclass is only for people currently employed in local government.

  • Who can I contact for support with my application?

    Please contact our City Diplomacy Team with any questions – we’re happy to support you through the application process.
    Enquiries: Jessica.Trijsburg@unimelb.edu.au