State Department’s Diplomacy Lab invites Tar Heels to address global challenges
August 26, 2024UNC Global Affairs
The Diplomacy Lab is one of the newest elements of UNC Global Affairs’ Diplomacy Initiative, which helps UNC students develop and apply skills used by diplomats to solve global challenges — skills like negotiation, preparation and listening to find common ground.
The program is a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and a network of more than 60 U.S. academic institutions. Through the Diplomacy Lab, students pursue solutions to real challenges identified by the State Department, U.S. embassies and consulates, and intelligence agencies. By participating, students become active contributors to the policymaking process.
Carolina faculty and students in any discipline can take on Diplomacy Lab projects. Past projects have addressed issues related to U.S. foreign policy, public diplomacy, energy policy, national security, cybersecurity, urban planning, global public health, data science, regulation of emerging technologies, biodiversity and more.
Each semester, UNC Global Affairs, will share the menu of Diplomacy Lab projects with faculty and students for the following semester. Faculty can then request a project that aligns with their course. Students do not have to be enrolled in a class to participate, though a faculty supervisor is required. UNC Global Affairs will provide a $2,500 curriculum development award to Carolina faculty who lead a project.
As the students and faculty work through the Diplomacy Lab project, they will interact with officials from the State Department, embassy or agency that outlined the project. Once the projects are completed, they are submitted to the Diplomacy Lab and shared with the partnering office.
“One of the exciting things about the Diplomacy Lab is that students’ work has real-world applications,” said Sharmila Udyavar, associate director for global education at Carolina, who is managing the University’s involvement in the program. “Another benefit of participation is that students develop collaboration and critical thinking skills as they engage in the project.”
The experience culminates with the Diplomacy Lab Fair at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., where students present their work to an audience of policymakers and federal officials. Students at the fair receive an award and may have the opportunity to meet the secretary of state, ambassadors and other department officials. Participants also meet their peers from other Diplomacy Lab member universities, who are similarly interested in solving global challenges.
“The Diplomacy Lab is an excellent vehicle for students to gain experiential learning,” Udyavar said. “It connects UNC-Chapel Hill and Carolina students to the Department of State, embassies and agencies around the world. It guides them to come up with a solution and, if that solution is a good one, they learn how it is applied.”
“The Diplomacy Lab is yet another way that Carolina provides every student with opportunities to receive a global education, a commitment known as the Global Guarantee,” Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Chief Global Officer Barbara Stephenson said. “Students will benefit greatly from the learning experience and those they meet along the way, and I appreciate the ever-deepening ties Carolina is developing with the State Department, where I served for 34 years before coming to UNC-Chapel Hill.”
“Through this program, the brilliance and innovation of Carolina students and faculty will help address some of the most complex global issues of our time,” she said. “Students will also benefit greatly from the learning experience and those they meet along the way. It’s such an honor for Carolina to be part of the Diplomacy Lab.”
For those who wish to learn more, register to attend the virtual Diplomacy Lab information session on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m. with representatives from the State Department and UNC Global Affairs.
For more information about Diplomacy Lab at Carolina, contact Sharmila Udyavar at udyavar@email.unc.edu.