Prepared by Dr Shafina Tantiana Zulkipli
On 27 June 2024, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) had the honour of hosting a delegation from the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) led by its esteemed Director, Dato Westmoreland Palon. The entourage also includes IDFR officers and 14 participants of the Diploma in Diplomacy (DiD). This visit marked a significant collaboration between IDFR and the students of the International Relations Programme at FSSH. The event included an insightful sharing session on Diplomatic Career Paths (Perkongsian Kerjaya) by the DiD participants, who are junior Malaysian diplomats currently undergoing intensive diplomatic training.
In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Kiky Kirina Abdillah, Dean of FSSH, proudly highlighted the longstanding presence of the International Relations Programme since the establishment of FSSH at UNIMAS. She also affirmed the programme’s main objective which is to empower students with a deep understanding of global dynamics in the field of International Relations and to prepare them for careers in related professional fields.
In his address, Dato Westmoreland Palon introduced IDFR as a vital division serving as a training arm under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He emphasized that the Institute offers comprehensive training for Malaysian diplomats in diplomacy, international relations, soft skills, and foreign languages. Dato Westmoreland Palon also expressed confidence that the activities led by IDFR involving FSSH students will undoubtedly be exposing them to career opportunities within the Malaysian foreign service.
Other than that, the DiD participants imparted invaluable insights for a career in foreign service to an engaged audience of 80 students from the International Relations Programme, FSSH. These joint-activities are aimed to enrich the learning experience for all involved which also complemented their classroom learning with real-world diplomacy. Participants gained valuable knowledge about the nature of work, their duties, roles, and responsibilities as diplomats from the sharing session. The two-hour activities with students encompassed career sharing, Diplomatic Debate, and quizzes.
Other than the sharing session and activities at the Faculty, the group also paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Ahmad Hata bin Rasit. During the discussion, IDFR and UNIMAS recognized the importance of enhancing practical and social skills, potentially through a collaborative module between both institutions. The realization of this module would positively equip students with crucial preparation for their future careers.
The visit and joint-activities showcased the exceptional synergy between IDFR and UNIMAS, promising a compelling platform for mutual academic and industry experiences. It should be noted that similar collaborations and activities have been carried out by the two institutions in 2018, when IDFR was led by Datuk Mohamad Sadik Kethergany. Datuk Sadik is currently an Adjunct Professor at FSSH since 2023. On another note, both IDFR and FSSH also agreed to renew Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen and enhance their collaboration in the near future.
FSSH and the International Relations Programme extended heartfelt gratitude to the UNIMAS Corporate (UC), FSSH staffs, and students for their invaluable contributions in making the event a resounding success.
Note: International Relations Programme (UW6313001) is one of the undergraduate programmes offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), UNIMAS. More info about the programme and application process in our website: https://www.fssh.unimas.my/