Do you want to get involved in the Lebanese and international political and diplomatic life?

The Higher Institute of Political and Administrative Sciences (ISSPA) and USEK Continuing Learning Center (UCLC) will meet your expectations.

ISSPA offers several targeted courses whose mission is to train future political leaders and future diplomats.

It offers an online course of 8 weeks. Training tailored and delivered in English.

Programs are regularly updated to meet the needs of the labor market.

This online course is open to undergraduate and graduate students.

The Online Course on the New Great Game on Geopolitical Competition between Major Powers in the Middle East trains you and gives you the ability to:

• Expand your knowledge on the Middle East
• Understand the main geopolitical factors and the role displayed by Great Powers in the region
• Develop your skills in negotiation, decision-making and consulting
• Boost your career and academic experience by incorporating new techniques in a field in perpetual regeneration
• Study and work at the same time

Course Description
The distance learning course that we offer is presented with the aim to promote the acquisition of sufficient knowledge to adequately understand the geopolitical dynamics that affect Lebanon in particular, and the Middle East in general.

This online course is addressed to students, professors, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the security and defense corps, and all those interested in learning more about the geopolitical dynamics that occur in the Middle East and the great changes that are taking place not only in the east and south of the Mediterranean but also in the Gulf region. In addition to other goals you'll know how and why Lebanon became a crucial part in the Geo-sectarianism chessboard, and on the U.S. and European Union’s agenda.

Objectives and Outcomes
At the end of this course, students will acquire:
1. Knowledge of the various definitions of Geostrategic and Geopolitics and their implications for the field of International Relations.
2. An understanding of the linkages among International Relations, Political Science, Security and Defense studies, History, Political and Economic Geography, Geopolitics and Geostrategic.
3. Familiarity with theories of the state as a geographical and political unit, such as Geopolitics.
4. An understanding of the elements and nature of power, power analysis, and power projection in the world of politics, to include not only the traditional nation-state as actor, but also contemporary non-state phenomena such as Hezbollah, the Islamic State, and the environment as Geostrategic factors.
5. An understanding of the geopolitical dynamics registered in the Middle East Region and the Geopolitical behavior of the regional and external Potencies and Great Powers (U.S.A, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, etc.)
6. Awareness of the Geostrategic implications related to Contemporary International Relations issues (international migrations, globalization, international terrorism, etc.)
7. Capability of Reading, understanding, and analyzing articles of varying complexity on Geopolitics.

How much time to complete the online course?
The course will have a value of 2 academic credits and it will last 8 weeks. Equivalent 30 hours of learning.
This course will be delivered by 1 external Expert and 3 faculty members online via Moodle learning management system (http://elearning.usek.edu.lb)

Evaluation and Grading System:
Students shall prepare a final paper focused on a specific geopolitical risk discussed during the course. Likewise, students will have the opportunity to participate in peer review activities, group discussions, simulations, risk factor analysis, mapping conflicts, etc.

Certificate:
A certificate will be delivered jointly by ISSPA and UCLC to students who complete successfully the course.

What to do after the Online Course?
This training opens up the possibility of pursuing a career in diplomacy, defense, and consultancy for national and international companies that deal with issues of security, peace and risk management, domestic politics, international and regional organizations (United Nations, NATO, OSCE, the Arab League, etc.), non-governmental organizations, political marketing, war and conflict correspondent, etc.
Other areas will be as accessible as political communication and the media, political parties, administrative assistance and education.

Flexible Conditions
You can study and work at the same time, or follow a dual curriculum.
To be admitted to the course of the USEK online, the candidate must be at least 21 years of age. In principle, the course is open to students who come from the field of social sciences (Political Science, Law, International Relations, Sociology, History, Philosophy, etc.) professional candidates who can demonstrate the validity and usefulness of the course will also be accepted for the proper performance of their job.

Cost
Total price of the program: $450

Registration deadline: First week of November 2019

Program

Session	Topic	Professor
Week 1	Presentation of the Course and explanation of the basic concepts: Geopolitics, Strategy, Geostrategic, Security, etc.	Dr. Francisco Barroso USEK
Week 2	The Middle East in the agenda of the United States of America	Dr. Joseph Kechichian Faisal Center
Week 3	Russia in the Middle East: Security, Energy, Geopolitical Influence and Performance	Dr. Joseph Kechichian UNED
Week 4	Geopolitics of Iran and the Gulf Countries (Saudi Arabia and Qatar)	Dr. Joseph Kechichian Faisal Center
Week 5	The role of Turkey in the Middle East	Dr. Joseph Kechichian Faisal Center
Week 6	Geopolitical dilemmas of the State of Israel	Dr. Jennifer Layoun USEK
Week 7	The European Union in the current Geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East	Dr. Nassif Hitti USEK
Week 8	Future Perspectives for Lebanon in the Geopolitics of the Middle East	Dr. Nassif Hitti and Dr. Francisco Barroso USEK

For further information, our offices are open from 8:00 to 16:00. You can also contact us at the following address: isspa@usek.edu.lb