COMMERCIAL DIPLOMATIC PRACTICE

Becoming an Accredited Commercial Diplomatist

Mandatory Qualifying Programme

The mandatory qualifying programme requires rigorous training, tests of understanding, case studies, research project and proven relevant professional experience. All programmes offer specialized focus areas in international investment policy, international investment arbitration, international trade policy, multilateral trade negotiations, international trade arbitration, international commercial arbitration, diplomatic relations, regional approaches to international arbitration, understanding corruption and economic crime risks etc, or, depending on your relevant practical professional experience and or educational background, you can customize a focus area to meet your individual needs.

Admissions Evaluation

Admission is offered only to those who the organisation believe will succeed in any of its programmes, excel in their chosen diplomatic careers, and exhibit the competence and potential to lead and practice effectively. Assessment is based on qualitative evaluation of academic and or professional qualification, strong interest in foreign affairs and commercial diplomacy, proven relevant knowledge and professional experience, education, skills, training, professional development, an appreciation of, and passion for the commercial diplomatic practice, and proven personal integrity as it relates to the commercial-judicial diplomatic programme, the unique profession and the information an applicant provides.

Selection Procedures

Prospective practitioner-candidates will be evaluated on their total background including; integrity, professionalism, civility, suitability, competence, expertise, skills-based knowledge and experience, education and training, personal and professional development, and integrity-focused decision-making capability, especially as it relates to the programme and profession. Selection for any of the mandatory qualifying commercial-judicial diplomatic programme is made only from among candidates possessing the best and relevant experience, and qualification.

What is Work Based Learning?

Learning through work is a way of gaining a higher and professional postgraduate qualification using the learning you are continually developing in your working and or professional life.  It is based on the simple premise that people don't always need to go to college or university to learn because the process of learning is part and parcel of everyday working life.  By creating a framework to help people set out and demonstrate their learning, learning through work enables institutions to offer work-based qualifications through distance learning or using online technology.  The qualifications offered through learning through work have the same value as those achieved through traditional university attendance...even better.

How it works

Because the ACCD's approved, authorised and recommended learning through work shall be geared to meeting the needs of individual work and personal circumstances, it shall be very flexible in terms of what, where and when prospective practitioner-candidates learn. Programme content shall usually be a mix of learning modes which can include work-based activities and projects, online and or distance learning courses and taught modules.  This may sometimes be called online Blended-e-Learning.  It can also be a 100% research project on a topic of prospective practitioner-candidates' choice in related-relevant commercial-judicial diplomatic field.  The key feature of work-based learning or learning through work should be that the learning is relevant-related, sector-specific, comfortable and beneficial to the prospective practitioner-candidate and their employer.

Accreditation of Prior Learning - APL

Applicants with appropriately approved significant prior practical professional experience in a commercial-judicial diplomatic related-relevant field (commercial-judicial diplomacy, international trade policy, international arbitration etc) may apply to have the total MQCP programme reduced, which should be applied to the independent study requirement. Such application must make reference to areas in which the student has acquired professional competence.

Credit hours may be accepted for transfer into the Mandatory Qualifying Competency Programme (MQCP). These must be related-relevant advanced postgraduate courses taken at recognised, acceptable and approved professional, diplomatic or vocational education and training providers/institutions and or international governmental organizations, such as the WTO, UNCTAD, UNITAR etc. All the modules in the courses to be considered must be approved, acceptable and substantially equivalent to the approved, authorised and recommended modules in the courses that make up the Mandatory Qualifying Competency Programme.

Each application will be reviewed on an individual basis.