A Long Tradition
The Fletcher School has been preparing the world’s leaders for nearly eight decades. In addition to traditional programs of study, the School has also provided specially tailored training programs to foreign ministries and governmental agencies since 1984. This summer is no exception.
Ten high-ranking officials from the Critical National Infrastructure Authority (CNIA) of the United Arab Emirates participated in an intensive, ten-week training program in international relations and security studies at The Fletcher School. The program, now in its second year, culminated in a graduation ceremony on August 12th.
The CNIA, created by President Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, serves as a top security agency for the UAE. Participants in the program underwent classroom instruction in addition to practice oriented seminars and workshops dealing with:
- Terrorism and Counter Terrorism
- Internal Conflicts and War
- National Security Decision Making Management & Inter-Agency Coordination
- Crisis Management and Complex Emergencies
- Contemporary Issues in Maritime Security
- Processes of International Negotiation
- Regional Security Issues in Iran and the Arabian Gulf
- Intelligence and National Security Planning
“His highness [President Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan] looked for a university to help with the advancement of this new authority,” said Colonel Awad Al Ahbabi of the CNIA. “For this he found The Fletcher School the best among other schools. So, on behalf of my fellow graduates, thank you for the experience, technical training and values you have given to us. Be sure that we will take this knowledge home and make it part of our infrastructure.”
The program’s courses educated the students on a breadth of international relations theory with a focus on the Gulf region. Special attention was paid to the role of oil in the 21st century, international trade, the inner workings of the United Nations, conflict resolution and negotiation.
“We established these programs to provide skills to members of foreign ministries in developing countries,” said Professor Andrew Hess, Director of the program on Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization. “Programs such as the UAE training have become a very important aspect of The Fletcher School’s overall activities, helping countries upgrade their bureaucratic infrastructures is part of our mission.”
In the years to come, initiatives such as the UAE program will continue to evolve and grow in an effort to provide developing nations with the training and global perspective required to meet their unique needs.
Ian Davis