Today in Arizona, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs (GPA) Bill Russo launched a new partnership between the Department of State’s European Digital Diplomacy Exchange (EDDE) program and Arizona State University (ASU). This initiative will create new coursework and engagement opportunities for ASU students to participate in meaningful work that fosters democratic resilience across Europe.
This partnership will introduce a new class in spring of 2024, Democratic Resilience in the Digital Age, focusing on digital strategic communications and its impact on democracy. Students in this class will collaborate with Department of State leaders, academic experts, and representatives from foreign governments. ASU students will participate in a virtual practicum through which their insights and inputs will bolster the strategic communications policies, procedures, and practices of the Department of State and EDDE-participating countries. It will also create and fund opportunities for ASU students to participate in high-level international conferences and events – connecting students with the leaders actively shaping global policies.
EDDE-participating governments will benefit by new access to a range of leading ASU experts who can advance their digital strategic communications and counter-disinformation capacities.
EDDE advances the White House’s goal of empowering regional partners to harness emerging technologies to increase democratic resilience by building the digital strategic communications and counter-disinformation capacities of governmental partners. Since 2017, EDDE has convened, trained, and advised hundreds of mid- and high-level communications officers from 19 different countries. EDDE is directed by the U.S. Department of State, co-funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and implemented by the Centre for European Perspective.
This partnership represents one new initiative among many that will be pursued to develop the future generation of American leaders and leverage their knowledge and skills to bolster our diplomatic engagement and strengthen global partners.
