Geneva Summer Abroad Program on Trade, Development and the Internet

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Trade, Development and the Internet
JUNE 28 - JULY 17, 2012


Students gathered in front of the lake

Program Overview

This two-and-a-half week program will provide students with an understanding of international trade policy, focusing on how trade agreements and institutions affect global and national policies toward technology and the Internet.  This course will examine specifically how trade policy intersects intellectual property and Internet freedom issues involving the free flow of information across borders.  

The course will accord special attention to the workings of the global institutions located in Geneva, including the World Trade Organizations (WTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).  An organizing theme will be an intense focus on emerging trade policy issues related to technological innovation, including attempts by the United States and others to increase copyright protection and enforcement, and attempts to introduce Internet freedom issues into the trade context.

The Geneva Program offers students behind-the-scenes visits to various UN agencies and NGOs, access to high-level officials, and insights into the negotiations processes.  Students will also network with practitioners and academic experts via workshops, simulations, discussions and classroom lectures.

The program is priced competitively at $7,500 for Summer 2012, so students can earn six credits for less than the cost of six credits taken on the Georgetown main campus.

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Who Can and Should Apply?

Any students interested in the intersection of trade, technology, the Internet and development should apply.  The program is intensive, with classes meeting Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 or 6:00 p.m.. Students need to be prepared for a demanding and academically rigorous program.  We have numerous social and cultural excursions on the weekends and after class to complement the program -- and they're a great way to know your student colleagues and the beautiful Geneva area. 

  • The program is open to Georgetown graduate students.
  • Undergraduate juniors and seniors can apply with permission of the Geneva Program Director.  
  • Georgetown International Business Diplomacy (IBD) Certificate students are encouraged to apply, as three credits of program can be petitioned to count toward the IBD Certificate.
  • Students from outside Georgetown are also welcome to apply with approval from the Geneva Program Director.  

Dr. Mark MacCarthy, Adjunct Professor of Communication, Culture & Technology, serves as the Program Director for Summer 2012.  

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Dates and Application Deadlines

Program dates
Thursday, June 28 - Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Students must arrive in Geneva by Thursday June 28, and class starts Friday June 29.  Class ends Monday evening, July 16, and students check out of the provided housing by noon on Tuesday, July 17.

Application Deadline
February 6, 2012

Apply online at http://overseasstudies.georgetown.edu/

Program Cost

The program is priced competitively at $7,500 for Summer 2012, so students can earn six credits for less than the cost of six credits taken on the Georgetown main campus.  

The program price includes tuition, housing in a hotel in double-rooms (with daily maid service, kitchen and provate bath in each room), daily breakfast, unlimited public transportation in Geneva, social and cultural excursions, many lunches and dinners, most course readings, and health insurance. Airfare to/from Geneva, passport fees, some meals, and other individual expenses are not included in this fee.

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Language of Instruction

All sessions are conducted in English.

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Host Institution and Our Partner School in Geneva

Classes are held at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, which is also our partner institution in Geneva.  The Graduate Institute is one of the premier international affairs schools in the world and the oldest graduate school of international affairs in Europe. 

Most classes are held at the Villa Barton, or the AJF Auditorium, located next to the Villa.  Both are situated on the shore of beautiful Lake Geneva.

Students will travel short distances (walking or public transport) to visit various international organizations.

Coursework

Students enroll in CCTP 788-62 Trade, Development and the Internet for six Georgetown graduate credits.

The course will be taught in 2012 by Dr. Mark MacCarthy from Georgetown and various professors from the Graduate Institute in Geneva.

Students receive a Graduate Institute certificate upon completing the program.

CCTP-788-62 Trade, Development and the Internet (6 credits)
This two-and-a-half week program in Geneva will provide students with an understanding of international trade policy, focusing on how trade agreements and institutions affect global and national policies toward technology and the Internet. This course will examine specifically how trade policy intersects intellectual property and Internet freedom issues involving the free flow of information across borders. The course will accord special attention to the workings of the global institutions located in Geneva, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The course will involve visits to these institutions and lectures and workshops by officials from these institutions.

An organizing theme of the course will be an intense focus on emerging trade policy issues related to technological innovation, including attempts by the United States and others to increase copyright protection and enforcement, and attempts to introduce Internet freedom issues into the trade context. Special case studies will cover the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and the process and outcome of the recent WTO Internet gambling case.

The first full week of the program will offer an interdisciplinary review of the features of the world trading system through the perspectives of economics, political science and law. This week will equip participants with a fluent understanding of the politics and economics of free trade. It will cover the legal framework of the WTO system and how it intersects with other international institutions such as WIPO and ITU. It will compare and contrast the different trade instruments, including multi-lateral, regional and bi-lateral trade agreements.

The second full week of the program will be framed by the question of how trade works for development, and how the development paradigm poses particular challenges to a free-trade regime like the WTO. Covering trade in Manufacturing, trade in Agricultural products and trade in Services, this week will integrate the economic perspectives in favor of trade, the legal frameworks within which trade liberalization takes place, and the political implications that restrict and drive liberalization. This week will feature visits to the UN organizations, as well as to the missions of the most important developing country players.

Classes will meet all day Monday through Friday. Mornings will consist of lectures addressed by the Graduate Institute and affiliated faculty to all participants. Afternoons will consist of discussions, simulations and the like in smaller seminar groups. Morning lectures will provide students with key concepts and analytical tools whereas afternoon seminars will help students use those tools and apply them to specific empirical situations. Afternoon sessions will also include on-site visits to international organizations and practical exercises such as simulations.


Students at the UNTCAD briefing

• Course meets June 29-July 16, 2012
• Week 1 focus on core features and current issues in the world trading system
• Week 2 focus on development and trade in manufacturing, agriculture and services
• Taught by Dr. Mark MacCarthy, Adjunct Professor of Communication, Culture & Technology at Georgetown University and by faculty and affiliated faculty from the Graduate Institute in Geneva
• Includes lectures, discussion, simulations and on-site visits to various international organizations and missions.

Weekly View of Classes 2011
Geneva Syllabus from 2011

The program started in Summer 2007 and has evolved each year since its inception. The titles and content reflect this. From 2007-2009 the program was entitled Globalization, Governance and Technology. In 2010 and 2011, the program focused more closely on trade and changed to Trade, Technology and Development. Effective 2012 we'll look more specifically at the Internet as well as other technologies, hence the current iteration of this exciting program.

Faculty

The courses in the program are taught by a number of distinguished scholars including: 

  • Dr. Mark MacCarthy
    CCT Geneva Program Director, Adjunct Professor of Communication, Culture & Technology
  • Faculty from the Graduate Institute

The program was founded by Dr. J.P. Singh, and he directed the program from 2007-2011.

Funding

If you receive federal financial aid, you can apply your student loans toward the cost of the program.  Contact your financial aid counselor in the Office of Student Financial Services to ask about a funding plan for summer. 

Georgetown does not offer scholarships for summer study, but students can look for external funding to cover summer study. 

Accommodations

Students reside in double occupancy rooms at the Drake Longchamp Hotel, which is a ten minute walk along the lake to the school and to the international organizations in Geneva.  Rooms have small kitchens and private baths.  Daily breakfast and maid service is included in the housing. 

Students enjoying a fondue dinner at Auberge des Saviese in the Paquis area of Geneva

What to Do in Geneva

We include many excursions in the cost of the program and organize them on weekends and after class.  Excursions include a day trip to Montreux to see the Chateau de Chillon and Montreaux Jazz Festival, a guided visit to CERN, hiking/funicular up Mt. Saleve for views of the Alps, wine and cheese tastings by the lake, welcome fondue dinner, farewell dinner in Italian neighborhood of Geneva, and a guided tour of old town Geneva.

Montreaux

The hotel is situated in the Paquis neighborhood, which features a variety of ethnic restaurants, bars, cinemas and supermarkets.  It is also a few blocks form the lake and park, where student enjoy swimming and boating.

Geneva also offers many opportunities for open air summer concerts, outdoor movies, parades and festivals. Geneva is a great base for for cycling, exploring the Swiss countryside, and hiking.

Students hiking Mt. Saleve

Geneva has an excellent public transportation system including trams, trains, buses and taxis. Every student will receive a Geneva Free Transportation Card, providing free, unlimited transportation within Geneva for the duration of the trip.

For more information about things to do in Geneva, check out the Geneva Tourism site, or download an example of our past cultural excursions.

CCT Geneva Blog

Check out the day-to-day activities in Geneva on the CCT Geneva blog. The site features pictures and detailed descriptions of the events that occurred as part of the program.

Admission Requirements  

The program is open to graduate students, and advanced undergraduates with approval, from Georgetown and other universities. 

To apply, students must submit the following:

  • Application
  • Two Letters of Recommendation*
  • Statement of interest
  • Transcript(s)**
  • application fee

*CCT students are not required to submit two formal recommendation letters and instead only need to ask their academic advisor to email Dr. MacCarthy with a brief recommendation.

**Unofficial copies of transcripts will be accepted. Please contact Heather Kerst with any questions about the application procedures. kersth@georgetown.edu

How to Apply

February 6, 2012: Regular Application Deadline

Apply online: http://overseasstudies.georgetown.edu/

 

 

Program Alumni Comments

Summer 2009 

"Having the chance to study in Geneva was a unique opportunity on so many levels - to be outside of the traditional U.S. graduate school setting and get to experience classes in the European style of teaching, to learn about pressing global issues from multiple perspectives and gain insight on the European view of major problems we face, to interact with some of these leading practitioners in the fields of international relations, development, and finance, to get to visit leading institutions like the ICRC, the UN, and the WTO. I was also able to hone my research skills working with Professor Singh on my final research paper topic that helped has served as a jumping off point for my thesis research and writing. The program in Geneva is hard work. While there is some time to explore the city and surrounding areas, anyone considering attending the program should be prepared to be deeply engaged with the material and peers, and take advantage of this opportunity to further their graduate career."
-Brannon Cullum, CCT 2010

Palais d'Isle on a canal in Annecy

“The Geneva experience helped me to balance my pre-existing academic interests with those that I formed while in my CCT classes. I entered the program with a background in Government and in Cultural Studies. Geneva was a perfect opportunity to witness how to combine the two into a more cohesive field and use those interests in a global forum. I also was able to develop a thesis project as a result of my time there. The coursework was challenging but I took away a greater confidence in my own ability as well as a deeper understanding of humanitarian and economic issues.”
– Anna Palladino, CCT 2010

Summer 2008

"Like many prospective students, I was first drawn to the CCT graduate program because of its cutting-edge coursework. When I discovered that CCT also offered the Geneva Program, I knew this was the right program for me. As someone who had worked several years in international diplomacy but also wanted to study the history, rationale, and current challenges of global governance, I recognized that Geneva was my Raison d'être.

Here is how I would sum up the immense value of the Geneva Program -- for those who want a general public tour of the United Nations or the World Trade Organization, call the number on the website. But for those who also want to attend exclusive meetings with chief negotiators, debate crucial questions of global governance with professors and students from around the world, and spend a summer hiking, swimming, and hearing both Grand Opera and French Reggae in one of the most beautiful places on earth, apply to the Geneva Program!"

-Sarah Thompson, CCT 2009, Georgetown University
 

"The program in Geneva was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences I've had in my academic career. I learned more information about more topics than I ever thought possible in such a short time. As intense as it was at times, it was a worthwhile experience and it continues to have a positive impact on me, both personally and professionally."

-Katrina Pariera, CCT 2009, Georgetown University

"The Geneva Program was an intense and unforgettable experience. Waking up every morning and seeing the gorgeous scenery of Lake Geneva was amazing! I majored in political science and international relations as an undergrad, and the Geneva Program allowed me to gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of global governance and trade issues. I highly recommend the program -- whether or not you have a background in IR."

-Kristine Quinio, CCT 2009, Georgetown University

"CCT's summer program in Geneva entitled Globalization, Governance, and Technology, is without a doubt one of the most rewarding experiences I have had at Georgetown. As an International Business Diplomacy (IBD) Certificate Candidate, I felt that these courses complemented the IBD courses I had already taken and that it went one step farther in bringing many of the themes together. The courses are challenging and thought provoking; discussions with important business, government, and political leaders and scholars led to intellectually stimulating discussions and debate. More specifically, the Geneva Program allowed me to see more of the diplomatic and political side of the IBD certificate, while still learning nuances in the economic realm through classes such as The Global Services Economy. Essentially the Geneva Program brings many of the issues to life, allowing students to watch and take part in the debate regarding issues such as the WTO, regionalism, globalization, human security, technology and international governance as the experts themselves are going through it. I highly recommend this program and truly believe that it has given me an immense value added for any career I choose."

- Juliana Michelsen, School of Foreign Service 2009, International Business Diplomacy certificate, Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree candidate, Georgetown University

Summer 2007 

"Before Geneva, my concept of the World Trade Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the United Nations, the International Telecommunications Union, and other international institutions was nebulous to say the least. However, after visiting these institutions and watching them in action, I was able to develop a clearer concept and understanding on how international policies are created and implemented. The exposure to live and current issues was fascinating to witness firsthand and observe how negotiations over complex and contentious issues are carried out amongst country representatives."
- Alex DeJong, CCT 2009
 

"I felt like I really got a feel for the city life and how these international organizations work. I felt really lucky to be in such a beautiful city and have access to some of the greatest minds in these international organizations. Another perk was being in class with students from all over the world. It was really beneficial to be exposed to so many different opinions that I hadn't considered before."
- Kalliope Kokolis, CCT 2009

 
Contact

Please contact Heather Kerst if you have additional questions.

Communication, Culture & Technology Program
Georgetown University
3520 Prospect Street, NW
Suite 311, Car Barn
Washington, DC 20057-1047
Phone: (202) 687-9163

Please note that Georgetown University reserves the right to adjust program fees or cancel any program without prior notification; however, every effort will be made to provide information on cancellations in a timely manner. In the event of cancellation, Georgetown University will refund program deposits and 100% of recoverable program fees.

 

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