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Welcome to the ISPD
The ISPD Protocol & Diplomacy is part of the ISPD+ Innovation in Diplomacy Network.
Since the foundation in 2008 the ISPD is Europe’s leading academic institution solely dedicated to Academy, Training and Consultancy in International Protocol, Soft Diplomacy, Business Protocol, Official Events, Cross Cultural Intelligence and Corporate Diplomacy. We combine these fields in order to bring participants a unique range of study programmes designed and developed by academics from a multi-cultural and interdisciplinary perspective.
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ISPD Group has a history of delivering outstanding services across industries and countries.
The ISPD Group has developed into one of the most fascinating and impactful Capacity building, Executive Academy and Consulting groups in the world. In our day-to-day operations we transform public and private relationships from standard to outstanding.
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Blog & News
Timme Dossing unexpectedly passed away
The ISPD Group received the shocking sad notice that Timme Dossing, Senior Managing Director at Teneo cabinet DN, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. Timme Dossing was our expert, long time supporter and true personal friend. He advised the group since the foundation and his experience and outstanding business expertise were highly appreciated by the entire
The Side Effect of Royal Weddings for (real) Protocol Professionals
The Side Effect of Royal Weddings for (real) Protocol Professionals A personal comment by Thomas Sladko A post on ISPD’s social media channels recently attracted a lot of attention when the ISPD mentioned, on the very day after the recent British royal wedding, that it would not comment on such a ceremony. The ISPD posted
Protocol, Communication and Security – A balanced approach is needed
José Paulo Lucena Protocol Expert “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as the pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things. “ Winston Churchill Protocol, Communication and Security the three pillars of a good ceremony or event. We would like
Are cross cultural and cultural awareness an enabler or a showstopper for protocol?
Are cross cultural and cultural awareness an enabler or a showstopper for protocol? by José Paulo Lucena Protocol Expert 1. Introduction With this article, we would like to have the question: Are cross-cultural and cultural awareness an enabler or a showstopper for protocol? answered. It is our assumption that there are several approaches for this
Ethic in Protocol – Part II by Thomas Sladko
Ethic in Protocol – Part II “Protocol is about the others not about ourselves”, like Ines Pires stated various times. As I had the honour of being quoted in the first part of this essay I would like to join the discussion and continue elaborating these thoughts about the ethics in protocol, a profession I
The ISPD is honoured with the Medal of the State Council of the Sultanate of Oman!
The entire ISPD Protocol & Diplomacy Team is feeling very proud to be honoured with the Medal of the State Council of the Sultanate of Oman! The Medal of the State Council is handed over to honour foreign citizens of excellence towards the Sultanate of Oman. H.E. Najeem Sulaiman Najeem AL ABRI, Ambassador of the
Ethics in Protocol
Ethics in Protocol by Ines Pires, December 2017 Protocol is driven by standards and decisions, often hundreds or more per day. Some of those decisions are small and barely noticed while others are prominent and make the difference among the people we serve. Some require deep thought because they involve people, VIPs, brands and resources.
Making 100.000 people happy is a quite a challenge! The secrets of successful event management, ISPD+ Expert Interview
Making 100.000 people happy is a quite a challenge! The secrets of successful event management ISPD+ Interview with the CEO of Frei-Stil, Thomas Knes The ISPD+, Innovation in Diplomacy Network, recently welcomed Mr. Thomas Knes, the young, dynamic, sportive and highly sympathetic Founder and CEO of the Austrian “Frei-Stil” Event Agency at The ISPD+ Premisses
ISPD is part of the advise team for the Cultural Heritage Exhibition of the Sultanate of Oman at the EU-Parliament
We are very proud to contribute to this amazing exhibition and to add our wonderful experiences we had in the Year 2014/2015 in the Sultanate of Oman.
Press Release: Politico’s Ryan Heath amongst judges of YPFP Rising Star in Foreign Policy award
Journalist Ryan Heath, Politico’s Senior EU Correspondent and author of the influential Brussels Playbook, will be one of the judges for our inaugural prize: the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy Brussels Rising Star in Foreign Policy Award 2017. To be announced at our annual Gala on 24 November, which will feature a keynote speech from
Apply to win the YPFP Rising Star in Foreign Policy Award 2017
The Young Professionals in Foreign Policy Brussels branch is excited to launch our new award celebrating a Rising Star in Foreign Policy 2017! Honouring an individual based in Belgium who has achieved outstanding work in the field of foreign policy in the past year, this is your chance to have your achievements celebrated in the
Protocol and Ceremonial Procedures by Captain José Paulo Lucena, Staff Officer at NATO SHAPE, Protocol Expert
1. Introduction This text pretends to help those who have direct and indirect responsibilities regarding the organization of events and ceremonies. This moment forward I am going to refer to them as protocol practitioners. They can be either from the public or private sector. When we are organising one event or ceremony we must keep
The hidden costs for our safety and security
As a frequent traveller you will hear “safety is our main concern”, quite often mainly when travelling by plane. I personally doubt this slogan, as safety can never be the main concern of an airline. A company’s main concern in the transportation sector must be to make a profit out of the transportation of their
New Academic Year 2017/2018: Registration for the MASTER Degree started
The ISPD is proud that again a huge number of recently graduating students already found high level positions in various areas where protocol and soft diplomacy skills are applicable. That underlines our reputation and we are proud that we are the only worldwide protocol institute that offers an academic certified MA education in this field.
Raising Demand for Training on Security in Brussels
Brussels, European Quarter, ISPD+ Innovation in Diplomacy Headquarter 29 June 2017: “The demand on education and knowledge transfer for the topic security is raising, no doubt about that!”, states Ines Pires, President of the ISPD+ Innovation in Diplomacy. “We are daily receiving enquiries from event management agencies, hotel managers, top end restaurant owners and of
Press Release
ISPD+ Innovation in Diplomacy organises high-level event to share best practices on Corporate Diplomacy Brussels, March 16, 2016 – The International School of Protocol & Diplomacy (ISPD) is organising a high-level event dedicated solely to Corporate Diplomacy. What is the role of diplomacy in today’s economic global context? Why do companies need diplomacy in global
Invitation Management
BY JOSÉ LUCENA* One of the most relevant and sensitive steps of a ceremony is the Invitation Management. Deciding whom to invite, when to start sending the invitations, how to do it, by mail or by e-mail are some of the actions that contribute to the Invitation Management of any kind of ceremony. On
The ISPD at Mauritius first Business Protocol & Diplomacy Conference
THE RESEARCH OF SUSTAINABLE EDUCATIONAL SOLUTIONS (ROSES) TRUST in collaborative partnership with THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF PROTOCOL & DIPLOMACY (ISPD) presents MAURITIUS FIRST BUSINESS PROTOCOL & DIPLOMACY CONFERENCE 2 – 3 MARCH 2016 – HILTON RESORT AND SPA, FLIC EN FLAC
ISPD’s performance at Oman’s First Business Protocol & Diplomacy Conference resulted in a fantastic media coverage
ISPD in the News: ISPD's performance at Oman's First Business Protocol & Diplomacy Conference resulted in a fantastic media coverage
The ISPD at Oman’s First Business Protocol & Diplomacy Conference
The ISPD was very proud and honoured to have had the chance to organise Oman’s First Business Protocol & Diplomacy Conference in Muscat together with the Future Media Group. The 2 day Conference was opened by H.E. Ahmed Bin Yousif Al-Harthi, Undersecretary of Diplomatic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His Highness Sayyid Mohammed bin
The ISPD participates in the XIV International Congress of Protocol in Tegucigalpa, Republic of Honduras.
The ISPD News - The ISPD, represented by Pedro Cunha, is currently participating in the XIV International Congress of Protocol taking place from the 15th-17th of October in Tegucigalpa, Republic of Honduras.
Sultanate of Oman to host conference of Protocol and Diplomacy 25.-26.10.2015 in the Crown Plaza, Muscat.
The conference, to be held for the first time in the Sultanate, will be organised by Future Media Group in collaboration with the International School of Protocol and Diplomacy (ISPD). Muscat: Oman’s first Conference of Protocol and Diplomacy starts its activities on October 25 in Muscat. The conference, to be held for the first time in
Honouring the Fallen Servicemen
BY JOSÉ LUCENA Any ‘kill in action’ is always sad. It does not matter if it is a military, a policeman or a fireman. It is a life that has been lost, a family that has been broken, and a country that has lost a citizen. It is a loss. Conducting a ceremony to honour
Maritime Ceremonial
BY JOSÉ LUCENA* Imagine that you are invited to attend a ceremony or a reception aboard of a Navy Ship alongside a port of your country or place where you are living. As you might notice, Navies around the world tend to be very conservative regarding their traditions. One of these is the Maritime Ceremonial.
ISPD on the Road – Manama, Bahrain
News – ISPD on the Road – Manama, Bahrain The ISPD is (constantly) on the Road! Under the auspices of H.E. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, the WTDI (Al-Wasat Training & Development Institute) organized the 1st Business Protocol & Diplomacy Conference from the 14th till the
5th Anniversary of the ISPD and the Graduation Ceremony
On 20th March 2015, the International School of Protocol & Diplomacy, the leading school in protocol and soft diplomacy skills studies, in Brussels, celebrated two important occasions: the graduation ceremony of its Master’s Degree in Protocol & Soft Diplomacy Skills students of the academic year 2013/2014 and its 5th anniversary. The celebrations of these important milestones in the history of
You haven’t confirmed your presence. Now What?
BY JOSÉ LUCENA* Imagine you are a guest to an official ceremony for which the invitation explicitly requested you to confirm your presence. For some reason you had not the opportunity to do it, but you decided to attend the ceremony, because it is important. You arrive to the ceremony and you are requested to
Diplomacy and Its Practice VII. International Relations, Geopolitics and Diplomacy
by Dr. Luis Ritto* “To know a nation’s geography is to know its foreign policy” – Napoleon Bonaparte (Emperor of France from 1804 to 1814). “Geography is an earthly subject, but a heavenly science” – Edmund Burke (Irish statesman, 1729-1797). This article is mainly about geopolitics and two related subfields of it: political geography and
Rank and Seniority
BY JOSÉ LUCENA* As a protocol practitioner I always keep in mind the career status of the guests of the ceremonies that I have to plan and execute. When there are guests who are Ambassadors, we have to respect the diplomatic rules that are applied to these high dignitaries; the same applies to guests who
Diplomacy and Its Practice VI. Religious Diplomacy and Dialogue
by Dr. Luis Ritto* “There is only one religion, though there are a hundred versions of it” – George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950). “By the study of different religions we find that in essence they are one” – Swami Vivekananda (Indian Hindu Monk, 1863-1902). Continuing our series about diplomatic matters, today I am going to write
Breaking Protocol
BY JOSÉ LUCENA* I would like to share with our readers the following opinion of breaking protocol. I strongly believe that protocol exists to facilitate the communication and the adoption of a proper conduct among people when moving in certain professional and social situations. Protocol can be broken by protocol practitioners or by high dignitaries.
Diplomacy and Its Practice V, Digital Diplomacy
by Dr. Luis Ritto* « Change is the law of life. And those who look to the past or present are certain to miss the future” – John F. Kennedy (1963). A new area in diplomacy that has seen a steady increase in its use in the past 20 years or so is the one of
Protocol and Friendship
by José Lucena* I would like to share with our readers an episode that I witnessed as a protocol official during an official ceremony. My team and I were responsible for the protocol of a Military Band Official Concert in a local village. This concert took place in a local theatre facility. We sent the invitations to
Diplomacy and Its Practice IV, Public Diplomacy and Nation Branding
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND NATION BRANDING by Dr. Luis Ritto* « Successful diplomacy is an alignment of objectives and means”, Dennis Ross (American politician and diplomat). In my previous articles about this same subject of diplomacy, I explained how it has evolved and how it has became more open and transparent with time. And I also said
Relations between Protocol & Politics
by Thomas Sladko* Politics is a tough, challenging and demanding field, that is quickly changing. Not only the politics themselves but also the people who are working in their political cabinets. As state Protocol works closely with politics and their cabinet assistants, our working field is sometimes quite stressful as well. You rarely find a profession
The European Elections of May 2014: Issues at Stake
by Dr. Luis Ritto* “Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future”. Niels Bohr (1885-1962). As the 500 million citizens of the European Union (EU) get ready to vote in the European parliamentary elections of May 2014, we thought it useful to take stock of the EU today and of the challenges it faces in
The English Bible
by Dr. Luis Ritto* Today I am going to write about a book that helped shape the history of religion and of our Western civilisation: the English Bible of King James I of England. Published in 1611, 403 years ago, it helped greatly to promote the development of the Christian faith and of the English
Unpredictable Situations in Protocol
by Thomas Sladko* Today I remembered a lecture at ISPD I held – exactly one year ago on the 11th of February 2013. I lectured about the topic “Flexibility in Protocol – handling the Unpredictability”. Sometimes life plays tricks on us because I would not have imagined facing a very unpredictable situation exactly one year after
Diplomacy and Its Practice III
by Dr. Luis Ritto* POWER AND DIPLOMACY In the past two articles of mine, I wrote about the evolution of diplomacy and how it developed from a bilateral instrument in the relations between nations to a multi-functional and multi-purpose tool of foreign relations of countries, as it is the case today. In fact, diplomacy nowadays
Doing a Good Job By Standing Still
*by Patricia Benoit-Guyot As you all may realize, in Protocol the first impression starts at the entrance door. From the very first minute a VIP arrives they should feel expected, welcomed and looked after, a little like a very special guest at your home whom you wish to impress. I have organized many events with
Diplomacy and Its Practice
by Dr. Luis Ritto* In my previous article about this same subject, I explained how diplomacy developed over time and how protocol developed jointly with it. I mentioned the important diplomatic developments that took place in Europe from the 13th to 19th centuries and also after the Second World War when the Organisation of the United Nations
Inappropriate behavior in Protocol
by Thomas Sladko* Recently I found myself in the following situation: I was responsible to take care of an evening reception and everything was running smoothly and the way it was planned: nearly all invited guests appeared, the room was well filled but not too crowded, the music was decent, the ordered flowers and the
The Twenty Years of the Maastricht Treaty (1993-2013)
by Dr. Luis Ritto* The European Union (EU) celebrated on 1 November 2013 the twenty years of existence of the Maastricht Treaty, which was signed on 7 February 1992 in the town of Maastricht in the Netherlands by the Member-States of the Union, and is in force in the EU since 1 November 1993. As
Diplomacy and its Practice
by Dr. Luis Ritto* The new academic year at ISPD was launched on 11 October 2013 with a lecture on diplomacy and protocol. And rightly so because not only the two subjects are connected— as diplomacy progressed so also protocol has developed to become today a major tool of diplomacy— but also because they are
ISPD Soft Diplomacy Café
On 26th September 2013, the ISPD was pleased to organise its ISPD Soft Diplomacy Café, unique and first of its kind project. The Soft Diplomacy Café was an intersection round table between the 3 main groups of actors in Brussels that use soft diplomacy skills in their professions: diplomatic missions, institutions and companies. We were
Full Speed or Full Stop
by Thomas Sladko* The summer is coming to an end and much work is waiting to be done. Autumn is the time of congresses, bilateral meetings, intergovernmental reunions and state visits. After August, which is normally a period of holidays throughout Europe, everybody is back at work with fully loaded batteries. So it’s time for me for
Summertime in Protocol
by Thomas Sladko* Fulfilling the dress code is hard in these hot summer days for Protocol professionals. In many other professions everybody would understand that above 35 degrees Celsius men can wear short sleeve shirts, are not obliged to use a properly tied tie, dress white, wear jeans or even shorts, etc. Not so in
The Erasmus Programme – An EU Success Story
by Luis Ritto* ERASMUS is the European Union’s flagship mobility programme in the field of education and training. Established in 1987 (it has therefore 26 years of existence) and named after the Dutch-born pan-European philosopher, theologian and humanist Desiderius Erasmus (1465-1536), who lived and worked in several European countries in quest of the knowledge, experience
Is Multiculturalism and Cultural Dialogue Dead in Europe?
by Luis Ritto* The obvious answer to this question is, in my view : no! However, some European leaders have spoken in the recent past about the failure of multiculturalism in Europe and of the need for it to be replaced by some form of a system of integration into the culture and values of the European
No Second Chance in Protocol!
by Thomas Sladko* Sorry to tell you, but in Protocol exists no second chance. In Protocol we cannot say to the Guest of Honor: “Please come back next week and we will try to serve you better”. We are unable to influence the weather and cancel a huge open air event due to some raindrops.
The EU Launches a New University Ranking System
by Luis Ritto* As mentioned in one of my previous articles, with the establishment of the Bologna System in Europe a new era in Higher Education started in this continent with the three following main objectives: the introduction of a three cycle system of studies (bachelor/master/doctorate), quality assurance and the smooth recognition procedures among Universities
Is State Protocol similar to Event Management?
by Thomas Sladko* Is State Protocol similar to Event Management? Quick answer yes – long answer no! To start my first blog entry I would like to get a little pit personally: When I started working in state Protocol – back in 2007 – I quickly realized that everything I knew about Public Relations and
Effective Leadership
by Olivier Herlin* Leadership is a process, it is also the art of influencing and it is separated from a position or a title. In fact everyone in an organization is either a leader either a follower. When a manager/leader asks subordinates feedback about what can be improved in the procedure of their tasks, subordinates start
Rethinking Europe’s Strategy in Terms of Education and Skills
by Luis Ritto* In my last article, I discussed the efforts in terms of quality that European higher education institutions are making in order to make Europe an area of excellence and distinction in University education. ISPD follows this trend and since its inception has made quality a top priority of its teaching methods. Today
ISPD in Turkmenistan
Ines Pires-Urquiza, Executive Director and ISPD Founder is already in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. ISPD was invited by the Turkmenistan President and USAID Governance Strengthening Project to deliver at the Institute of Foreign Relations an intensive course on Diplomatic Protocol and Negotiations for officials from the country. ISPD is proud to work together with USAID in developing this
Effective Leadership
by Olivier Herlin* In my last blog entry I concluded that the study of Protocol and Diplomacy was an important tool in the toolkit of leaders. And that Leadership Development tools could be important additions in the toolkit of Protocol & Diplomacy professionals. Capitalizing on this idea I realized that protocol officers or diplomats also
ISPD in Dubai
From 7th to 10th of January 2013, ISPD was in Dubai organizing the training in Protocol, Media Relations and Public Speaking in cooperation with Dubai Government Human Resources Department.
Graduation Ceremony 2012 at the ISPD
It has been a great honour to host the Graduation Ceremony of our Master’s and Postgraduate Degree Students of the 2011 Academic Year at the ISPD yesterday. The academic achievements and the impressive results obtained by the students were celebrated by ISPD staff, lecturers and all the guests invited. In the first part of the
Quality Higher Education in Europe
The Bologna Process, which led to the establishment of an “European Higher Education Area”, made it also necessary that institutions providing degree programmes in this continent develop a culture of quality. Otherwise, there was danger that University education in Europe was not recognized (and trusted) worldwide. But, not only recognition led to promote quality in
Soft Diplomacy Brief
We live in a globalized society where being professional is no longer only about performance, but as well about the perspective of that performance in the public spectrum. People are the most important asset in a company, an embassy or any other institution. We passed from a people Era to an IT Era and we
Flag Ceremony as a symbol of resistance
The first Monday of each month, the government of Timor-Leste, represented by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs or MNEC – Ministerio dos Negocios Estrangeiros e Cooperação – as they usually call it, swear the flag with their best suit, their best tie and uniquely well dressed for the 35 degrees at 7.30 am like on the
The Skill of Associations and Links
For a majority of people, the term protocol is associated with red carpet, VIP’s, personalities, official visits or set of rules that are non-negotiable. Likewise, diplomacy is associated to diplomats, embassies, privileges or negotiation. This is more or less the cliché I had in mind when I first started to collaborate with ISPD 3 years
Soft Diplomacy Brief
Currently in a capacity building mission in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and cooperation of Timor-Leste, I can tell you that the common position of international Relations worldwide engenders that the foundations of soft diplomacy skills and protocol must be integrated into our global daily lives. It is not only a “European Art” but a
ISPD News
Soft diplomacy is a key element of our academic programmes and therefore it is appropriate that our first main article in this blog starts with a brief on this matter. Other members of the ISPD teaching staff will also be regularly contributing to the blog by writing articles of interest to our readers and friends. I use
Summer School 2012
In keeping with its traditions, The International School of Protocol and Diplomacy (ISPD) is proud to announce that it is holding its “2012 Summer School Programme” from 10 to 13 July 2012 at its headquarters in Brussels, based on similar courses that it held with success in the past years. The two guest lecturers for
Coming to ISPD…
ISPD will host Alice Hecht, the former Chief of Protocol at the United Nations for Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-Moon, from 8 to 9 February 2012. Her first lecture delves into her vast experience of working in the UN predominantly in the New York, but also in Kosovo and in Iraq, where she worked alongside
Partnership with Boston University Brussels
The last year has been one of growth and development, but things do not end here, as from September 2011 ISPD will partner with Boston University to offer a number of courses in Protocol and International Relations.
ISPD in Dubai
The International School of Protocol & Diplomacy (ISPD), headquartered in Brussels, is participating at the 4th UAE 2015 Government Organizations Strategy Development Summit with a keynote speech on Protocol Strategies and International Etiquette Communication given by ISPD Executive Director and Founder, Inês Pires Urquiza. For the very first time in Dubai, ISPD’s Founder will offer
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