FSI to offer master’s programs

Established in 1946 through the Legislature, the FSI is designated as a professional training center for aspiring diplomats of the Republic of Liberia.

By Kruah Thompson

Monrovia, August 2, 2024: The Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute (FSI) in Monrovia has unveiled plans to introduce master’s degree programs in Foreign Relations and Diplomacy Studies.

FSI Director General Reginald B. Goodridge announced the program at a press conference on Thursday, August 1, 2024. This is a significant development aimed at enhancing Liberia’s diplomatic capabilities. 

Mr. Goodridge revealed that the FSI is in the process of seeking accreditation from the National Commission on Higher Education.

At the Ministry of Information’s press briefing, Goodridge outlined the comprehensive curriculum that the master’s programs will offer.

Topics include Liberia’s diplomatic history, economic diplomacy, protocol and etiquette, and international law.

“The primary aim of these programs is to harmonize the knowledge of mid to senior-level government officials who engage with foreign counterparts or represent Liberia internationally,” Goodridge explained.

The FSI, housed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is known for its 11-month academic training program and executive certificate courses. It requires applicants to hold at least a bachelor’s degree.

Prospective students must undergo a rigorous selection process, including examinations and interviews by a panel of instructors.

Goodridge also highlighted the FSI’s strategic initiatives, such as establishing the Madam Suakoko Graduate School for Female Diplomats, named after the esteemed Liberian historical figure Nyen-Suah-Koko.

The institute aims to collaborate with local and international partners to expand its educational offerings and research capabilities.

Moreover, the FSI intends to deepen its role as a think tank and repository of international affairs knowledge.

Plans include entering Memoranda of Understanding with local and global institutions, facilitating student and instructor exchanges, and promoting research on Liberia’s pivotal roles in African diplomacy.

“As we approach the 75th anniversary of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Agency in 2025, we envision hosting an Annual Foreign Service Symposium to foster dialogue on critical international issues from an African perspective,” Goodridge announced.

The symposium aims to gather the leading minds in African diplomacy to address contemporary challenges such as climate change, regional stability, and economic development.

The FSI’s ambitions are bolstered by the support of Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, who have championed the institute’s role in advancing Liberia’s foreign policy objectives.

Meanwhile, the FSI traces its origins to the administration of the late former President William V.S. Tubman, who recognized the necessity of enhancing Liberia’s diplomatic corps.

Established in 1946 through legislation passed by the Legislature under the Foreign Service Act of February 16, 1951, Section (31), the FSI was designated as a professional training center for aspiring diplomats of the Republic of Liberia.

Named in honor of Gabriel L. Dennis, the 23rd Secretary of State, the institute was founded following his efforts to send eleven promising Liberians to receive diplomatic training from the American Government in Washington, D.C., during the 1940s. 

These individuals later became pivotal in shaping Liberia’s foreign policy and contributed significantly to the institute’s evolution into the esteemed institution it is today.

The core mission of the FSI includes equipping students with essential diplomatic skills such as effective oral and written communication, clear reporting, negotiation techniques, management, supervision, logical thinking, sound judgment, and analytical abilities.

Director General Goodridge has expressed optimism about the FSI’s future as a hub of excellence in diplomatic education and research, poised to shape Liberia’s standing on the global stage.