Students from UC’s Department of Media and Communication presented their research on Digital Diplomacy at the French Embassy in Wellington in early December 2020.
On their successful grant application, members of the Student Research Hub of the Public Diplomacy and Political Communication Forum – led by Professor Natalia Chaban – were invited to Wellington to report on their findings.
The UC Research Hub was warmly welcomed and introduced to French Embassy personnel including Madame Ambassador Her Excellency Mrs. Sylvaine Carta-Le Vert.
Students presented their analysis to the French Ambassador, Deputy Head of Mission, Representative of New Caledonia to New Zealand and diplomats responsible for cultural, science and research diplomacy as well as Communication and Press team.
Members of the Student Research Hub also visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand and met with David Taylor, Divisional Manager of the COVID Policy Coordination Division.
The pilot research examined the French Embassy digital channels and analyzed their ongoing digital diplomacy to New Zealand.
During the presentation, the students asked questions and gave recommendations to improve strategic communication across Embassy website and social media channels.
The successful presentation to the French Embassy was a significant collaborative effort between New Zealand tertiary students from the UC and French diplomats in New Zealand.
The visit was organised by the French Science and Higher Education Attaché Allessio Guarino, in collaboration with Professor Natalia Chaban.
UC’s Department of Media and Communication is looking forward to continuing this research.
Members of the Student Research Hub “Digital Diplomacy” are PhD student Zahra Emamzadeh, Masters of Strategic Communication Ian Blythe, Amy Norris Hibbert and Catherine Joshua Jeyakumar, and undergraduate student of Media and Communication Shaylee Bright with Natalia Chaban. (Honours student Davide Garello is absent).
