SKILLS INSTITUTE | 1 CREDIT

Skills institutes are one-credit courses offered in an online format or as part of the required in-person immersion at International Relations Online. Skills institute offerings are subject to change each term.

This course gives students the tools and confidence to handle a briefing at any level in the policy world. Students experience a combination of presentations and group discussion on the art of proper preparation, real-life examples of policy briefings, and challenging practical exercises. They learn how to develop and present a relevant, tailored, and effective briefing by crafting the briefing to account for: the policymaker’s level of knowledge, biases, and needs; understanding an issue’s place in the policy process and how that impacts the presentation; utilizing graphics to make the complex easy to understand; writing talking points to guide the briefing; being flexible; and dealing with demanding or hostile audiences.