Title of the activity
Online Regional Trade Policy Course (eRTPC) for Asia-Pacific Members and Observers of the WTO
Activity Type
Regional Trade Policy Course
Description
The Online Regional Trade Policy Course (eRTPC) is an intermediate training course set at Level 2 of the WTO's Progressive Learning Strategy (PLS) for training and capacity building. The eRTPC is designed for a "generalist" audience of government officials who have undertaken basic WTO training (PLS Level 1).
The objectives of the eRTPC are to: (1) deepen participants' understanding of the WTO Agreements and the functioning of the WTO, its rules and procedures; (2) strengthen participants' capacity to access WTO information resources and the ability to find relevant provisions in the WTO legal texts; and (3) enhance participants' understanding of relevant trade policy issues in their regional context.
The eRTPC curriculum will cover the WTO Agreements and other trade-related issues, including regional trade policy issues. Selected content from the WTO E-Learning Course on Multilateral Trade Agreements (MTAs) will serve as the foundational reading for the eRTPC. This foundational reading will be supplemented by compulsory and complementary reading as appropriate for each respective module. Participants will be required to undertake rigorous self-study for each of the modules covered. This self-study will be complemented by live virtual training sessions offered by WTO resource persons, case studies and exercises, as well as presentations from regional resource persons offering regional perspectives on the topics being discussed.
The objectives of the eRTPC are to: (1) deepen participants' understanding of the WTO Agreements and the functioning of the WTO, its rules and procedures; (2) strengthen participants' capacity to access WTO information resources and the ability to find relevant provisions in the WTO legal texts; and (3) enhance participants' understanding of relevant trade policy issues in their regional context.
The eRTPC curriculum will cover the WTO Agreements and other trade-related issues, including regional trade policy issues. Selected content from the WTO E-Learning Course on Multilateral Trade Agreements (MTAs) will serve as the foundational reading for the eRTPC. This foundational reading will be supplemented by compulsory and complementary reading as appropriate for each respective module. Participants will be required to undertake rigorous self-study for each of the modules covered. This self-study will be complemented by live virtual training sessions offered by WTO resource persons, case studies and exercises, as well as presentations from regional resource persons offering regional perspectives on the topics being discussed.
Venue
Switzerland
City
Online
Trade topic
Multi topic
Start Date
End Date
Duration (days)
70
selection process
Governments of WTO Members and Observers are invited to nominate candidates for the eRTPC for Asia-Pacific Members and Observers of the WTO.
All candidates must satisfy the nomination and selection criteria listed below (pre-requisites). To allow for a broad selection process, governments are encouraged to submit up to three candidates each for consideration. Depending on the number of candidates from the entire region, determination will be made on the precise number of participants. Applications are equally welcome from qualified women and men. The selection results will be communicated to the candidates and their Permanent Mission to the WTO.
All candidates must satisfy the nomination and selection criteria listed below (pre-requisites). To allow for a broad selection process, governments are encouraged to submit up to three candidates each for consideration. Depending on the number of candidates from the entire region, determination will be made on the precise number of participants. Applications are equally welcome from qualified women and men. The selection results will be communicated to the candidates and their Permanent Mission to the WTO.
Pre-requisite
(i) Candidates should have successfully completed the WTO E-Learning course "Introduction to the WTO" or completed, within the last four years, a Geneva-based Introduction Course for LDCs. In exceptional circumstances consideration will be given to candidates who do not meet the aforementioned criteria but who possess knowledge or professional experience that is demonstrably commensurate with the course's requirements;
(ii) Candidates should have at least three years of professional experience and be currently working in their government in the field of the formulation and conduct of trade policy, with the definite expectation of continuing to work, or being assigned further responsibilities, in this field. Preference will be given to those who have completed university studies in economics, law, or a related subject, or have acquired equivalent experience as civil servants in their administrations;
(iii) Candidates must be fully proficient in spoken and written English in order to participate in the course as the eRTPC will be conducted in English. An understanding of the language is not sufficient. Where English is not a working language of the candidate's country, a language proficiency certificate must be submitted along with the WTO Nomination Form. Telephone interviews may be carried out with candidates to evaluate their level of English proficiency;
(iv) For the duration of the eRTPC, candidates must have access to a device that is suitable for video conferencing (i.e., desktop PC or laptop, or any other device, with internet connection, speaker, microphone, and webcam);
(v) Candidates must make appropriate arrangements to secure access to a stable and reliable internet connection for the duration of the eRTPC.
(vi) Candidates must be ready to devote sufficient time to fully participate in and complete the eRTPC. It is estimated that participants will need to devote half-a-day daily during the working week to attend the live training sessions of the eRTPC, complete their assignments and tests, and otherwise prepare for their participation in the eRTPC.
(vii) For the duration of the eRTPC:
• candidates must undertake not to accept any official assignments which would interfere with their ability to fully participate in and complete the eRTPC; and
• nominating authorities must undertake to facilitate their officials' participation in the eRTPC including by: (1) assisting their officials to secure access to a stable and reliable internet connection for the duration of the eRTPC; (2) permitting their officials to attend, uninterrupted, the live training sessions that may take place three to five times a week; and (3) not assigning the officials to tasks that require travel outside of their duty stations, for the duration of the eRTPC.
(ii) Candidates should have at least three years of professional experience and be currently working in their government in the field of the formulation and conduct of trade policy, with the definite expectation of continuing to work, or being assigned further responsibilities, in this field. Preference will be given to those who have completed university studies in economics, law, or a related subject, or have acquired equivalent experience as civil servants in their administrations;
(iii) Candidates must be fully proficient in spoken and written English in order to participate in the course as the eRTPC will be conducted in English. An understanding of the language is not sufficient. Where English is not a working language of the candidate's country, a language proficiency certificate must be submitted along with the WTO Nomination Form. Telephone interviews may be carried out with candidates to evaluate their level of English proficiency;
(iv) For the duration of the eRTPC, candidates must have access to a device that is suitable for video conferencing (i.e., desktop PC or laptop, or any other device, with internet connection, speaker, microphone, and webcam);
(v) Candidates must make appropriate arrangements to secure access to a stable and reliable internet connection for the duration of the eRTPC.
(vi) Candidates must be ready to devote sufficient time to fully participate in and complete the eRTPC. It is estimated that participants will need to devote half-a-day daily during the working week to attend the live training sessions of the eRTPC, complete their assignments and tests, and otherwise prepare for their participation in the eRTPC.
(vii) For the duration of the eRTPC:
• candidates must undertake not to accept any official assignments which would interfere with their ability to fully participate in and complete the eRTPC; and
• nominating authorities must undertake to facilitate their officials' participation in the eRTPC including by: (1) assisting their officials to secure access to a stable and reliable internet connection for the duration of the eRTPC; (2) permitting their officials to attend, uninterrupted, the live training sessions that may take place three to five times a week; and (3) not assigning the officials to tasks that require travel outside of their duty stations, for the duration of the eRTPC.
Target Audience
Government officials
Language
English
Key Result
1. Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully realising Members' rights and obligations
Key Output
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about WTO Agreements, trade policy formulation and conduct of trade negotiations
Invited Members and Observers:
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
China
Chinese Taipei
Fiji
Hong Kong, China
India
Indonesia
Korea, Republic of
Lao Peopleʼs Democratic Republic
Macao, China
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Samoa
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Vanuatu
Viet Nam