On the afternoon of December 16, 2021, School of International Governance Innovation (SIGI)held a lecture on international negotiation in the Jindelou Building of the Knowledge City Campus of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS). Larry Crump, an expert in international negotiation and professor of Griffith University, gave a lecture on international negotiation expertise and organized simulation exercise through Zoom. Based on his own academic experience, Prof. Larry Crump introduced the theoretical knowledge and practical application of international negotiation. Furthermore, by organizing simulation exercise, he stimulated students’ interest in learning negotiation and guided them to study the strategies and methods of international negotiation more comprehensively and deeply. Prof. Zhao Longyue, Dean of SIGI, presided over the lecture.
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Professor Larry Crump
Prof. Larry Crump is Deputy Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Research Centre at Griffith University and Senior Adjunct Fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute. He is also a well-known expert in the international negotiation research and has extensive practical experience. In addition, he has offered negotiation training for over 30 years in governmental organizations, companies, universities and non-governmental organizations in Australia, Asia, Europe and Latin America.
In order to present a rich and vivid lecture, Prof. Larry Crump made thorough and detailed preparations to design it in accordance with the characteristics of students of SIGI. The lecture lasted for over four hours, including three main parts: introduction to international negotiation, simulation exercise and review of results.
Students Were Guided to Build a Knowledge System of International Negotiation through Theory and Case Studies
In order to improve effectiveness, Prof. Larry Crump provided carefully prepared reading materials to the students one week before the event. In the lecture, he first introduced his study and research experience in the field of international negotiation. Then, he imparted international negotiation expertise based on selected readings, including some basic concepts such as goal, process, outcome, party and so on, the way the negotiation process goes on, the influence of internal and external elements on the negotiation process and the analysis of the negotiation outcome.
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Simulation Exercise Directed Students to Understand the Thinking and Strategy of International Negotiation
The negotiation exercise was the most interactive part. Students were randomly divided into groups of three or four people, each representing one country, to negotiate on a pre-prepared topic. This teaching mode enabled students to apply the knowledge into practice, grasp the strategies and experience the atmosphere of international negotiation. The interesting role-playing activity also helped enhance students’ participation and learning efficiency. During the exercise, the students actively thought about the topic, expressed their opinions, and had heated debates for the interests of the countries they represented, gaining a unique learning experience.
After this exercise, Prof. Larry Crump invited some students to share their practice process. The students also mentioned some difficulties encountered in the process. Prof. Larry Crump then gave his advice.
Prof. Larry Crump said that the effect of this activity exceeded his expectations. He was impressed by their earnest study of reading materials before class, active interaction in class, and concentration in negotiation exercise. Professor Zhao Longyue expressed his heartfelt thanks to Professor Larry Crump for his careful preparation for the event. At the same time, he sincerely invited Professor Larry Crump to give offline lectures at GDUFS after the pandemic situation improved.
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Students Were Provided with a New Learning Experience Through Role Playing
Many students stated that this was a brand-new learning experience, which was quite different from traditional academic lectures. Students also expressed that the lecture gave them a preliminary understanding of international negotiation and inspired them to consolidate their professional knowledge and strive to contribute to China’s participation in international negotiations and international governance.
There is a Long Way to Go in Cultivating Talents for International Governance
Prof. Zhao Longyue hoped that the students would take this special event as a starting point to further learn the professional knowledge of international negotiation in a systematic way. He concluded that international negotiation is an art, which is more complex than business negotiation. The main object of international negotiation research is the state and government, involving many fields such as diplomacy, politics and economy. Negotiation strategies are not limited to distributive or cooperative approaches, which are the two extremes, and any strategy in the middle of these two can be applied into practice. Students should cherish valuable learning opportunities to systematically study the professional theoretical knowledge, exercise the practical working skills, and make unremitting efforts to become high-end talents in international governance.
SIGI has successfully held a series of special events on international negotiation and invited dozens of experts in this filed to give lectures. SIGI is committed to an innovative training mode in order to cultivate professional talents in international governance who are familiar with national principles and policies as well as domestic situations, have a global vision and master foreign languages, thoroughly understand international rules and excel in international negotiation.
