RELEASE
Monrovia, Liberia – The Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute (FSI) has made great progress toward accreditation by the National Commission on Higher Education. This audacious endeavor was announced by Mr. Reginald B. Goodridge, Director General of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute (FSI), during a news conference held on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT).
Mr. Goodridge highlighted this certification’s importance as a significant part of the institute’s rebuilding plan. “Our mission is to restore the prestige of the FSI and make it competitive with other Foreign Service Institutes globally,” he stated. “Accreditation will enable us to offer a Master’s degree program, enhancing the academic and professional opportunities for our students.”
In the interest of historical accuracy, President William V.S. Tubman saw the necessity to Liberianize the nation’s diplomacy and thus founded the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute.
The Liberian Foreign Service Institute was established by law in 1946 and gained additional formality on February 16, 1951, when the Foreign Service Act was passed. Honored as the 23rd Secretary of State, Hon. Gabriel L. Dennis trained many of Liberia’s brightest young diplomats in Washington, D.C. throughout the 1940s, helping to build both the institute’s prestigious image and the country’s foreign policy.
The core mission of the FSI includes:
– Teaching diplomatic skills such as effective communication, lucid reporting, negotiating skills, and management.
– Fostering logical thinking, sound judgment, and analytical ability.
– Promoting cultural awareness and interpersonal relationships while maintaining social conscience and cultural linkages.
– Instilling societal values, patriotism, and esprit de corps.
– Encouraging creativity, trustworthiness, and professional commitment.
– Establishing effective language study programs in French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic.
– Developing as a Think-Tank for international relations and cooperation, particularly with African nations.
Upon assuming management two and a half months ago, Mr. Goodridge found the institute dormant for over a year. Despite this, efforts have been made to revitalize the management, staff proficiency, structure, and curriculum. The FSI is now on a trajectory to justify its legacy as a prestigious institution.
To further this mission, the FSI is:
– Pursuing accreditation to offer a Master’s degree.
– Entering into Memoranda of Understanding with local and international institutions for the exchange of instructors and students.
– Offering a 4-week Orientation/Refresher Course and an 11-month Academic Training Program for government officials and aspiring diplomats.
– Establishing the Madam Suakoko Graduate School for Female Diplomats to accelerate the advancement of Liberian women in diplomacy.
Demographic Report on Enrollment
The current demographic report on enrollment shows a promising trend:
– 55.22% of students are female, and 44.7% are male.
– 66.41% of students are aged 36-50.
– 69.40% of students hold a BSc degree, and 30.59% hold an MSc degree.
– Students are employed across various sectors, with 44.77% each in the private and public sectors.
The FSI is establishing itself as one of Africa’s leading research centers, specializing in subjects including Liberia’s contribution to the OAU’s founding, peacekeeping missions, and the nation’s foreign policy under several presidents.
As the FSI approaches its 75th Anniversary in 2025, it plans to celebrate this milestone with an Annual Foreign Service Symposium in Monrovia, inviting distinguished minds in African diplomacy and international relations to discuss critical global issues from an African perspective.
Mr. Goodridge expressed gratitude to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung for their support and keen interest in the FSI’s mission. He emphasized that a strong domestic policy drives a vibrant foreign policy, aligning with the ARREST Agenda.
