Pre-Posting Orientation Course for Home-Based Staff & Spouses (SPKM) 3/2023
The third series of IDFR’s flagship course for the year, Pre-Posting Orientation Course for Home-Based Staff and Spouses (SPKM 3/2023) was successfully held from 13 to 22 June 2023.
SPKM course is a prerequisite course for every government official before serving abroad. SPKM 3/2023 was conducted for officers of grade 41 and above alongside their spouses to enhance their knowledge and skills in diplomacy, and international diplomatic practices that are vital in performing their duties at Missions. The course was attended by fifty-five (55) participants from twelve (12) various Ministries and government agencies/departments.
Through the span of 8 days, the participants were equipped with the knowledge related to administration, finance, protocol, consular, as well as diplomatic and state affairs etiquette. The participants were exposed to the appropriate etiquette for fine dining and formal entertaining to develop their interpersonal social skills. They were being highlighted on cultural awareness, for them to better appreciate the cultural gaps and to celebrate the cultural differences. The importance to work as one towards reaching the common goal of defending Malaysia’s interest has been emphasized to the participants. The value of integrity at work was also accentuated to the participant. The essential information and knowledge for promoting Malaysia internationally, namely Malaysia as a preferred trade, investment, and tourism destination, as well as Malaysia's palm oil sector were provided to the participants. A new slot on promoting the health tourism in Malaysia was introduced to emphasise Malaysia’s a strong reputation as a safe and trusted global destination for healthcare and the opportunities in this market segment.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Hamizan Hashim, Director for the Centre of Leadership, Negotiation, and Public Diplomacy, IDFR, expressed his utmost gratitude to the participants for their commitment during the course. He also thanked the speakers for imparting knowledge, wisdom, and precious experiences to the participants. He wished the participants all the best for their future posting abroad.
