Foreign Service Institute Boss Outline Plans to Strengthen the Institution

By: Feeme Wantee

Monrovia-: Mr. Reginald B. Goodridge, Director General of the Foreign Service Institute of Liberia has outlined plans to improve the entity. The activity includes: revitalization of the Institution terms of management, proficiency of Staff, structure and curriculum.
Appearing at Ministry of Information Regular Press Briefing on Thursday, August 1, 2024, the Director stressed the importance of harmonizing the knowledge of government officials who are likely to encounter foreign visitors.
“We have embarked on a mission to revitalize the institute in terms of management, Proficiency of the staff, the structure and curriculum, thereby placing it on a trajectory to justify its legacy as a prestigious institute to be competitive with any other Foreign Service Institute around the world ” he noted.

Hon. Goodridge made it clear that FSI is semi-autonomous in order to enhance smooth functioning and operations in an academic setting and they are audited separately from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The FSI boss pledged to strengthen the institute to becoming a Think- Tank or reservoir of knowledge for Liberia in the future.
He believes by that, the country can serve as initiator of new concepts on International Relations and cooperation between its allies and others on the African Continent .
“Our goal is to establish a robust and well equipped library that will cater to the needs of not only faculty and students of the FSI,but students and instructors from other institutions around the country.”

However, Director Goodridge then pointed out the significance of foreign supports in achieving these goals.
“Additional, the FSI will rely on corporate entities and friends of Liberia to fund these research activities so that the historic role that Liberia played as the Mother of African diplomacy and the founding of all the major regional and international organizations is not lost” he said.

Highlighting Government’s efforts, FSI boss also stressed the relevance and contribution the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has to play in the process.

“Moreover, with the assistance of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the FSI will enable to serve as watch dog on the attendance, participation and performance of Liberian diplomats and Foreign Service personnel at these conferences. In this way, we will codify all reports of Liberia’s representative participation and position on critical international issues”

The FSI was established during the Administration of President Williams .V.S. Tubman with the mission to acquaint students with the core skills of the diplomatic profession including effective, oral and written communication, lucid reporting negotiating skills, management and supervisor.