This year’s World Bank-Annenberg Summer Institute will be one of the most dynamic thus far, so you won’t want to miss out! Join us January 13, 2021 from 9--11AM (EST) for a free virtual webinar on maximizing strategic communication to engage stakeholders during a crisis. This innovative webinar hosted by the USC Annenberg Executive Education Program is a precursor to the annual 10-day World Bank-Annenberg Summer Institute (WBASI), where leading strategic professionals from across the globe learn how the art of storytelling can connect stakeholders to their organizations to foster improvements in our society.

 The COVID-19 pandemic that struck the world forced us to cancel the Summer Institute in 2020, but we’re excited about next year’s program. While the entire globe continues to suffer through this crisis, and professionals working in a multitude of agencies learn to adapt and sustain themselves in a changing environment, the need for stakeholder engagement is more important than ever.

During the 2021 Summer Institute, attendees will learn how to use storytelling and strategic communication to create reform initiatives in their communities. They also will learn how to use data analysis to leverage their organization in a global network. “Over the past two weeks we’ve learned many things -- strategic communications, media, new approaches... recent research. The unique thing about this program is the holistic nature it takes,” said Steven Shalita, a previous attendee and the director of Communication and Outreach at International Finance Corporation. 

The program’s holistic approach to addressing global challenges translates into  real-world strategies, tactics and newly acquired skills that participants can use in their organizations. “These kinds of practices we can directly apply into our daily work, and also deep in the understanding of what kind of role and contribution we can make,” added Han Han, Founder and Director of China Blue Sustainability Institute. 

The Summer Institute is a partnership between the World Bank Group and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Workshops are taught by experts from the University of Southern California, the University of Pennsylvania and the World Bank Group.  

“We’re working very closely with senior people at the World Bank to help them understand how communication can help development,” said Dr. Ernest J. Wilson III, professor of communication and political science at USC. “How can people who are economists or who are experts in agriculture or in health, or especially in economic reform tell their story better? What we do at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism is help people tell their story better.”

The Summer Institute  is intended for professionals with 10-15 years of professional experience in multi-stakeholder fields such as communication, public affairs, political science, international relations, economics and other related fields. The course is valuable for strategists, government advisors, senior development practitioners, communication specialists and social entrepreneurs. 

During the January 13 webinar, attendees will learn more about what the 2021 Summer Institute has to offer. Previous attendees have greatly improved their skills in:

• Interpreting and using political analysis
• Crafting multi-stakeholder collaboration and network-building strategies to support reform
• Developing strategic communication skills that lead to development results
• The latest techniques in storytelling: podcasting, video advocacy, and emerging technologies
• Building communication metrics to measure reform efforts
• Connecting with a global network of development professionals

The upcoming webinar and Summer Institute will focus heavily on crisis management, communication, and stakeholder engagement during the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic that has shaken how organizational leaders and stakeholders find their roles in current society. 

If you are interested in attending the January 13 webinar, visit bit.ly/ExecEdWebinar.

More information about the World Bank-Annenberg Summer Institute and past attendees’ experiences can be found at bit.ly/WBASIprogram. 

To find out more about USC Annenberg Executive Education, visit https://exed.annenberg.usc.edu/.