The Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute (FSI) has taken a significant step forward by pursuing accreditation from the National Commission on Higher Education. This ambitious move was announced by the Director General of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute (FSI), Reginald B. Goodridge, during a press briefing held at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
Goodridge emphasized the importance of this accreditation as a strategic part of revitalizing the institute. “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.”
The Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute was established during the administration of President William V.S. Tubman, who recognized the need to Liberianize the country’s diplomacy. In 1946, legislation was enacted to create the Liberian Foreign Service Institute, which was further formalized under the Foreign Service Act of February 16, 1951. The institute was named in honor of Gabriel L. Dennis, the 23rd Secretary of State, who played a pivotal role in training brilliant Liberians in Washington, D.C. in the 1940s, forming the foundation of Liberia’s foreign policy and the institute’s esteemed reputation.
Upon assuming management two and a half months ago, 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. It is also entering into memoranda of understanding (MOU) with local and international institutions for the exchange of instructors and students.
It is offering a 4-week orientation/refresher course and an 11-month academic training program for government officials and aspiring diplomats. The institute is also establishing the Suakoko Graduate School for Female Diplomats to accelerate the advancement of Liberian women in diplomacy.
The FSI is positioning itself as a top research institution in Africa, focusing on topics such as Liberia’s role in the formation of the OAU, peacekeeping operations, and the country’s foreign policy under various 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.
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.