Critical Minerals, Energy & The New Geopolitics of Resources
Online Certificate Course
Understand how the race for critical minerals is reshaping alliances, statecraft, and the new frontiers of diplomatic power.
6/8 Hours A Week
Self Paced Learning
Flexible Online Access
Starts 9th March 2026
This Critical Minerals, Energy & the New Geopolitics of Resources online course, expertly designed and delivered by some of the world's leading practitioners and scholars, provides an interactive platform for learning and sharing of expertise at the highest level. The course stays current with the most recent developments in one of the fastest-evolving areas of international affairs and equips the next generation of diplomatic leaders with the knowledge and tools to operate effectively in a world where mineral supply chains have become instruments of geopolitical power.
The online course is designed to go beyond a conceptual understanding of energy and resource geopolitics and provide participants with the analytical frameworks and practical tools to engage with critical minerals issues in their day-to-day diplomatic work.
The Critical Minerals course will expand participants' understanding of how the race for rare earths, battery metals, and strategic materials is reshaping alliances, foreign policy, and the global balance of power — and equip them with the competitive edge and foundational knowledge needed to navigate this defining challenge of the 21st century.
Course Curriculum
Module 1: The Resource Revolution — What critical minerals are and why they now sit at the heart of geopolitics
Module 2: China's Dominance & the Western Response — How Beijing built supply chain control and how allies are pushing back
Module 3: Producer Countries as Diplomatic Actors — How resource-rich nations are leveraging the new scramble
Module 4: Energy Security as Foreign Policy — How mineral dependence shapes alliances, coercion, and strategy
Module 5: The Diplomat's Toolkit — The practical instruments of minerals diplomacy
Module 6: The Developing Country Perspective — Value addition, resource nationalism, and who benefits from the minerals boom
Module 7: The Future of Mineral Governance — Architecture, institutions, careers, and the diplomat's role in a resource-contested world
1 — Individual course access: Unlimited Access ( £295) Now £177
(Approx. $232 USD / €230 EUR — charged in your local currency)
We also have options for you to access ALL our courses for a monthly subscription and annual subscription.
On Completion of the Course , You’ll be able to:
Engage knowledgeably in bilateral and multilateral discussions where critical minerals are at stake — whether in trade negotiations, development finance, security dialogues, or energy partnerships
Identify the minerals dimension in foreign policy questions that do not, on the surface, appear to be about minerals — and use that insight to create diplomatic advantage
Write authoritative briefings, cables, and strategic analyses on mineral supply chains and energy geopolitics for senior decision-makers
Advise governments, international organisations, and private sector actors on supply chain risk, responsible sourcing, and mineral governance
Navigate the current institutional landscape — from FORGE and the Minerals Security Partnership to the EU Critical Raw Materials Act — with confidence and precision
