▁community . ▁ ▁The ▁IR IC ▁has ▁Ob server ▁Status ▁at ▁all ▁assemb lies ▁and ▁summ its ▁of ▁the ▁African ▁Union . ▁Ob server ▁Status ▁means ▁that ▁the ▁IR IC ▁has ▁full ▁diplom atic ▁and ▁delegate ▁rights ▁accord ed ▁to ▁a ▁member ▁state ▁of ▁the ▁African ▁Union , ▁with ▁the ▁exception ▁that ▁it ▁may ▁not ▁cast ▁votes ▁ ▁C urr icul um ▁The ▁IR IC ▁provides ▁among ▁other ▁things ▁training ▁and ▁research ▁in ▁the ▁area ▁of ▁international ▁studies . ▁Training ▁is ▁carried ▁out ▁at ▁IR IC ▁through ▁three ▁autonom ous ▁cycles ▁of ▁study : ▁ ▁The ▁Diplom atic ▁Ref res her ▁Cour se ▁The ▁Diplom atic ▁Ref res her ▁courses ▁for ▁senior ▁staff ▁and ▁agents ▁of ▁Min ist ries ▁of ▁External ▁Rel ations , ▁based ▁on ▁a ▁combination ▁of ▁theoretical ▁lect ures ▁and ▁practical ▁professional ▁tutorials , ▁enables ▁students ▁to ▁be ▁fully ▁ab re ast ▁with ▁real ities ▁of ▁their ▁fut ures ▁care ers . ▁ ▁The ▁Professional ▁Post - Gr adu ate ▁Cy cle ▁IR IC ▁trains ▁senior ▁staff ▁of ▁International ▁prof essions ▁in ▁the ▁following ▁maj ors : ▁Diplom acy , ▁International ▁Dis put es , ▁International ▁Mark eting , ▁and ▁International ▁Fin ance , ▁M oney ▁and ▁Bank ing . ▁ ▁The ▁Doctor ate ▁Cy cle ▁This ▁cycle ▁of ▁study , ▁which ▁is ▁highly ▁select ive , ▁begins ▁with ▁the ▁prepar ation ▁of ▁an ▁Advanced ▁Special ized ▁Studies ▁Di pl oma , ▁( Di pl ome ▁D ' E t udes ▁Sup érie urs ▁Sp é cial is ées ,