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Designing a European Armaments Education and Training Platform:

Coping with Multiple Demands

Michel HessDirector of Studies and TrainingCenter for Security StudiesSwiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich)

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3 discussion points

ingredients for the creation of a successful EAC learning platform

Swiss experience in running national and international cooperative educational programs

possible contributions to the EAC framework

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Some points for consideration

EAC experts as leaders, managers or both

embeddedness of EAC knowledge areas

balancing military and civilian curriculum content

maintenance of national capabilities and expertise complementing additional EAC demands

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Implications of identified needs

multifunctionality calls for „intensive“ education

interoperability calls for „multinational“ education

sequential readiness calls for an education independent of time and location

technological developments and operational specialization call for specialized education

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3 demands on EAC education and training

reconciliation of permanent learning with constant functional

readiness

leadership and management preparation for both cooperative and

national programmes

delivery of mission-critical skills for both strategic leadership and

operational-technical programme management

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HOW?

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Some demands on defense and armaments leadership

core business of armaments and defense leadership

cope with multiple, non-armaments-related issuesmanage complex programs with time and resource constraints

constantly evolving spectrum of security environment

adapting tools and strategies available to cope with changing risks

operational security environment demanding solutions beyond a defence „out-of-the-box“ approach

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A possible context of EAC education and training

intertwined EAC knowledge areas

natural affinities and mutual interests between public and private sector providers

armaments cooperation education relies also on non-military, civilian environments

“Managers do things right, leaders do the right things.”

“Managers work with things and numbers,

leaders with perception and feelings.”

Malone

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1) A first possible response to EAC needs

Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL)

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EAC limited resources

EAC need for expertise, knowledge, information

The Advanced Distributed Learning Vision:

access to the highest quality education and training tailored to individual needs and delivered cost effectively, anywhere and at any time.

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Addressing educational deficits

tailored individual educational portfolios

multifunctionality

independent of location and time

learning with each other, learning from each other

civilian certification possible

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An EAC learning platform delivers…

a preparation for dealing with strategic risks and threats

a preparation for broad international and national security policy

social, cognitive skills and methodological competencies for the analysis

and management of complex problems

content expertise in contemporary and constantly shifting risks and

threats, security policy, grand strategy

interdisciplinary, multinational exchange of experience and lessons

learned within and without peer groups

2) A second possible response to EAC needs

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An EAC learning platform promotes…

networking of armaments partners (military, civilian, public, private, corporate)

practical feasibility, solution and problem-oriented, transferable education

accreditation and mutual recognition of military and civilian credentials

life-long learning, learning throughout life combining theoretical concepts and

practical tools

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armaments education is based on a network of partnerships with non-military public and private institutions because

corporate, public and private experience and lessons learned are

relevant for the armaments decision level

multilevel, multiagency, multinational, multipurpose education across

structures (federal, state)

A Public-Private Partnership

3) A third possible response to EAC needs

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A public-private partnership in armaments

education ascertains the effectiveness of the

delivered content in the context of the changing

security environment and reaps the benefits and

experience of lessons learned from non-military

security contexts.

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Outcomes of national educational PPPs by Switzerland

a road map for defining joint and separate missions and objectives

for civilian and defense actors

a unity of authority and integration of efforts and functions by

diverse actors (is an integrated armaments structure possible?)

timely decisions and commitments in requiring rapid reaction,

streamlining of decisional process and awareness of respective

decision-making practices and traditions

robust and realistic rules of engagement for the implementation of

armaments programs

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Outcomes of international e-learning initiatives by Switzerland

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Possible contributions to the EAC platform

sharing existing content in 2-3 knowledge areas relevant to EAC

framework

share expertise in course production, training and coaching, technology consulting in support of the EAC virtual learning package

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Designing a European Armaments Education and Training Platform:

Coping with Multiple Demands

Thank you

hess@sipo.gess.ethz.ch