10. 7. 2023 | POTC, PR
Za več informacij v slovenščini kliknite tukaj.
The Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) is organising a Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT). The course will take place at Gotenica Police Training Centre in Slovenia from Sunday 24th to Friday 29th September 2023.
HEAT’s purpose is to train professionals to deal effectively with risk-associated and emergency/critical situations while deployed in hostile environments abroad.
Up to 24 professionals with different backgrounds, working or aiming to work with national or international (non)governmental organizations, academic or private sector are eligible to apply for participation in the training.
The participants will join an experienced group of Slovenian and foreign trainers for a five-day intensive course in the southwestern part of Slovenia. The training is designed to:
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improve participants’ knowledge about multiple threats present in hostile field environments and learn how to deal with them in an effective manner
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rehearse and practice safety and security procedures accordingly to specific threats
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develop skills and behaviours to deal with different stressful situations.
Activities include lectures, guided discussions, role-playing, simulations, and a complex field training exercise. Trainees will be addressing deployment in hostile environments (threat awareness, management of various threats, etc.), medical help, orientation, communications, mobility, etc.
Additional Information
The participation fee for an individual attendee amounts to 1700,00 € before taxes and covers all costs related to training delivery except travel costs. Participants, sent by the Slovenian Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, are exempt from paying a participation fee.
English proficiency is a precondition for attending as the training program is conducted in English. A valid driving license for cars with manual transmissions is required.
POTC reserves the right to reject the participation of any applicant without providing specific reasons. The selected applicants will receive information on their successful registration on August 21st at the latest.
All applicants should register here by August 20th 2023.
Course Director [email protected] is available for any additional information.
Download PDF with more information about HEAT here.
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25. 5. 2023 | EUCTI, PR
CEP’s Peace and Security and the Strategic Communication Department are happy to announce they will again be able to contribute to the overall efficiency, resilience and strength of the EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine). Under the auspices of the European Union Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI), CEP will conduct a need-based online Advanced Digital Communication training, split into three days: 31 May, 7 & 13 June 2023.
The rapid and immense spread of dis- and misinformation and the emergence of quickly evolving artificial intelligence programmes and tools such as ChatGPT has strongly affected the work of civilian crisis management missions. Additionally, the war in Ukraine significantly contributed to the need of the EUAM Ukraine to focus even more and in a different way on digital communication tools and channels. In the past year, they have been able to help improve the resilience and effectiveness of civilian crisis management in the country through disseminating information, coordinating response efforts and engaging with the local communities. The tailor-made Advanced Digital Communication training will build on the knowledge and experience of the Press and Public Information Office personnel and provide them with practical examples of how to upgrade their communication efforts.
The course methodology is designed to maximise practical skill development. Through pre-training tasks, evaluations, and interactive sessions with the trainers, participants will engage in collective brainstorming, reflective practice, and case studies to reinforce their learning experience. They will also touch upon the findings of the EUAM Ukraine’s social media channels analysis, prepared by one of the trainers.
Digital Communication Modules
Each module of the course is tailored to address specific communication challenges:
- Storytelling, where participants will gain a deep understanding of storytelling methods and tools, enabling them to communicate complex topics effectively. Furthermore, by overcoming the “curse of knowledge,” they will learn to engage audiences through compelling narratives, improving the visibility of the mission and its activities.
- Social Media Report Analysis will provide practical and strategic guidance on improving social media channels. Participants will learn to optimise their communication strategies, outlook, and performances, enhancing their digital presence.
- Disinformation, where the participants will examine significant disinformation cases in Ukraine and worldwide, which will help them gain valuable insights and develop strategies to raise awareness and build resilience against disinformation.
- Meta platform changes will focus on the latest changes and future developments in Meta (formerly Facebook) since January 2023. With a focus on communication strategy, participants will gain valuable advice on adapting their communication activities to leverage the new platform effectively.
- and Telegram utilisation, through which the participants will receive essential training on Telegram, from efficient usage to launching and managing a successful Telegram channel. This module will equip participants with the skills needed to enhance their communication activities and prepare for the launch of their channel.
CEP is happy to support EUCTI and believes this training will help improve EUAM Ukraine’s communication strategies, learn and use storytelling techniques, and fight against dis- and misinformation. Last but not least, it will assist the mission personnel in adapting to new and evolving communication platforms. In turn, the mission’s overall impact and reach will be improved, alongside the participants’ skills necessary to excel in the dynamic world of digital communication.
4. 5. 2023 | Bled Strategic Forum, POTC, PR
Last week, from the 24th to the 26 of April, Jable Castle welcomed 33 participants from 25 countries in what was the first training of its kind on the topic of the emerging concept of “climate security”. 20+ participants were previously part of the 12th International Africa Day Conference in a joint venture between the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and POTC/Centre for European Perspective.
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According to the definition of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union »climate security« refers to the potential impacts of climate change on peace and security across the globe, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable populations. It encompasses various risk management strategies such as mitigation, adaptation, resilience building, food and nutrition security, disaster risk reduction, conflict prevention and sustainable development. It also includes the integration of a security perspective within these processes and inclusive participation in order to alleviate the destabilising impacts of climate change on achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).
With this in mind, and the known future impact of climate change on peace operations themselves, POTC set out to develop one of the first trainings of this kind in Europe. This is in order to better prepare decision-makers, experts, and everyone else involved with peace operations for the impending difficulties that peace operations, governments, and international organisations will have to face in the coming decades.
The training was introductory and covered all the basics associated with climate change and peace operations with topics ranging from the 9 Planetary Boundaries, Climate Change, the Environment and Security, the International Legal Framework regarding Climate Change, Water Security as an Integral Part of Climate Security, Climate Mainstreaming in the EU CSDP Context, Energy Security, CC and Human Rights, Climate Justice and Collective vs Individual Action on Climate Change. This was made possible with the help of 9 Slovenian and foreign expert contributors who made sure that the participants received all the relevant knowledge that will help them make the right decisions when it comes to climate security. The training is intended to be developed even further and organised once again in 2024.
The POTC Team would like to thank everyone that attended the training, the expert contributors and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs with special thanks to State Secretary Samuel Žbogar for presenting the participants with Course Certificates.
Below you can view some of the training highlights:
Flickr Album (Photo: Marko Arandjelović)
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21. 4. 2023 | POTC, PR
Kliknite tukaj za branje prispevka v slovenskem jeziku.
The Sahel Peace and Security Seminar (Sahel region from a peace and security perspective), organised by the Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) in cooperation with the French Ministry of Armed Forces, was conducted successfully between the 19th and 20th of April at Jable Castle in Slovenia.
With 28 participants in attendance, the seminar delved into various critical topics related to the Sahel region, including its historical and geopolitical aspects, security challenges for Europe, conflict resolution, development as a security issue, and challenges of Sahel cooperation between the Sahel countries and Europe.
The seminar provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the complex challenges faced by the Sahel region and emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach that integrates security, development, governance, and cooperation efforts. Participants engaged in thought-provoking sessions, including a review of the EU integrated strategy for the Sahel, a French approach to the Sahel region with a focus on two key countries by 2034, and the future of conflict resolution in the Sahel. The seminar concluded with a comprehensive overview of the discussions and key takeaways. It highlighted the significance of regional and international cooperation, as well as the involvement of local and regional actors, in addressing the multifaceted issues in the Sahel region.
In conclusion, the seminar on the Sahel region organised by the POTC and the French Ministry of Armed Forces was a success as it provided a valuable forum for participants to engage in meaningful discussions on various critical topics and fostered a greater understanding of the peace and security challenges in the Sahel region. The seminar’s outcomes will undoubtedly contribute to ongoing efforts in addressing the complex issues facing the Sahel region and promote peace and security in the region.
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24. 3. 2023 | POTC, PR
The past week, POTC successfully organised the 3-day Gender Equality and Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Operations and Missions training course, which officially concluded on April 23. This was the fifth edition of the training under the auspices of POTC.
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Participants from Slovenia and elsewhere in Europe were engaged in a stimulating multi-day training course that aimed to inform and educate about gender equality and gender mainstreaming in international missions and operations.
The focus of the gender mainstreaming course was primarily on:
- learning and understanding the concept of gender, sexual differences, biological and social determinants
- knowing and understanding the different consequences and outcomes that gender identity and sexual orientation have on people living in conflict zones
- getting to know the international legal framework that ensures gender equality in international operations and missions
- learning about the concrete tools and approaches for gender mainstreaming in international missions and operations
- practical mission knowledge from experienced trainers on the topic
The lecturers and participants all contributed to a fruitful and informative course that will hopefully impact peace operations and other areas of work in a positive and balancing manner.
We wish to thank everyone involved and look forward to our next courses!
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24. 3. 2023 | EUCTI, POTC, PR
Kliknite tukaj za branje prispevka v slovenskem jeziku
This Wednesday, February 22nd, Jable Castle was visited by military attachés accredited to or working in Slovenia. The visit was organised by the Defence Policy Directorate of the Ministry of Defence.
Nina Čepon, CEP Acting Executive Director, and Markko Kallonnen, EUCTI Project Coordinator, both presented the work of POTC, EUCTI and CEP in a productive and insightful visit of military attachés. They mentioned both the activities of CEP as a whole as well as the civilian crisis management sectors, concretely EUCTI and POTC. The presentations concluded with a fruitful Q&A session where questions were answered, and opinions were shared.
At the end of the presentations, Colonel Mitja Miklavec of the Bilateral and Multilateral Affairs Division of the Defence Policy Directorate from the Slovenian MOD gave some concluding remarks, thanked the hosts, and highlighted the refreshing work that POTC is doing, combining the visions of the three ministries. He also shared his thought that »POTC is linking us together for future activities« in the sense that attaché networking benefits all partner countries moving forward.
The visit formally concluded with a networking coffee break.
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