European Security Course (ESC) 2026

Since 1997, the European Security Course (ESC) has been deepening the understanding of peace and security professionals from over 80 countries of the interlinking security policy challenges that impact Europe and the other regions of the world. In 2026, this eight-week course will mark its 30th edition, presenting a unique opportunity to develop a wide-ranging understanding of European security issues in the broader international security context.

The ESC examines current trends and challenges in both hard and soft security, European states’ and the European Union’s interests and impacts, regional security architecture relative to Europe (the EU, NATO, and the OSCE), and key state actors. It also analyses Europe’s interaction with and impact on its neighbours and other regions of the world. To do so, it explores the specific regional security dynamics of the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Relevant traditional transnational challenges are explored, as well as less-traditional issues such as migration, climate change, terrorism, outer space security, the Arctic and cyber security.

Additionally, the course places equal importance on the development of course participants’ personal skills and building up a strong community of security professionals.
 

Learning Objectives

This course offers you a unique opportunity to:   

• Analyse how Europe interacts with the world on security issues in a cross-regional perspective
• Enhance your leadership and communication skills within a multicultural environment to increase your effectiveness as a practitioner
• Network with a wide community of security policy professionals
• Grasp how global security trends impact Europe in relation with other regional security dynamics across the world

Modules

Modules 1 to 4 online: 26/01-20/02  

1. Key Global Security Challenges
2. The European Security Architecture
3. Wider Europe
4. The Middle East and North Africa 

Modules 5 to 8 in presence in Geneva : 23/02-20/03 

5. Sub-Saharan Africa
6. The Americas
7. Asia and Indo-Pacific
8. The future of European Security
    

Open to mid-career peace and security professionals working in:

• national ministries,
• international organisations,
• non-governmental organisations, and
• civil society organisations.

Candidates must have had exposure to peace and security issues. Serving officers must have completed an advanced military staff course.

The course is offered free of tuition charges for all participants as part of Switzerland’s contribution to the Partnership for Peace Programme.