Brussels 360: Executive Course
Course introduction
The “Brussels 360” Executive Course aims to provide participants with a deeper and more critical understanding of Europe’s role in a world in flux. The onset of Sino-American strategic competition and Russia’s war in Ukraine are having profound effects on Europe’s security architecture, and Europe’s global role. The core aim of this 3-day Executive Course is to provide participants with a more profound understanding of these changes, and to do so by engaging, exchanging and learning from leading academics and policymakers in the field.
The Executive Course is organised around three individual modules that are organised over a period of 3 days in Brussels:
- Trends in Global Geopolitics and European Grand Strategy
- Trends in European Security and Defence Policy
- Trends in European Trade and Technology Policy
Each module is built around 3 preparatory pre-recorded lectures and readings, a series of lectures and panel discussions. All lectures and discussions will be held at the offices/headquarters of the Brussels School of Governance, located at Boulevard de la Plaine 5/1st floor, 1050 Bruxelles.
The Executive Course is run by the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS), which is a research hub at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). CSDS seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the key contemporary security and diplomatic challenges of the 21st century – and their impact on Europe – while reaching out to the policy community that will ultimately need to handle such challenges.
Course overview
3 days: the Executive Course is organised over a 3-day period of (online and in-person) lectures, policy panels and networking opportunities.
16 hours: to fully prepare for the course, participants are expected to dedicate 16 hours to readings and pre-recorded lectures.
Fees: for participation on the course the fees charged for three days are €2,800. When signing-up early, participants qualify for a reduced fee of €2,500. For details on bespoke institutional arrangements, contact CSDS.
Course aims
- To provide participants with a contemporary understanding of the geopolitical shifts that are affecting European security and Europe’s role in the world.
- To provide participants with a better empirical understanding of the key trends in European security, defence, trade and technology policy.
- To provide participants with opportunities to engage and network with leading policymakers and experts in the Brussels ecosystem.
- To afford participants the opportunity to enhance their policy analysis and communication skills through the production of a policy memo and in-class participation.
Dates
Brussels 360 takes place in Summer 2025 in June.
Entry requirements
Be in possession of a Masters degree and 2 years’ worth of relevant experience or a Bachelor degree and 5 years’ worth of relevant experience. Good command of the English language is required, as the course is taught exclusively in English.
Course syllabus
Download the course syllabus: CSDS Brussels 360 Syllabus.
Download the course flyer: Brussels 360 Course (Flyer)
Contact
Registration will open as of January 2025. In the meantime, kindly contact Piero Barlucchi, Project Officer CSDS (piero.barlucchi (@) vub.be).
