Last week, from 23 to 25 October 2024, an introductory seminar was held already of the fifth year of the Security Academy, which annually offers students interested in foreign and security policy meetings with leading experts, current topics for discussion and practical preparation for employment in the field.
The official launch will take place on 23 October at the Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic taken care of Monika Ladmanová, Head of Representation, who welcomed the participants to the premises of the European Commission and stressed the importance of common European approaches to security, especially in view of the challenges facing European countries and the new European Commission. Then Viktor Daněk z Institutu pro evropskou politiku EUROPEUM outlined the challenges the new European Commission will face in the area of foreign and security policy. The first day ended with a joint dinner, which offered a space for informal meetings and further deepening of contacts between the participants.
The second day started practical workshop of modern self-defence, where the participants tried out the basic elements important for successful self-defence and conflict prevention. This was followed by an excursion to Army Museum Žižkovwhere the participants got acquainted with Czech military history, including the modern one. The afternoon discussion was led by a journalist Ondřej Kundra from the weekly Respekt, who spoke in particular about his recent trip to Ukraine and his experience in covering and getting readers interested in that particular war. The day's programme ended with a meeting with graduates and alumni of the academy from previous years, who shared their experiences from the programme and offered participants inspiration and advice on how to make the most of the opportunities offered by the Academy. This networking across years contributes to building a strong community that is an integral part of the programme and creates a platform for sharing knowledge and fostering long-term professional relationships.
The final day of the seminar focused on current security issues, which were discussed by the participants directly at the Ministry of the Interior. Here they were welcomed by Jan Paďourek, Senior Director of the Internal Security and Police Education Section, who was followed by an MV analyst during a discussion on the current challenges for the internal security of the Czech Republic. These topics brought the young people involved closer to concrete approaches to addressing security issues at the national level.
The seminar ended with a lecture focused on the upcoming presidential elections in the USA and their impact on American foreign policy. This topic was discussed by Luke Mezinzen, Cultural Attaché of the US Embassy in Prague, and Jana Sehnálková from FSV UK. This final session provided the participants not only with up-to-date information, but also with a broader view of the international links and contexts surrounding the US election process, which also have an impact on Czech and European interests.
Security Academy 2024/2025 successfully launched its fifth year thanks to the support of Pale Fire Capital, Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung, Blíž k sobě Foundation, Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic and US Embassy in Prague. This educational programme offers students a unique opportunity to meet with experts in international and national security, strengthen practical skills and find employment in the field of security policy, whether in government, international institutions or the non-governmental sector.
