The current challenges of Security and Defense, within everyone's reach

The new challenges of Security and Defense, within the reach of students

The XIV Edition of the Eduardo García Poblete Permanent Seminar addresses issues such as nuclear proliferation, cybersecurity or disinformation campaigns, bringing together university and military experts.

Raul Garcia Hemonnet

Titled 'Security and Defense Perspectives in a changing world', the objective of this Seminar is "to give students some basic knowledge about what should concern them and what they should know related to security", explains Vicente Garrido, professor in the Area of Public International Law and director of the Francisco Villamartin Security and Defense.

To this end, representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, members of the Intelligence Services, military experts and specialists in topics such as institutional strategic communication or jihadist terrorism, among others, have been brought together.

This series of talks began on Tuesday 22nd in the afternoon and will run until 26th November, with two sessions a week on the Madrid and Fuenlabrada campuses. This activity is the result of an agreement between the Rey Juan Carlos University and the Ministry of Defense.

Generate a culture of defense among students

For Vicente Garrido, it is essential to create a culture of defense among university students “because there is a lot of misinformation and many clichés about these issues. The current concept of security is much deeper and broader than that related to conventional weapons.” In the future, adds Professor Garrido, "we are going to face algorithms and disinformation campaigns, and a student of Communication or International Relations or Economics must know how to face these challenges."

Faced with this proposal, the response of the students has been positive, since it has reached 200 registered. The Seminar grants a total of 2 ECTS credits and the students who participate in all the sessions and present a final project on any of the topics discussed will obtain recognition from the Higher Center for National Defense Studies (CESEDEN) and the URJC. In addition, they will be eligible for the award for the best research paper of the Seminar.