Serving as both an introduction and a foundation, the ‘Strategic Leadership’ module provided an excellent opening to the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) Higher Command Studies Course (HCSC).

The module aimed to examine the concepts of strategic leadership, creating the conditions for students to succeed at the strategic and senior command levels. Structured in this way, it gave students the opportunity to reflect on their previous experience, highlighting the skills required when operating at a higher level of command. The module focused on four interrelated topics: the personal aspects of strategic leadership, the strategic leadership environment, the internal environment of organisations, and the role of a leader in driving change.

One aim of BALTDEFCOL’s education programmes is to provide course participants with extensive knowledge combined with practical experience. Therefore, we host various guest speakers during each module. For instance, LTG (ret) Stuart Skeates from the UK offered students his views on the modern environment in which today's strategic leaders are most likely to operate. Furthermore, Jaak Aaviksoo, a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, and Kaimo Kuusk, the Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defence, shared their insights on how to implement long-term change so that everyday issues do not become overwhelming. These sessions provided students with the opportunity to engage more deeply with topics of strategic relevance.

The Baltic Defence College extends its sincere gratitude to our long-standing partners and experts for their enduring support. By consistently contributing to our modules and sharing their professional insights, they provide an essential bridge between theory and practice for our students. The HCSC continues with Module 2: ‘Security Environment’, which aims to provide course participants with a comprehensive understanding of the contemporary security environment and its implications for security and defence.