Biography of Holger Osterrieder
Holger Osterrieder has been serving as the Head of the European Security and Defence College since September 1, 2022, after his appointment on May 21, 2022 by the High Representative. He is a staunch advocate for the diversity and solidarity that the European Union and its Member States represent.
He has held several roles in international diplomacy within EU institutions, including the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Parliament, Member States, and the United Nations.
Educated at Cambridge University, where he earned his M.Phil. in International Relations, the French National School of Administration, and the University of Paris IV-Sorbonne, he has focused on a broad range of activities in international relations, public administration, linguistics, history, and diplomacy.
Throughout his career, Holger Osterrieder has always been committed to education and training. His roles have often intersected with crucial areas of international diplomacy, such as peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and mediation. He has worked extensively on the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), covering various perspectives of peace-building. His previous tenure at the EEAS saw him contributing to shaping the policy development of CSDP missions, and responsible for implementing EU’s policies on CSDP missions.
The Head’s Vision for the College
In an ever-evolving global landscape, the ESDC’s commitment to high-quality courses is paramount. These courses, rooted in tangible learning outcomes, cater to specific training needs deriving from the EU civilian and military training groups or directly from the Member States. The ESDC should be a beacon of knowledge dissemination, emphasizing the importance of a networked approach. This network is instrumental in spreading insights about the EU’s common security and defence policy, fostering a common European security and defence culture.
The College’s courses, while maintaining their top-tier quality, should continuously adapt to the changing needs of the global security landscape. The ESDC’s role is to amplify the external actions of EU Member States and Institutions. By doing so, it seeks to establish partnerships, emphasizing mutual benefits and shared objectives.
The ESDC should be a hub for innovative thinking, promoting mutual understanding among diverse CSDP actors. This includes fostering dialogue between police, civilians, military personnel, experts, and diplomats. The ESDC’s mission is to not only provide top-notch training but also to bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring that the EU remains at the forefront of security and defence initiatives.
The European Security and Defence College (ESDC) is a pivotal institution that leverages its extensive network to facilitate the seamless exchange of knowledge and experiences among its members. To ensure that the ESDC remains at the forefront of security and defence education, the training needs identified by Member States and the priorities set by them are key. In addition, it is essential to maintain strong ties with the EEAS and Commission, in particular the crisis management structures. This will ensure that the college has access to top-tier, subject-matter expert lecturers from various EU Institutions. In tandem with the secretariat, course directors provide clear, timely, and comprehensive guidance to lecturers, ensuring that the content delivered is of the highest caliber.
Strategic partnerships with agencies such as the EUISS, EDA, EUROPOL, and EU SatCen are of paramount importance. These alliances also ensure that the ESDC remains updated on the latest developments in the CSDP/CFSP realm, allowing it to adjust its curricula accordingly.
The ESDC’s training approach is comprehensive, integrating both civilian and military training providers. This holistic approach ensures that a diverse audience, hailing from various professional backgrounds, benefits from the ESDC’s offerings. Furthermore, aligning the ESDC’s curricula with the European Qualification Framework (EQF) is essential. This alignment facilitates adaptability in teaching methodologies, allowing for adjustments based on the specific circumstances, audience demographics, and lecturer preferences.
Blended learning, which merges e-learning with traditional learning modalities, should be the cornerstone of the ESDC’s training approach. Given the diverse backgrounds of ESDC course participants, incorporating a variety of teaching methods is essential to cater to different learning styles and preferences.
Quality assurance remains at the heart of the ESDC’s mission. Implementing rigorous and objective course evaluations, spanning from the course’s inception to its e-learning and residential phases, ensures that the ESDC maintains its reputation for excellence. Additionally, the ESDC’s digital presence, including its website and other publications, should be modern, user-friendly, and serve as a benchmark for online training in the CSDP/CFSP sector.
Open and transparent communication with various EU entities and Member States is crucial. This communication ensures that the ESDC remains informed and can support new training initiatives effectively. Proactivity is key, and the ESDC must always consider the implications for its resources when introducing new programs or initiatives.
Lastly, the ESDC’s training offerings should be dynamic, evolving in line with its existing policies and the ever-changing global landscape. Reflecting the political agendas of EU Institutions and Member States, ESDC courses should also be accessible to Third States, fostering cooperation and mutual understanding with specific regions or countries, further solidifying the ESDC’s and its network members’ role as leaders in CSDP training and education.