Campus Total Defence – a collaboration to strengthen knowledge and competence among the actors of total defence
Campus Total Defence is a strategic collaboration between Sweden’s higher education institutions with the aim of strengthening Sweden's total defence through targeted education and research. More than 30 higher education institutions participate in the extensive cooperation for total defence in Sweden. By bringing together academia, public authorities and industry in a national network, a robust platform for education, research and innovation in the field of total defence is created.
The initiative is led by the Swedish Defence University, Örebro University and Luleå University of Technology, and supported by several key actors in both the public and private sectors.
Education and research for total defence
The background to Campus Total Defence is the changed security situation in Europe, which has created a need to strengthen Sweden's defence capability. Through this initiative, the country's higher education institutions will quickly and effectively contribute to the reconstruction of total defence by offering targeted education, developing new research and creating conditions for innovation. Campus Total Defence is a collaboration in which higher education institutions across the country work together on particularly important areas of knowledge, such as security protection, AI, crisis communication and robust energy systems.
The three universities that initiated the collaboration, Luleå University of Technology, Örebro University, and the Swedish Defence University, will adapt and develop courses to meet the needs of total defence actors. They do this through what they call pilot nodes, where they gather research in various knowledge areas.
- AI and Robotics for Total Defence – led by Örebro University
- Space and the Arctic – led by Luleå University of Technology
- Managing, Leading, and Collaborating in Crisis and War – led by the Swedish Defence University
National range of courses
A key objective of the initiative is to create a national education offering that is easily accessible and includes all relevant preparedness sectors, from basic to advanced level. Through collaboration between academia, industry and public authorities, Campus Total Defence will help to provide the Swedish Armed Forces with knowledge and skills required to meet both today's and tomorrow's security challenges.
During the initial build-up phase (1 July 2024 – 31 March 2025), Campus Total Defence will establish an office, recruit staff and set operational goals. In parallel, work will begin on adapting and developing courses at Örebro University, the Swedish Defence University and Luleå University of Technology to meet the needs of total defence actors. The initiative will also identify and prioritize research areas of particular importance to total defence, where different higher education institutions will collaborate in a nationwide network.
Collaborating with authorities and industry
Campus Total Defence is based on a model of close collaboration between Sweden's higher education institutions, where geographical spread and local collaboration with industry and the public sector are intended to be important components. The initiative will also establish cooperation at central level with total defence actors, public authorities such as the Swedish Armed Forces, and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), but also those parts of the industry that have missions in total defence.
Future perspective
When Campus Total Defense is fully developed, it will be a central player for total defence-related education and research in Sweden. By offering specialized education and promoting interdisciplinary research, the initiative can contribute to strengthening Sweden's long-term preparedness and defence capabilities. With government funding expected from 2025, the collaboration will be able to further expand its activities and include more Swedish higher education institutions in its network.
How Campus Total Defence is organised
Campus Total Defence is ultimately governed by a steering committee consisting of the vice-chancellors of the three founding universities, Muriel Beser Hugosson, representative of the Swedish Association of Universities and University Colleges (SUHF) and David Gisselsson Nord, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University.
Director of Campus Total Defence is Arita Holmberg, Associate Professor of Political Science at the Swedish Defence University.
Luleå University of Technology contributes with expertise in several areas, including Arctic security and space.
More information
- Campus Total Defence
External link, opens in new window.(in Swedish)
Campus Total Defence's website presents education, research and collaboration linked to total defence.
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