Centre for Strategic Courses

The Centre for Strategic Courses at the Norwegian Defence University College is responsible, among other things, for delivering the Senior Executive Course and is located at Akershus Fortress in Oslo. 

The course is held twice a year and runs for three months. Its purpose is to provide participants with a comprehensive introduction to the structure and capabilities of the Norwegian Armed Forces, civil preparedness and national crisis management, while also offering valuable insight into current foreign and security policy developments. 

The Senior Executive Course is continuously updated to reflect developments in society and to address emerging foreign policy and security challenges. 

The Centre is headed by Director Odd Reidar Humlegård. Its staff includes representatives from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, and the Norwegian Armed Forces. 

The Centre is responsible for the Senior Executive Course, the Total Defence Course, and the Strategic Crisis Management Course. 

History 

The Norwegian Defence University College (NDUC) was established by an act of the Norwegian Parliament in 1949, although the first regular course was not held until autumn 1955. This course was the precursor to today’s Senior Executive Course. 

The purpose of the course was to “prepare selected military officers and civilian officials for key and senior leadership positions within Norway’s total defence organisation”. 

In August 2018, the Norwegian Defence University College was expanded to include all non-commissioned officer and officer education in the Norwegian Armed Forces, as well as the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS). 

Today, the Centre for Strategic Courses is integrated into the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies.