One intensive week in Brussels with senior scholars and practitioners from the UN, NATO and the EU, organised with the Belgian Royal Military Academy.
The European and global security orders face fundamental challenges. Ranging from the return of inter-state wars, great power rivalries, nuclear proliferation, arms races, regional conflicts, and the deliberate attacks on civilians and international humanitarian law, to the spiralling impact of environmental degradation and climate change as well as the far-reaching security threats of emerging technologies, the next generation of students and analysts must be capable of acquiring, combining and applying the analytical tools and policy-oriented solutions required for navigating an ever expanding range of security problems. This requires not only an in-depth understanding of military and defence issues, but also deep insights on how to reform long-standing security tools, such as peacebuilding, peacekeeping, mediation and conflict resolution.
To this end the Global Governance Institute, the Belgian Royal Military Academy, and a network of senior scholars and policy-makers from international organisations (such as NATO, the European Union and the United Nations) have teamed up every summer since 2018 to deliver a unique intensive summer school from the political capital of Europe. GPSSS brings together theoretical and policy-oriented perspectives from peace studies, security studies and strategic studies. Participants learn first-hand from leading scholars, experts, and senior practitioners about major security challenges and how to apply concrete policy solutions in an integrative manner.
During the foundation sessions, students will discuss the major theories in the fields of security, peace and strategic studies and will acquire the ability to analyse, assess and evaluate the major assumptions behind core paradigms and policy decisions. Combined with an introduction to geopolitics, these sessions will allow students to conduct a thorough analysis of contemporary security issues from a European and global perspective.
Through a variety of lecturers and in-depth expert seminars, students will be given both a critical academic and an honest internal perspective on the history, policies and outcomes of the major international organisations present in Brussels. Students will understand that almost every organisation tries to tackle a large number of security problems, but that none of them can deal with all of these problems on their own, necessitating comprehensive and integrative approaches.
A variety of interactive lectures, seminars and exercises will allow students to analyse the main peace, security and strategic challenges that policy-makers face today and will in all likelihood face in the near future. Ranging from ‘traditional’ challenges, such as war and conflict, geopolitical rivalries, terrorism and global economic governance, the summer school will also explore more recent issues, such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, environmental security, the migration–security nexus and the impact of disinformation, populism and extremism on security.
Experiential learning and networking will accompany each session, and peer learning will be facilitated throughout the programme. Participants will have ample opportunities to engage in discussions and debates with lecturers, Brussels-based practitioners and fellow students, in order to build lasting professional networks. At the end of the intensive week, students will apply and test their knowledge with the help of an interactive simulation, working in groups on a major issue related to global peace, security and strategy-making, through the lenses of governments, NGOs and international organisations.
The summer school will challenge students not only to ask the right questions, but also to collectively think about innovative, yet implementable policy solutions. Senior practitioners and think tank experts will share their insights into their policy work, scenario-building and ‘blue sky’ thinking. Students will also receive training on diplomatic mediation and negotiation, as well as rare insights into the inner workings of international policy-making.
Participants leave with an understanding of the basics of peace, security and strategic studies and geopolitics, and of the history, functioning and impact of the major international organisations such as the EU, NATO and the United Nations. Along the way they practise critical analysis of theories, assumptions and policy decisions, diplomatic mediation and negotiation, scenario-building and strategic foresight, and the negotiating and drafting of positions in a multilateral simulation. They also leave with an openness to competing paradigms, a solutions-oriented mindset that moves from critique to implementable proposals, and the professional networks built over the week.
The programme covers peace studies, security studies and strategic studies. Each one is taught through the issues that dominate policy today: peace operations and the protection of civilians, cybersecurity, AI and autonomous weapon systems, disinformation and hybrid threats, geopolitics and the lessons of the Russia–Ukraine war.
Participants get a mix of foundation lectures that set out the theory, sessions and open discussion with practitioners currently working in NATO, the EU and the UN, and hands-on workshops. Skills are built in the mediation and conflict-resolution lab, which runs over three sessions in small groups.
The week is spent between GGI's offices in the EU quarter, the campus of the Belgian Royal Military Academy, and the institutions themselves: NATO Headquarters, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
Draft programme for the 9th edition, 20–26 June 2027. Sessions and timings are subject to change until the final programme is published.
Ania Helseth
AI Policy Head
Meta
Ania Helseth is AI Policy Head at Meta in Brussels, leading EU engagement on AI, copyright, and media regulation. She played an active role in shaping the EU AI Act and the GPAI Code of Practice. Before Meta, she held policy roles at AmCham EU, ESOA, and the Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU. Oxford-trained lawyer with 17+ years in Brussels policy.
AIGG
Adalberto Gonzalez
Co-Founder and AI Strategy & Engineering
Design Thinking Japan
Adalberto González Ayala has been building intelligent systems since the 1990s – from early robotics and microprocessors through to production AI at scale. Over three decades he has shipped innovation for Fortune 100 companies, founded four corporate innovation labs including the first Generative AI garage at Accenture, and co-invented AI patents recognized in 29 countries. He was named Inventor of the Year. Today, as Co-Founder and AI Strategy & Engineering at Design Thinking Japan, he leads the Future Signals research programme, annual human-AI collaborative forecasting on structural shifts in how organizations and enterprises engage with AI. The 2026 report, AI: The Architecture of Intent, identifies five signals challenging conventional assumptions about capability, governance, and human judgment.He still codes. It changes every decision he makes.
AIGG
Marijn Hoijtink
Associate Professor of International Relations
University of Antwerp
Dr. Marijn Hoijtink is an Associate Professor of International Relations at the Department of Political Science at the University of Antwerp. Her research combines insights from International Relations, critical security studies, and science and technology studies to understand how war shapes technology and vice versa. Her research project, PLATFORM WARS, funded within the framework of the Odysseus program from the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), investigates the expansion of the platform model in defense, and how this impacts military innovation and procurement, practices of warfighting, and regulation and ethics. She is also one of the lead researchers on the Realities of Algorithmic Warfare project, which investigates the innovation, deployment, and impact of AI systems in the military domain and how these affect civilian harm, security, human rights, and democratic principles.
AIGG
Igor Kalinic
European Commission
Dr. Igor Kalinic is a senior expert in international economics, trade, and entrepreneurship, with leadership experience spanning EU policy-making, academia, and the private sector. He currently works at the European Commission, where he contributes to the design and implementation of policies and strategic funding instruments that support innovation, competitiveness, and entrepreneurial growth across Europe. Alongside his policy role, Igor has an academic background in innovation and entrepreneurship in a global context, with publications in leading international journals. Earlier in his career, he advised companies on international market entry, trade-related strategic positioning, and cross-border growth strategies.
AIGG
Simona Demkova
Assistant Professor in European Law
Leiden University
Dr. Simona Demková is an Assistant Professor in European Law at the Europa Institute of Leiden University. Her research focuses on EU digital regulation, particularly the evolving enforcement architecture of the EU digital acquis and the constitutional and administrative challenges arising from the design of new enforcement authorities at EU and Member State level. More broadly, her work explores the intersection of European administrative and constitutional law, fundamental rights protection, and the regulation of emerging digital technologies. She currently leads a collaborative research project on the EU’s human-centred digital transformation, funded by a Leiden University starter grant, and is the author of the monograph Automated Decision-Making and Effective Remedies (Edward Elgar, 2023). Before joining Leiden University, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Luxembourg in the interdisciplinary project DILLAN (Digitalisation, Law and Innovation). She completed her PhD at the University of Luxembourg under the supervision of Professor Herwig Hofmann. She was a visiting scholar at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa (2024) and the European University Institute (2020).
AIGG
Mihalis Kritikos
Senior Policy Analyst
European Commission
Dr. Mihalis Kritikos is the new Secretary of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) and a Senior Policy Analyst at the Ethics and Integrity Sector of the European Commission (DG-Research and Innovation) working on the ethical development of emerging technologies with a special emphasis on AI Ethics. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Brussels School of Governance (VUB) on digital ethics and rights, digital transition, AI Governance and Values and responsible innovation and author of 2 books in the field of disruptive technologies (Ethical AI Surveillance in the Workplace, Emerald, 2023 and EU Policy-Making on GMOs: The False Promise of Proceduralism, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018) Before that, he worked at the Scientific Foresight Service of the European Parliament (STOA/EPRS) as a legal/ethics advisor on Science and Technology issues.
AIGG
Oskar Gstrein
Associate Professor
University of Groningen
Dr. Oskar Josef Gstrein is Associate Professor at the interdisciplinary Faculty Campus Fryslan, University of Groningen in The Netherlands. He is also Programme Director of the BSc Data Science & Society, Scholar on 'Data Autonomy' at the Jantina Tammes School of Digital Society, Technology and AI, and Member of the University of Groningen Alliance for Digital Autonomy (ADA).His overall research theme is 'Human Dignity in the Digital Age'. In his research he explores the transitions from (e.g. legal/ethical/policy) principles to concrete legal or governance frameworks in the areas of digital autonomy and artificial intelligence. His research also covers the topics data protection, value-based digital infrastructure, and security related research.Oskar joined the University of Groningen to work with the first UN Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy on aspects related to internet governance. His teaching is inspired by a contemporary interpretation of the Humboldtian model of higher education.
AIGG
Andrej Zwitter
Professor of Human and Data Sciences
University of Klagenfurt
Dr. Andrej Zwitter is Professor of Human and Data Sciences as well as Director of theResearch Centre for Human and Data Sciences at the University of Klagenfurt, Austria. He served as Dean of the Faculty Campus Fryslan and founding dean of the University College Fryslan, University of Groningen, Netherlands. He was a founding board member of the WEF Chapter Zero, Netherlands and of the urban data centre Data Fryslân. He was also the program director of the research group on Human Flourshing at The New Institute in Hamburg. His expertise covers data governance, law and ethics of digitalization, as well as emergency management and sustainability and human flourishing.
AIGG
Tom Simoens
Professor
Belgian Royal Military Academy
Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Tom Simoens is a Professor of History at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels, where he leads the Department of Conflict Studies. He specialises in military history, with a focus on the First World War and military justice. Since 2022, he has frequently provided analysis for the Belgian press on the war in Ukraine. Since the summer of 2022, Dr. Simoens has noted increasing parallels between the conflict in Ukraine and the Western Front from 1914-1918.
GPSSS
Pierre Jean Dehaene
Doctoral Researcher
Belgian Royal Military Academy
Pierre is a PhD candidate at King’s College London and a soldier in the Belgian army. He has spent his 15-year career as a Special Forces operator with well over a dozen deployments in central Asia, the Middle East, and most recently in Africa. His PhD concentrates on two central themes: coping with uncertainty (the ultimate strategic question) and the tactical conversion problem. His ambition is to reanimate the tactical level of warfare to match the current and unfolding characteristics of war (and non-war). In addition to his studies and military duties, Pierre guest lectures at various universities and institutions on strategy, uncertainty, unconventional leadership, and change readiness.
GPSSS
Cosmin Dobran
Director for Peace, Partnerships and Crisis Management
European External Action Service (EEAS)
Cosmin Dobran is a manager at the European External Action Service with extensive experience in European affairs, both at national and European level. On 1 February 2023, he took up the position of Director for Peace, Partnerships and Crisis Management. A former Romanian diplomat, with postings in Washington DC and Brussels, he has an established track record in foreign and security policy and has represented Romania and the European Commission in the EU Political and Security Committee. He has worked on a variety of external action areas, including development, trade and economic governance but also European internal policies, at the General Secretariat of the European Commission, such as agriculture, energy, transport, environment, health, employment, education and youth. He has studied at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest and the School of Advanced International Studies in Washington DC.
GPSSS
Peter Philipsen
Chair of World Politics
Belgian Royal Military Academy
Colonel (GS) Peter Philipsen graduated from the Royal Military Academy in 1989 with the 125th promotion ‘Alle Wapens’ and received a master’s degree in social and military sciences. After completing his professional education as an engineer officer, he is appointed to the 1st Engineer Battalion in Westhoven (Germany). In 2000 he graduated from the Senior Officers Course in the Royal Higher Institute of Defense and in 2005, after graduating as a master’s in political and military Sciences from the Defense College in the Royal Military Academy, he stayed in the institute to teach engineer support to land operations. In 2017, he graduated from the higher studies for Security and Defense. For three years he was the commanding officer of the 11 Engineer Battalion in Burcht near Antwerp (Belgium). This is a multi-role engineer battalion, consisting of 590 men and women. Later, he commanded the Competence Center of the Land Component, an institute that organizes all professional education in Land warfare. During his career Colonel (GS) Philipsen was deployed several times in missions abroad. He participated in a NATO operation in KOSOVO (2000), in the UNIFIL (UN) demining mission in Lebanon (2012) and in a NATO mission (Resolute Support) in Kabul (Afghanistan) (2018). Currently, Colonel (GS) Philipsen is head of the World Politics Chair in the Conflict Studies Department at the Royal Military Academy.
GPSSS
Christopher Case
Senior Intelligence Analyst
NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE)
Mr. Christopher Case is the senior intelligence analyst for Hybrid Threats and Emerging and Disruptive Technologies assessments at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). He is a career intelligence officer with over twenty years’ experience in strategic, operational, and tactic analysis. Mr. Case served in the US Army for five years analyzing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency topics and deployed to Iraq for sixteen months to directly support operations. As a civilian analyst for the US Defense Intelligence Agency, Mr. Case analyzed a variety of problem sets and twice deploying to Afghanistan to support NATO operations. He also provided support to NATO’s Operation Unified Protector in Libya in 2011 before assuming his current position with SHAPE in 2019. Mr. Case holds a Bachelor of Arts in international affairs from Vesalius College and a Master of Arts in international conflict and security at the University of Kent’s Brussels School of International Studies. He is currently a PhD candidate with Leiden University researching the military implications for NATO from biotechnologies and human enhancement.
GPSSS
Rory Keane
Head of UNLOPS, Brussels
United Nations Liaison Office for Peace and Security (UNLOPS)
Rory has worked for several years on matters relating to foreign policy and peace and security with various organizations, including the OSCE, the OECD DAC, the EU and the United Nations. In addition to expertise on international relations, political analysis, peacekeeping, conflict prevention and international security policy, Rory has worked in and on post-conflict settings notably the Western Balkans, West Africa and the Sahel and Central Africa. Rory holds a PhD in international relations and a Marie Curie post-doctoral fellowship related to EU foreign and security policy.
GPSSS
Tony van der Togt
Senior Researcher
Clingendael Institute
Tony van der Togt studied contemporary history in Amsterdam (Free University) and Nijmegen (Radboud University) and is currently a PhD candidate at the Institute of History of Leiden University, researching the role of Russian think tanks in relation to the changing Russian strategic narratives towards Europe. He has recently retired after a long career as a Dutch diplomat, dealing with Eastern Europe and Central Asia, both in The Hague and in Moscow, Almaty and as Dutch Consul-General in St. Petersburg. In 2013 he acted as Dutch co-ordinator of the Netherlands-Russia bilateral year. As a Senior Research Fellow at the Clingendael Russia and Eastern Europe Centre (CREEC) since 2014, he has published widely on EU-Russia relations, the EU’s Eastern Partnership, Dutch-Russian bilateral relations and the Eurasian Economic Union. He also participated in a number of dialogue platforms with Russian and other international experts, including in the framework of the EU-Russia Expert Network, the Minsk Dialogue and the Cooperative Security Initiative. After his retirement he still serves as an Associate Fellow at CREEC, contributing on Russian domestic and foreign policies.
GPSSS
Vincent Joassin
Senior Captain
Belgian Royal Military Academy
Vincent Joassin is military officer from Belgium with a diverse background. Graduating from the University of Liège in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree in political sciences (2009), he went on to pursue further education, obtaining master’s degrees in social Geography at the University of Rebound Nijmegen (2010) and Management (2016) from HEC Liège. Vincent started his academic career at Belgorod University where he conducted research about cross border and geopolitical relations between Russia and Ukraine. He later explored the world of international press while residing in Moscow. In 2012, he transitioned into the military, serving as a military analyst in the air force, working especially on NATO Eastern flank. Beyond academia and military service, Vincent has developed specialized knowledge in Open-Source intelligence and digital technologies with experience in R&D and project management in the industry.
GPSSS
Cecília N.B.
Brazil
2026
GPSSS
As an International Relations student in Brazil, I found the GPSSS to be an exceptional opportunity. The programme's emphasis on cybersecurity, hybrid threats, mediation, protection of civilians, and the tactical dimensions of contemporary conflicts offered me a deeper understanding of today's complex security landscape. Being in the heart of the European Union also made the institutional visits especially valuable. Above all, learning directly from experienced and highly qualified practitioners and engaging with participants from multiple backgrounds strengthened my analytical and intercultural skills. I leave the programme inspired to further explore contemporary issues and to apply what I have learned in my research and future professional career.
1
Andiara
Brazil
2025
AIGG
Attending the AIGG Summer School was a profoundly eye‐opening experience—what I'll remember most are the intense ethical debates that threaded every session, from our discussions on catastrophic AI risks and autonomy to the case studies on AI's impact on human rights and climate justice. Each speaker pushed me to grapple with questions of fairness, accountability, and the moral limits of automated decision‐making. Even our visits to the UN's human rights office and the EU AI Office were structured around ethical inquiry, showing how values translate into policy in real time. I left energized, my thinking sharpened by hard questions about bias, transparency, and the public good, and inspired to bring these ethical insights back to boardrooms and classrooms.
1
Samuel B.
Belgium
2026
GPSSS
I came to GPSSS as a practitioner - an investigative journalist and open-source analyst working on the African Great Lakes - looking to convert a decade of field knowledge into the formal language of strategic and security studies. The programme delivered exactly that. Few summer schools manage to combine the conceptual grounding of the Global Governance Institute, the strategic and warfighting depth of the Royal Military Academy, and genuine access to NATO, the EEAS and the Council in a single intensive arc. The hybrid-threat and disinformation sessions reframed work I'd been doing for years, and the G20 simulation forced a discipline of analytic neutrality that lectures alone can't teach.
2
Isabella
Switzerland
2025
AIGG
The Global Governance Institute's AI Governance Program provided an excellent deep dive into the security, geopolitical, and regulatory challenges posed by high-risk AI systems, particularly in humanitarian and conflict contexts. Engaging with experts from NATO, the EU, the UN, and leading think tanks offered valuable insights into how global governance frameworks are evolving in response to emerging technologies. The lecturers and organisers were also outstanding, bringing together practitioners from across disciplines to enable the kind of interdisciplinary dialogue critical for advancing responsible AI governance. I highly recommend the program!
2
Sebastian B.C.
Chile
2026
GPSSS
I appreciated the topics addressed during GPSSS 2026 because they helped me understand how technologies, big (tech) corporations, and non-state actors are playing a crucial role in global security, particularly the global race for AI and its impact on power dynamics among states. The interplay between geopolitics, global security, and technology is reshaping the global security landscape, and strategies to strengthen democracy and protect fundamental rights must take these dynamics into account.
3
Larissa
Brazil
2025
AIGG
The course offered in-depth discussions led by experts in the field. It went beyond the topic of AI Governance to include valuable market comparisons, focusing on the EU, the US, China, and Japan, as well as critical discussions on the themes such as AI and Human Rights, Climate Change, and International Justice. The visits to institutions such as NATO, the European Commission's AI Office, and the United Nations were both engaging and informative. The faculty and the entire organizing team were exceptionally kind and welcoming.
3
Shane A.
Canada
2026
GPSSS
The quality and depth of topics covered by the top-tier speakers surpassed my highest expectations for the course. The focus on interaction with the experts created a very positive and in-depth learning environment; this also spilt over into the lunches where we could have meaningful one on one conversations with them as well.
4
Eighth GPSSS brings 39 participants from 18 countries to Brussels
GPSSS 2025 brings together 25 participants from 11 countries to GGI and the RMA
GPSSS Summer School 2024: “A wonderful and unique experience!”
Head of UN Liaison Office for Peace and Security kicks off GPSSS 2024
We welcome applications from graduate students, young professionals, and practitioners with an academic or professional background related to the summer school's themes, including international relations, international law, political science, governance, security and defence studies, and other relevant disciplines. Applicants should hold a Bachelor's degree equivalent to at least 180 ECTS credits; those in the final stages of completing their undergraduate studies are also eligible to apply. As the programme is conducted entirely in English, participants must have a good command of the language. Applicants should also be able to travel to Brussels, Belgium, and possess any necessary visa or residence permits for the duration of the programme.
Complete the application form. You will receive a confirmation email on submission. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, with a decision within maximum five days.
GGI and the RMA award a certificate to participants who attend at least 70% of sessions, engage in all activities and complete the assignments. The Belgian Royal Military Academy awards 6 ECTS on the credit track, which requires full attendance, active participation and a guided reflection paper.
GPSSS take place at the premises of the Global Governance Institute, Cours Saint Michel 30A, 1040 Brussels, and at the Belgian Royal Military Academy Rue Hobbema 8, 1000 Brussels, with thematic visits to the EU and NATO institutions in Brussels.
GGI reserves the right to cancel the programme up to one month prior to the scheduled start date. In such cases, all registration fees already paid will be fully refunded. Participants may withdraw from the programme by providing written notification. Refunds will be issued as follows: a full refund for cancellations received 30 days or more before the start date; a 50% refund for cancellations received between 15 and 29 days before the start date; and no refund for cancellations received fewer than 15 days before the start date. A 10% administrative fee will be deducted from any reimbursement issued.
Travel to Brussels and accommodation are not included in the fee. We share a list of recommended options with all accepted participants. Please note that we cannot sponsor applicants through scholarships or tuition waivers.
We evaluate applications on a rolling basis, and applicants are informed of the outcome within maximum five days of submitting. If you have any questions before applying, write to us at education@globalgovernance.eu.
Questions? education@globalgovernance.eu
