The National Defence Academy in Tbilisi, Georgia, hosted the International Conference of Distance Learning on October 16-17th, 2024. The event, jointly organized by NDA and Norwegian Defence University College, entitled “Distance/Advanced Distributed Learning: Challenges and Future”, brought together almost 50 experts and spokespersons from 12 countries, including Armenia, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the US. The conference facilitated meaningful discussions on the future of distance learning in military education and its role in enhancing global security.
Key topics covered included Motivational Design in e-learning and video lectures, which emphasized the importance of creating engaging content to improve learning outcomes, and the Cyber Security Role in Distance Education, which highlighted the growing need for secure platforms in military training. Additionally, the use of Advanced Distributed Learning in preparation for major exercises like Vigorous Warrior 24 and Clean Care 24 was explored.
A highlight of the conference was a presentation by a NATO DEEP eAcademy SME on “Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) within DEEP ─ Current Picture and Recommendations.” Other sessions included Transformative Learning and Teaching; PfPC and ADL: Partnership for Modernizing Learning; Polish Association for Security and NATO DEEP eAcademy: Strategic Partnership and Recommendations; and the Challenges of Distance Learning from the perspective of the Junkers at the National Defence Academy. These discussions underscored the importance of modernizing education to meet contemporary security challenges.