A Subject Matter Expert (SME) from the NATO Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP) eAcademy actively participated in the Annual Training and Education Conference (ATEC) 2025, held in Brussels from 24–25 November 2025. The conference gathered a large audience, welcoming more than 150 in-person participants from almost 100 defence and security training institutes, EU institutions, and ministries. Attendees demonstrated a good balance of civilian, police, and military institutions, representing a strong geographical spread, with a majority of EU and European countries represented. The overarching purpose of ATEC 2025 was to explore and enhance the quality of training within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The conference operated under the theme Training in Motion – Transforming Needs into Action, focusing heavily on “less policy, more practice”.
The eAcademy actively contributed to the event by presenting its innovative tools and solutions specifically within the military education and training context during the break-out sessions. Furthermore, the NATO DEEP eAcademy took an active role in the ATEC 2025 Innovation Lab. This Lab was designed as a dynamic space blending exhibition, testing area, and collaborative workspace, intended to inspire collective reflection on how to advance training practices. During its participation, the eAcademy showcased a poster detailing its general activities—such as providing a central hub for Professional Military Education (PME), bridging the technological gap, and offering targeted partnership support—as well as its current training offer, which includes the NATO DEEP ADL Portal ADL Courses and the Open Introductory Course: Introduction to Terrorism. During the conference, it was emphasized that the NATO DEEP eAcademy aims to enhance the quality of training within the Higher Military Education System (HMES) through improved platform delivery, strengthened partnerships, modernization, and formal recognition.
The core discussions at ATEC 2025 centered around the four key stages of “The Training Loop”: Training Needs, Standardisation & Adaption, Innovation & Methodology, and Evaluation & Uptake. These topics, addressed across various panels and break-out sessions, were aimed at identifying best practices and developing actionable strategies to improve CSDP training. For the NATO DEEP eAcademy, key takeaways involved leveraging these insights to ensure the ongoing alignment of its offerings; such as its capacity to deliver training in diverse formats and formalize achievements—with evolving international standards and innovative methodologies discussed by the diverse community. Engaging with this collaborative environment provides a meaningful opportunity to deepen existing partnerships and explore new collaborations, ensuring the eAcademy remains at the forefront of defense education modernization.
