Gdynia, Poland

In July 2024, the Partnership for Peace Consortium (PfPC), alongside the Canadian Defence Academy (CDA), held a workshop at the Westerplatte Heroes Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia, Poland. The event, running from July 22-25, aimed to deepen understanding of the military's role in implementing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda and explore student-centered learning methodologies in military education. With participants from various countries, including Ukraine, Romania, and the United States, the workshop built on earlier initiatives to mainstream the WPS agenda in defense education and foster Euro-Atlantic partnerships.

Key Insights and Discussions

The workshop achieved significant milestones, including the development of a concept note outlining the military's potential roles in advancing the WPS agenda. Participants discussed the challenges and opportunities of using student-centered learning techniques to promote gender perspectives in military education. Speakers from Canada, Australia, and Ukraine shared their expertise on WPS, while experts from NATO and various military academies explored methods to improve learning outcomes. Attendees agreed that integrating diverse international perspectives enriched the discussions and helped lay the groundwork for a broader WPS initiative across NATO’s education programs.

Future Steps and Strategic Planning

The workshop’s outcomes will guide future efforts in integrating WPS into military education. A revised concept note reflecting participant feedback, will be circulated for further review and publication. Additionally, a proposal to align the WPS initiative with other PfPC working groups is set to be presented later this year. As attendees departed Gdynia, the consensus was clear: greater collaboration and innovative teaching methods are essential to fully implement the WPS agenda and enhance defense education globally.

To learn more about the Women, Peace, and Security mission, click here.