Since 2012, the European Security and Defence College is actively engaged in pre-deployment training for CSDP missions and operations. Although the main effort still relies on residential courses, the preparatory and supporting eLearning part receives more and more attention. eLearning is independent of time and location; hence, a perfect tool to training newly selected staff before their deployment to a mission area. Additionally, the running costs are lower compared to a residential course. The main challenges include the content of the eLearning modules, the nomination of trainees as well as the co-ordination between Headquarters and Mission responsibilities. Financial implications of training and the time constraints play also an important role as well as the in-mission training. Additionally, the various legal states of the deployed personnel (contracted, seconded, locals), the different personal security clearances and the learning content (no classified information in eLearning modules, sensitive information accepted) raise concerns when it comes to eLearning. The presentation will give an insight, how the ESDC provides eLearning modules for pre-deployment training taking EUNAVFOR SOMALIA as an example. The article will also tackle the challenges concerning selection/recruitment, nomination for training and in-mission training. It will give an overview about the state of affairs and the way ahead. The presentation will give an insight, how the ESDC provides eLearning modules for pre-deployment training taking EUNAVFOR SOMALIA as an example. The article will also tackle the challenges concerning selection/recruitment, nomination for training and in-mission training. It will give an overview about the state of affairs and the way ahead.

The publication of the EU Global Strategy in 2016, led to the development of several new instruments one of them, being the permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), that had already existed for a decade but was waiting for the right moment to be implemented. PESCO can be considered the biggest project for European security to date, which brings together the EU Member States, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the European External Action Service, the main actors when it comes to the Union’s foreign and security policy. The authors argue that the Open PM2 methodology should be used to manage PESCO. The necessary education and training for project managers and team leaders should be offered by the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) and its 140 network partners, under the auspices of the Open PM2 Centre of Excellence by using the well-established and widely recognised e-learning management system of the number one CSDP training provider. The article provides concrete solutions and a detailed training needs analysis.

The European Security and Defence College is a 'network college' which is comprised of 120 national entities including diplomatic academies, national defence universities, police colleges and NGOs. The article below is based on that specific training environment, in which the training audience is mainly recruited from the EU institutions and the country's administration, i.e. from various ministries and agencies. The training environment is international and includes both military and civilian participants, with a focus on ensuring gender and regional balance among trainees. In general, the ESDC provides training and education for the Union's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in the wider context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) at European.level.

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