Governo Italiano
Institute for Advanced Defence Studies (IASD)
Versione italiana
The Institute for Advanced Defence Studies (IASD) is the top joint educational institution of the Italian Defence establishment. Annually it performs three types of courses focusing on the analysis of issues related to defence, security, international relations and, more generally, economic and industrial policies at the global level.
The main course core of IASD is the annual Session of Study. The Session lasts about 8 months (five for foreign officers). It aims to update the cultural and professional background of high ranking officers from the four Armed Services, the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza (Financial Police), as well as that of civilian executive officers from the Defence Ministry and other managers of State Administration, Universities, industry and business, mass media and liberal professions. The session has annually about 70 participants: 30 nationals selected by their General Staff/ General Command/ Defence Secretariat, 20 foreigners invited by the Defence General Staff and 20 from Institutions.
Secondary, IASD develops the International Capstone Course (ICC). The ICC is a small course (lasts about 10 weeks), designed to attract even more foreign participants, it is held entirely in English. The ICC course is fully integrated into the Session syllabus and usually has about no more than 10 participants.
Remarkable and ever increasing, is the number of foreign officers attending the courses, coming not only from NATO and NATO-partner countries, but also from Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and the Near and Far East.
IASD is chaired directly by the CASD President, who is assisted by Major/Brigadier Generals or equivalent rank officers from the four Armed Services and the Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) who act as Assisting Directors. The most senior military officer is appointed as the Coordinating Director.
The Institute’s educational activities include modul, seminars and panels, which are the backbones of the course syllabus; lectures on current issues, given by prominent Italian and foreign, civilian and military experts; individual papers dealing with themes agreed upon by the Defence General Staff; joint activities with equivalent Italian or foreign educational Institutions; and visits to industries relevant for the defence sector as well as study tours in Italy (only for foreign students) and abroad.
An on-going agreement with one of the most important italian University facilitates the attainment of a 2nd level Master’s degree in “Global Strategy and Security”. This degree is also accessible for external attendees with a MA degree or a 5-year university degree.
IASD also has the institutional task of enhancing joint advanced military education through bilateral and/or multinational meetings and joint activities with equivalent foreign institutes such as the NATO Defense College, the George Marshall Center, and others.
