Europe's first bachelor's programme in security issues
September 2017 will see the start of the new English-language bachelor's programme in Security Studies in The Hague, developed by the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) at Leiden University. The programme meets the growing need for academics with a broad training in the field of security.
Such challenges as international terrorism, cyberattacks and natural disasters have a major impact on the lives of millions of people throughout the world. This new programme at Leiden University analyses the complex security issues facing our rapidly digitising and globalising world.
Unique programme
Ruth Prins, director of education for the Security Studies programme: ‘Security issues are complex. Understanding and resolving them calls for a combination of knowledge and skills in different specialist domains. Our students therefore learn to look through the eyes of a lawyer, an economist and a sociologist to unravel the causes and consequences of current security issues, and ways of resolving them.
The curriculum of the international teaching programme has strong connections with society. The current war in Syria and the nuclear disaster in Japan are the kinds of subjects that are covered. Prins: ‘That has immediate added value for society. With lecturers and students from all parts of the world, this programme is a good preparation for the international environment in which many of our students will work once they have graduated.'
The bachelor's programme in Security Studies earns graduates a BSc diploma that gives access to a broad range of master's programmes and guarantees admission to the Crisis and Security Management master's at Leiden University.
A logital location
The programme can be followed in The Hague, the European city of peace, justice and security, in the midst of many international organisations in the field of security.
Edwin Bakker, director of the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA): 'Our students study in The Hague, close to key policymakers and international organisations, and less than a kilometre from international security organisations. This means they have relatively easy access to opportuities for testing theory in practice. Many of the ISGA lecturers and researchers also collaborate with these international organisations. This undoubtedly gives our students a competitive advantage.'