Dates

October 28 - November 8, 2024

Length of Course

10 days

9:00 am – 12:00 pm ET

Prerequisites

Statement of Interest

Delivery Method

Online

with an in-person welcome session on October 28, 2024

Cost

$1,825 CAD

Cost includes a non-refundable $25 registration fee

Instructors

Wesley Wark

Wesley Wark

Fellow, Balsillie School of International Affairs
Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation

This professional course will examine key aspects of the modern practice of intelligence and security. The course instructor explores both a Canadian and an international perspective, drawing on historical examples and contemporary issues.

Course Summary

The core objective of the course is to deepen participants’ strategic understanding of the fast-changing nature of intelligence, its challenges, uses, and significance. The governance, legal, and accountability frameworks for Canadian security and intelligence will be an important part of the course.

This professional course draws on the perspective of a leading academic expert. The course will feature a variety of online content delivery, including live presentations by the instructor and guest experts, case studies, and small group and plenary discussions.

The course is structured to allow schedule flexibility for students and to impose only moderate demands on your online time. Registered students will be provided in advance with a detailed course agenda and schedule. Suggestions for key documentary readings will be provided to supplement the presentations and discussions.

Live sessions will take place in the morning, 9am to 12pm ET. Students are welcome to join the instructor in an in-person introductory session to be held on October 28 in Downtown Ottawa, ON. Details to follow.

The language of instruction will be English. All presentations and discussions will draw on information in the public domain and will be held under the Chatham House rule.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for officials and employees of the Government of Canada who:

  • are currently serving in some capacity in the intelligence and security community who wish to deepen their understanding of the history of intelligence and current issues and challenges;
  • have just accepted or just started a job in government in the intelligence and security community and need a rapid introduction;
  • intend to seek a job in the intelligence and security community and want a fuller understanding of intelligence and security issues;
  • work regularly with people in the intelligence and security community, or regularly use material from the community, and want a fuller understanding of the origin and nature of intelligence material.

Students who do not meet this criteria will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.

Covered in this Course

  • Historical context of intelligence
  • Key intelligence concepts
  • The organization and governance of Canadian intelligence
  • National security strategy
  • The national security threat environment
  • Cyber security
  • Open-source intelligence
  • Economic security
  • Transparency, review and accountability
  • Foreign interference

To Register

Before registering, please send a short bio and statement of interest to [email protected]

Space-Station

Instructors

Wesley Wark

Wesley Wark

Fellow, Balsillie School of International Affairs
Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation

What Participants Say

Great opportunity

Participant

August 2023

Great opportunity to hear about how other departments approach national security and intelligence concerns.

Exactly the kind of conversations that I would like to have further in my career

Participant

August 2023

I absolutely loved the course, this is exactly the kind of conversations that I would like to have further in my career. Professor Wark was a wonderful host, and it's not often that we have the chance to discuss with high-profile professionals like the invited speakers we met.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself during this course

Participant

July 2024

I thoroughly enjoyed myself during this course. Having a holistic overview of the various actors in the federal NIS community is such an asset for me to understand how my work fits into the broader picture. The insights from speakers who lead on many of these files was very valuable, and helped to contextualize the decision-making on some ongoing files.