From 3 to 6 June 2024, a group of 43 young professionals, representing seven different NATO nations, from the NATO Field School and Simulation Program (organized by Simon Fraser University) visited the NATO Defense College. The students completed an intensive four-day simulation known as the Negotiation, Mediation and Decision-Making Exercise (NMDX)
The exercise was part of Simon Fraser University’s “NATO Field School and Simulation Program”. Open to university students across all NATO member states, this programme provides participants with an opportunity to observe professionals and experts in their working environment and to understand the decision-making processes of experts in the political, diplomatic and military fields.
The NMDX crisis management exercise is also used at NATO HQ for training staff. It offers the opportunity to examine the role of NATO in crisis response at the senior committee level, and to develop a practical understanding of group dynamics in which multinational consensus-building negotiations and decision-making processes are conducted using NATO’s Crisis Response Process.
“This experiential learning activity brought a new educational experience that I can now reflect on and be assured that it is an achievement worth celebrating. The participating student body, including myself, are immensely grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”, said Julia Reinhard, an undergraduate student at Simon Fraser University. Josefine Paulsen, a Master’s student from Norway and currently attending the Università di Trento, added that “the NMDX provided an incredible learning opportunity, far from anything I’ve ever done before.”
The students excelled, learning to seek consensus while also firmly defending their assigned national positions.
The participants were guided by the NATO Field School’s senior mentors: Mr Ted Whiteside (former NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General) from Canada, Lieutenant General Jo Godderij (former Director General of the NATO International Military Staff) from the Netherlands, and Mr Ilay Ferrier (former Director of NATO’s Crisis Response Systems) from the United Kingdom.
Claudia Mateos, a student of International Relations from the Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio commented: “Not only have we had the opportunity to collaborate closely with experts in crisis management, but we have also gained first-hand experience in addressing high-stakes situations.”
During their time at the NATO Defense College, the NATO Field School young professionals also received briefings from Dr Chris Schnaubelt, Dean of the NDC, and from Colonel (Ret.) Soren Knudsen, a Faculty Advisor at the NDC.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Mr George Cade, CAN C)r)
NATO Defense College