Course syllabus Geopolitics and Defence Innovation in the Indo-Pacific Region
Swedish name: Geopolitik och försvarsinnovation i den indopacifiska regionen
Course code:
2UF041
Valid from semester:
Spring Term 2026
Education cycle:
Second cycle
Scope:
7.5 credits
Progression:
A1N
Grading scale:
Two-grade scale
Main field of study:
Systems Science for Defence and Security
Department:
Department of Systems Science for Defence and Security
Subject:
Systems Science for Defence and Security
Language of instruction:
The teaching is conducted in English.
Decided by:
Forsknings och utbildningsnämndens kursplaneutskott (KUS)
Decision date:
2025-08-20
Entry requirements
This course is commissioned education without formal requirements. Participants are recommended to have the following previous knowledge: General entry requirements for the higher officer program and previously completed Officers' Programme, or corresponding qualifications.
Course content and structure
The course aims to provide the participant with the qualifications for an advanced understanding of the geopolitical and military context in the Indo-Pacific region. More specifically, it aims to enable the participant to build an in-depth understanding of (a) the most important geopolitical and regional actors in the area based on the changing security landscape, and (b) the area's role as a driver of defense innovation and defense-related technological development including, but not limited to, Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The course is designed to provide the participant with tools to understand and critically analyze the region's specific context, its theoretical premises and its most distinctive practical features, as well as its significance for Sweden and NATO, through lectures, seminars, self-study and field exercises.
Lectures
Seminars
Self-study
Field exercises
The course is designed to provide the participant with tools to understand and critically analyze the region's specific context, its theoretical premises and its most distinctive practical features, as well as its significance for Sweden and NATO, through lectures, seminars, self-study and field exercises.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Seminars
Self-study
Field exercises
Objectives
Upon completion of the course the participant should be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
Competence and skills
Judgement and approach
Knowledge and understanding
- identify and understand the historical and cultural drivers of geopolitics and defense innovation in the Indo-Pacific region
Competence and skills
- problematize, analyze, and critically examine these drivers
Judgement and approach
- reflect on and evaluate the possible military and political consequences of the geopolitical situation and developments in defense innovation
- assess the importance of international cooperation and adaptation of defense strategies for NATO and Sweden in a changing security landscape.
Examination formats
The course is examined through:
Active participation in mandatory seminars (2.0 credits)
Group work in connection with field practice (3.5 credits)
Individual oral examination elements in connection with field practice (2.0 credits)
In this course, an examination portfolio is used to document the achievements of the participant in relation to the course objectives, thus ensuring the documentation required to guarantee a fair and legally secure examination.
The examiner may decide to request supplementary assignments in order to achieve a passing grade on the course. Supplementary assignments shall be submitted no later than ten working days after the result and supplementary assignment for the examination in question have been notified. Examination papers submitted late will not be graded unless special circumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner.
Grading
The participant is graded on a two-point grading scale: Fail (U) and Pass (G).
For the grade Pass (G) a pass is required in the mandatory seminars, group work in connection with field practice and the individual oral examination in connection with field practice.
Grading criteria are reported at the latest at the start of the course.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
Active participation in mandatory seminars (2.0 credits)
Group work in connection with field practice (3.5 credits)
Individual oral examination elements in connection with field practice (2.0 credits)
In this course, an examination portfolio is used to document the achievements of the participant in relation to the course objectives, thus ensuring the documentation required to guarantee a fair and legally secure examination.
The examiner may decide to request supplementary assignments in order to achieve a passing grade on the course. Supplementary assignments shall be submitted no later than ten working days after the result and supplementary assignment for the examination in question have been notified. Examination papers submitted late will not be graded unless special circumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner.
Grading
The participant is graded on a two-point grading scale: Fail (U) and Pass (G).
For the grade Pass (G) a pass is required in the mandatory seminars, group work in connection with field practice and the individual oral examination in connection with field practice.
Grading criteria are reported at the latest at the start of the course.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
Transitional provisions
When the course is no longer offered or when the course content has changed substantially, the participant has the right to be examined once per semester during a three-term period in accordance with this syllabus.
Other regulations
- The course cannot be included in a degree with another course whose content fully or partially corresponds to the content of this course.
- The course director will conduct an evaluation on the completion of the course, which will form the basis for any changes to the course.