On December 5th, six doctoral candidates from Alas Peruanas University’s Public Policy, National Security and Sustainable Development program, visited CHDS in Washington, DC. The purpose of the visit was an academic exchange between the candidates and CHDS faculty members. During the visit there were three presentations by members of the faculty. Professor Pat Paterson spoke about the Security Environment in the Americas: Threats, Challenges and Concerns; Professor Alejandro Arbelaez on Defense Policy in the Americas: Challenges and Difficulties; and Professor Luis Kun spoke about Environmental Policy: Global Impacts. The presentations led to a content-rich dialogue with important insights into the importance of security and defense in uncertain times.

For their part, the candidates discussed the topics for their doctoral theses: Hugo Bedoya Hoguera (Democratic Culture of the Members of the Armed Forces of Peru); Laura Bances Orrego (Perception of Intelligence in the University Population and Social and Political Legitimacy); Rachel Carmona Castillo (National Identity in Post Graduate Students at the Federico Villareal National University); Wilfredo Medina Barcena (Knowledge of Neoliberal Policies and National Identity of the Master’s of Education in the Enrique Guzmán y Valle National University of Education); Alfredo Saldana Nunez (Organized Crime and Democratic Stability of the Government) and Willians Berrios Arbulu (National Identity Awareness of the Sociology Students from the Pedro Ruiz Gallo National University). The delegation was accompanied by Dr. Edgardo Sánchez Castro (Professor and Thesis Advisor) and General Jorge Luis Chávez Cresta (CHDS alumnus).

The visit provided an important opportunity for pedagogical dialogue and content that permitted a mutually beneficial exchange. The high level of the presentations and dialogue was representative of the high quality of the doctoral candidates. CHDS will continue with similar visits to its campus by delegations from different countries and educational centers. The opportunities of exchange of this nature are vital for the continued pedagogical and content growth of Defense and Security topics. Finally, they contribute to the material used by CHDS to accomplish its mission of “Conduct educational activities for civilians and military personnel from the Western Hemisphere in order to increase confidence, mutual understanding, regional cooperation and capacity building.”