The CEU University of Valencia

 

Noticias

 jueves 11 de diciembre de 2025

Número: 010

The CEU University of Valencia has organised the first NATO Information Environment Assessment course, with the support of HQ NRDC-ESP.

Opening session of NATO’s IEA course

Ongoing session of the IEA course

Instructors and participants of the NATO IEA course

CEU Cardenal Herrera University has hosted NATO’s first Information Environment Assessment (IEA) course ever conducted in Spain, addressing the Alliance’s need for expanded training in Strategic Communication. The course brought together more than 50 military and civilian participants from 19 countries, including Ukraine. This milestone was made possible through the leadership and support of HQ NRDC-ESP, based in Bétera, and the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Riga, Latvia. Classes took place at the university’s Palacio de Colomina campus in Valencia.

During the opening ceremony, Lieutenant General Luis Sáenz Rocandio, Commander of HQ NRDC-ESP, highlighted that this initiative responds to the requirement for member nations to provide additional Educational Training Facilities (ETF) to meet growing de-mand across NATO. He explained that Riga’s Centre of Excellence had reached full capacity, prompting Spain’s offer to host and expand the programme. This first edition serves as a pilot phase aimed at consolidating CEU Cardenal Herrera University as a NATO-recognised ETF, reinforcing NRDC-ESP’s role as an international reference in this domain.

The IEA course equips participants with essential skills to identify disinformation, hos-tile narratives and early indicators of hybrid threats, while also assessing the effective-ness of NATO’s communication activities. In line with NATO’s request to enhance training in this field, the programme supports improved decision-making within the Alli-ance and contributes directly to its deterrence, defence and stability objectives. Several students from this edition are expected to join the teaching team in future courses, ena-bling the university to deliver two iterations annually from 2026 onwards.