On the 9th and 16th of December 2020, the Hybrid Threats Training for Ukrainian partner universities was conducted within the WARN project. It was one-day online training on applying Dilemma and Matrix Gaming in the study process. The course used online wargaming tooling. The main goals of the Gaming Hybrid conflict Training were the following:
- to explain the design of two different kinds of hybrid conflict games
- and to practice how to use Dilemma and Matrix Gaming in the study process.
Ukrainian Catholic University was represented by Myroslava Chekh, Oksana Vasylytsya from the School of Public Administration that aims to equip its students with a new vision, values, additional tools and skills in public administration and regional governance.
Participants feedback:
“The course has provided me with new knowledge, tools, and ideas for course planning and enhance awareness in Wargaming. Dilemma Games designed for high-level policy decision-making. After solving the “problem” individually and with advisory support, we had a mutual discussion that allows for exchanging different viewpoints and perspectives. In a Matrix Game, target actions are resolved by a structured sequence of logical “arguments”. Each player takes turns to make an argument, with successful arguments advancing the game and the player’s position. In general, all the targets of the training were achieved, but as in each project, there were both strengths and weaknesses. Among strengths, great coaching support, compliance with the planned schedule, clear and exciting tasks, the close connection between theory and practice, and discussions. I would recommend planning more time for practices (approximately a day for each wargame) and provide the participants with pre-reading in advance. In summary, I am confident that Wargaming is an appropriate tool for hybrid treats learning. Training provides the teachers with some technical tools for Dilemma and Matrix Game creation”
Myroslava Chekh, Coordinator of Public Governance and Administration program, Ukrainian Catholic University
“Dilemma and Wargaming Training was interesting and useful. Under conditions of quarantine and hard lockdown, the training took place online. Of course, in-person training would have been even more active and fascinating. However, training via ZOOM was also exciting. The tools used, the Dilemma Game and the Matrix Game can be applied in a wide range of disciplines, including Recognition of Hybrid Threats in Public Administration. Such games demonstrate the complexity of the decision-making process. Secondly, allow forming development strategies in certain issues. Thirdly, improve teamwork skills. Finally, training Gaming Hybrid conflict enhances argumentative discussion skills. Besides, such activities in practical classes allow you to diversify the learning process and add elements to the interactivity. Such games simulate the reality that is very important in Public Administration studying”
Oksana Vasylytsya, Coordinator of Public Administration Master Programme, Ukrainian Catholic University
“Dilemma and Matrix Games allows you to plan a strategy, provide direction, and maintain focus. It sharpens your skills in articulating and defending positions, considering different points of view, and enlist and evaluate evidence. Dilemma and Matrix Games broaden your knowledge of the current situation. You can play different roles, playing political actors. Thus, it ensures an objective understanding of the proposed issues. Gaming Hybrid conflict tools will assist Master students in the simulation of the actual players in the political arena and learn how to respond to possible hybrid threats. In conclusion, it was an engaging experience that provides a prognosis for future situation development, and assists in responding to hybrid threats. In our challenging world, such practices will be useful. Thus, Dilemma and Matrix Games enforce analytical thinking and foster constructive controversy in the decision-making process”
Nataliya Reshetova, Erasmus+ KA2 Project Manager, International Academic Relations Office, Ukrainian Catholic University
During 2019-2022, the Ukrainian Catholic University is involved in the project “Academic Response to Hybrid Threats/WARN” (610133-EPP-1-2019-1-FI-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP). The project aims to renew the Ukrainian curricula in fields of business and administration, information and communication technologies, social and behavioral science, arts, education, journalism and information by introducing a unique content that builds awareness of hybrid threats and innovative gamified teaching methods that provide skills and competencies to tackle complex threats proactively. The upgraded contents, based on the newest EU partner curricula, together with new gamified teaching methods based on AI-inspired adversarial learning, will be used both in MSc degree education and in LLL to train “positive change agents” in diverse professional fields. The change agents will learn to adapt proactively to the new complex, hybrid challenges, and disseminate their knowledge to society. International community of educators and alumni (WARN network) will be created to guarantee the sustainable development of the educational content, teaching methods and dissemination after the project. The project will link to diverse stakeholders (universities, ministries, state official, local authorities, companies in Estonia, Finland, France, Portugal and Ukraine) for developing the content and creating real-life scenarios as teaching materials for both degree education and LLL intensive courses, and for training them to counter hybrid threats in practice.
Follow the link to learn more about the project – https://warn-erasmus.eu/project-overview/