Professionalization of intelligence and security-related training: The aim is to provide demand-specific academic training to the staff of intelligence services and to those working in military intelligence.
Meeting international training standards: Institutions outside Germany have been providing professional intelligence training at academic level for many years. The new study program in Germany will build on their experience and approaches, thus ensuring that it meets international training standards.
Standardization and networking: Joint academic training forms the basis for joint standards and promotes mutual understanding between participants from various security agencies. It also facilitates the establishment of interagency networks – an important element for future cooperation.
Expanding intelligence-specific and security-related research: Hardly any fundamental research has been carried out in German-speaking countries on intelligence and security-related subjects. With the creation of special professorships, the MISS course will scientifically examine the problems that occur in practice, thus benefitting intelligence research in general.
Providing scientific advice to the German government and policymakers on intelligence and security-related subjects: To date, insufficient work has been undertaken in Germany to scientifically and independently examine interrelated topics in the field of intelligence. The establishment of a scientific centre of excellence for intelligence and security-related issues will therefore play an important role in providing scientific advice to the German government particularly when relevant new legislation is proposed.
Strengthening the innovativeness of intelligence services and military intelligence: Participation of recognised experts in the scientific discourse will ensure that current scientific findings are incorporated into training and practice. At the same time, the involvement of specially qualified practitioners as guest lecturers will help to link scientific findings with on-the-job experience.
Encouraging social discourse on intelligence subjects: The course also covers civil society issues (e.g. data protection, ethics), which will help people working in the intelligence community to become more aware of such matters.