Meeting Themes
Explore conference theme and four sub-themes guiding discussion this year.
Content subject to change. Please check back for updates.
4 sub-themes · 12 guiding questions
Enhancing Professional Military Education to Adapt to Pan-Domain Operations.
The character of conflict continues to evolve in response to technological innovation, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and the increasing interconnectedness of societies. While change in warfare is not new, militaries have continually adapted to past revolutions in industrialization, mobility, and information. The pace and complexity of contemporary change demands renewed attention to how military officers are prepared. In this context, Professional Military Education (PME) plays a critical role in enabling armed forces to anticipate, adapt, and respond effectively to emerging challenges.
At the center of this evolution is Pan-Domain Operations (PDO). PDO refers to the coordinated and integrated use of capabilities across all domains (encompassing land, sea, air, cyber, space) and environments to gain advantage. PDO are not simply joint operations; they also involve the employment of non-military assets, such as capabilities in the information environment and economic sphere, garnering strategic advantage.
Closely related is the growing importance of the cognitive dimension of warfare, where decision advantage, perception management, and the ability to learn and adapt faster than an adversary become decisive. Future conflicts are expected to unfold in highly dynamic environments characterized by rapid technological change, continuous learning, and the widespread use of disruptive tools and approaches. In such an environment, success depends not only on platforms and systems, but on how military personnel think, decide, collaborate, and innovate under conditions of uncertainty.
A key driver of this transformation is the advent of “emerging technologies”, broadly understood as rapidly advancing and potentially disruptive innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, big data analytics, quantum technologies, and advanced communications. These technologies are reshaping how information is generated, shared, and acted upon, with significant implications for both operational effectiveness and ethical decision-making.
At the same time, Pan-Domain Operations are increasingly understood as extending beyond the military instrument of power. Delivering effective PDO requires a whole-of-society approach, integrating the contributions of government, industry, academia, and civil society. National resilience, technological innovation, industrial capacity, and information ecosystems all play critical roles in shaping outcomes. Collaboration across these sectors supports rapid adaptation, experimentation, and the scaling of new capabilities, while reinforcing the resilience required for sustained operations.
PME must evolve to prepare military professionals not only for PDOs but also for effective engagement across institutional and societal boundaries. This requires cultivating critical thinking, digital literacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, strategic communication, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning. In an increasingly complex operating environment, success depends on integrating capabilities across all domains into a unified strategic effort, creating a decisive advantage over those reliant on traditional single-domain specialization. Accordingly, PME should build on existing career specialization by broadening participants’ exposure to, and understanding of, all operational domains.
In the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) context, these developments must be approached with careful consideration of the region’s longstanding commitment to dialogue, cooperation, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. The ARF HDUCIM provides participating nations a valuable platform for exchanging perspectives, building mutual understanding, and strengthening confidence among participating states. Discussions on Pan-Domain Operations and PME during the ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges, and Institutions Meeting (ARF HDUCIM) should therefore emphasize shared challenges, capacity-building, and cooperative approaches.
Given these considerations, the Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) and the National Defence College of the Philippines (NDCP) will jointly convene the 28th ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges, and Institutions Meeting (ARF HDUCIM) under the theme of "Enhancing Professional Military Education to Adapt to Pan-Domain Operations".
3 Guiding Questions
Assessing the opportunities and risks of emerging technologies in defence
The importance of emerging technologies in defence and security has grown over the years. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics, among others, have proven valuable in the success of military operations and defence missions. In addition to the opportunities arising from the use of these technologies, discussion about the risks have also emerged, specifically ethical concerns, including significant bias, and the absence of human judgment.
3 Guiding Questions
Enhancing the strategic capabilities of defence leaders for Pan-domain operations
Defence and military leaders are the decision-makers in all defence and military operations. They must be able to think and decide effectively and strategically across multiple domains.
3 Guiding Questions
Countering Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive and Deceptive (ICAD) activities, hybrid, and gray zone tactics through policy and strategy
In addition to operational capabilities, militaries should also possess expertise in policy and strategy, as these are necessary for countering ICAD activities, hybrid warfare, and gray zone tactics. These challenges, common in the Indo-Pacific and other strategic areas in the world, manifest across all domains of operations, including land, sea, air, space, cyber and information.
3 Guiding Questions
Promoting a diversified military force for operational effectiveness
As defence and security challenges across the region have become more complex and even multidimensional, the effectiveness of the armed forces depends not only on technical capabilities but also on diversified skills and perspectives. This sub-theme discusses the role of professional military education in cultivating diversity and integrating interdisciplinary learning, inclusive leadership, and cross-domain competencies in military capabilities and professionalism.