The year in pictures

2024 is coming to an end, and the Swedish Defence University can look back on an eventful year. Below, you'll find a selection of highlights that we are proud to reflect on.

Browse through the images using the arrow buttons above the top right corner of the image, or click on the magnifying glass to view the images in an enlarged mode.

January 16: Wargames and roundtable discussions were on the agenda as the university leadership, along with a distinguished group of researchers, experts, and officers, welcomed the King and Crown Princess during their visit.

The King and The Crown Princess visited the Swedish Defence University

January 18: Around 130 people gathered at the Swedish Defence University to gain new insights into game usage and development for the total defence sector during the "Games in the Defence Sector 2024" conference.

January 30: Talks on European security policy were on the agenda when President Emmanuel Macron visited the Swedish Defence University and Karlberg Palace, where he addressed cadets, students from the Advanced Officers Program, and specially invited guests.

The President of France visited the Swedish Defence University

1 February: Cyber Challenge 2024 took place with greater interest than ever before. The event brought together numerous players in the cybersecurity field and students from universities across Sweden.

Record-breaking interest in Cyber Challenge

February 19: Sweden's third astronaut Marcus Wandt visited the Swedish Defence University for talks about threats and opportunities in the space domain.

Visit by astronaut Marcus Wandt

13 May: The fourth NATO Youth Summit was held simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic - as well as in Brussels - where NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg participated via video link and answered questions from students on site in both Miami and Stockholm.

NATO top participated in NATO Youth Summit in Stockholm

28 June: The closing ceremony for OP 21–24 was held at Karlberg, where 233 new second lieutenants were handed over to the Swedish Armed Forces.

August 5: The National Defence University welcomed 163 new students to the The Joint Advanced Command and Staff Programme (HOP).

163 new students started the The Joint Advanced Command and Staff Programme

August 16: The new cadets in the Officers' Programme (OP) were welcomed by the programme management in. It is also particularly pleasing that Crown Princess Victoria is starting the special officer training (SOFU), which is partly carried out together with OP.

Crown Princess Victoria begins officer training together with the Officers Programme

2 September: The Swedish Defence University welcomed all new students with an introductory day that offered a Vice-Chancellor's speech, panel discussions with teachers and kick-off with the Student Union.

New academic year - new students

10–12 September: The war in Ukraine, the handling of hybrid threats, and the impact of AI on the defence domain were some of the themes when the Swedish Defence University hosted this year's edition of the International Society of Military Sciences Conference.

The Swedish Defence University hosts an international defence conference

September 10th: Inauguration of the artwork Hope and Despair by artist Michel Östlund.

About the artwork Hope and Despair - Art in the shadow of war

22-23 October: Graduation ceremonies for civilian programmes.

22 November: The Swedish Defence University's academic ceremony was held for the first time in Stockholm City Hall.

The Swedish Defence University's Academic Ceremony

November 29: High-Level Forum Space.

5 December: Some of the doctoral students at the Swedish Defence University show their research projects in a poster exhibition.