Tailor-Made Education: Environmental vs. Energy Security and Sustainable Development Paradigm

摘要

The term security, in the narrow sense,represents the degree of safety in terms of protecting a nation, a people, or individuals from danger, damage, or crime. Structures that raise the security level constitute elements of security as a form of protection in the technical sense. Analysis of relevant scientific sources clearly indicates that a form of protection is where a separation is created between the assets and the threat. Such a definition implies a dual conclusion - that the security level can be raised either by eliminating, i.e. reducing, the threat (technical sense of security) or by eliminating the asset, i.e. by reducing subjective perception of what the asset to be protected is (the threat has no effect if there are no assets to be threatened). The global dimension of environmental problems and sustainability, in particular the seriousness of various risks and security threats to the operation of the critical infrastructure of a state implies the need for new educational approaches and content in this area. In a significant number of European countries, the goals of teaching and education in general have been innovated and redefined by the introduction of tailor-made training modules and courses regarding the abovementioned environmental and energy security. In parallel with socio-economic transitions, countries in transition should also take certain initiatives for change in the education system. In this sense, this paper discusses the problems of environmental and energy security and opportunities offered by formal and informal education within this area. Special emphasis is given to the issues of the tailor-made education of personnel operating within critical infrastructure facilities. Pertaining to this goal, the organization of diverse educational and informational/promotional activities in this field is of equal importance.