ON-SITE VISIT TO CIVIL-MILITARY COOPERATION CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Den Hague, The Netherlands.

From 26 to 28 August, a NATO Team of Experts (ToE), led by NATO HQ SACT MDFD QA Section Head LTC Oliver Wild, conducted an On-Site Visit (OSV) to the CIMIC Centre of Excellence (CCOE) as part of the NATO re-accreditation process for the next six-year accreditation cycle.

The OSV represented a significant milestone in the continuous NATO Quality Assurance process, providing an opportunity for a comprehensive and rigorous assessment of the CCOE’s institutional capacity, training delivery, Quality Management System (QMS) and compliance with the established NATO Education and Individual Training (E&IT) standards deriving from the Education and Individual Training (E&IT) Bi-SC Directive 075-007.

Beside LTC Oliver Wild, the evaluation team comprised Mr. Carl Coleman from NATO HQ SACT MDFD QA Section, LTC Amer Riković from the MoD of Bosnia and Herzegovina, serving as NATO Certified Quality Assurance Specialists (NQAS & NQAS Programme Manager), and as a Shadow Observer, Ms. Lisa-Maria Utikal, an intern currently appointed within the NATO HQ SACT Quality Assurance Section.

Over the course of the evaluation, the CCOE underwent a thorough and rigorous assessment against 31 NATO evaluation E&IT standards. The evaluation examined the organisation’s ability to develop, manage and deliver its training solutions in accordance with NATO policies, procedures and quality requirements, while also assessing the effectiveness of its internal Quality Assurance (QA) mechanisms and its commitment to continuous improvement.

The OSV was further strengthened by the participation of Silent Observers, representatives from the NATO School Oberammergau (NSO) and the CBRN Centre of Excellence (CBRN COE), following the evaluation process.

Throughout the OSV, the CCOE demonstrated a high level of professionalism, organisational maturity and commitment to quality. The evaluation confirmed the Centre’s ability to provide relevant, coherent and effective training solutions, responding to the requirements of NATO and the wider security environment, while maintaining the quality standards expected within the NATO Education and Individual Training framework.

The OSV also highlighted the value of the CCOE as a specialised multinational capability within the NATO Training and Education landscape. Through its expertise, multinational engagement and contribution to interoperability, the Centre provides tangible added value not only to NATO Allies, but also to Partner Nations (PN) and the broader international community.

Based on the overall results of the evaluation, initial assessment showed that CCOE is meeting the requirements for NATO accreditation and will be proposed to NARO HQ SACT DCOS MDFD for NATO Unconditional Accreditation for the next six-year period.

The successful completion of the OSV represents an important recognition of the CCOE’s sustained commitment to excellence, quality and Continuous Improvement Process (CIP). At the same time, it reinforces the fundamental role of NATO Quality Assurance in ensuring that NATO Education and Individual Training institutions remain credible, effective and fit for purpose in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving security environment.

The visit was conducted in a highly constructive and professional atmosphere, reflecting the strong commitment of the CCOE to maintain and further enhance the quality, relevance and impact of its NATO E&IT.

The successful outcome of the evaluation demonstrates that QA is not merely a compliance requirement, but a strategic enabler of credible, effective and future-oriented NATO E&IT.