In today’s world, where challenges change not only seasonally, but even in a daily rhythm, the security industry is becoming one of the most important pillars of the functioning of society and organizations. From cyber threats to national defense, from organizational security to crisis management - these are areas in which knowledge, strategy and the ability to adapt can become a daily necessity.

It is in this context that Turība University proves itself as a leader in the industry, becoming the first and only university in the Baltics to be accepted into the international cooperation network CONRIS (Cooperation Network for Risk, Safety & Security Studies) to provide internationally recognized college, bachelor’s and master’s level studies in the field of organizational security. Below is more about what organizational security studies include.

Security as a multidimensional discipline

The concept of security has long stopped to apply only to physical security or security services - it has become a complex, interdisciplinary field. A modern security specialist must be ready to analyze risks, manage information, work with data protection, understand international politics and act in crisis situations. “Yes, security studies are becoming increasingly popular,” confirms Kārlis Apalups, Head of the Turība University master’s study program “Security management of organizations”. “The demand in this direction is growing every year. We live in an era in which security challenges – war, unrest, pandemics, ecological crises – are present and dynamic, therefore we need people who are able to professionally manage these situations”.

Study content: from tactics to strategy

Turība offers a full-cycle education in the field of security – starting with college programs, continuing with bachelor’s and master’s studies. K. Apalups explains: “The essence of organizational security studies is to prepare managers who are able to take responsibility for all threats to the organization or its individual processes. It is work that requires strategic thinking and the ability to make decisions in difficult circumstances”. The study content covers a wide range of topics – physical security, fire safety, cybersecurity, national and international security, crisis communication, and security policy planning. Such diversity allows students to acquire both specialized and interdisciplinary knowledge, which is necessary in both public and private sector organizations.

Practice – a training ground for a security professional

Can organizational security studies be only theoretical? At Turība University, special emphasis is placed on acquiring practical skills. “Our goal is to prepare professionals for life, so a large part of the study process is devoted to practice,” emphasizes K. Apalups, he continues: “Students acquire skills that can be directly applied in the work environment: self-defense, first aid, practical shooting, detective work, extreme driving”. Such an approach model provides students with not only theoretical understanding, but also a real set of skills that is useful in both professional and everyday life. In addition, practice is integrated during studies, allowing students to test and develop their abilities in real situations in a timely manner. It is important that such study programs are also recognized internationally, because in the field of security, boundaries tend to be conditional. “Security is never just local,” notes K. Apalups. “For example, if a company has an online store, then potential threats come not only from the neighborhood, but from all over the world. Security specialists must be prepared to think and act globally”.

International opportunities and the CONRIS network

At the beginning of 2025, Turība University became the first and currently the only university in the Baltic States to join the CONRIS network – an alliance of higher education institutions aimed at developing security education on a European scale. This step opens up wide opportunities not only after obtaining a diploma, but also during the study process, joint research, summer schools, exchange programs are carried out. As K. Apalups points out, Turība students are already participating in international events – security summer schools in Latvia and other CONRIS network universities, as well as Erasmus+ exchange programs in Finland, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania. In the latter two countries, Turība has particularly close cooperation with national defense and security academies.

Leadership for the future

Kārlis Apalups emphasizes: “The greatest personal and professional benefit from security studies is the ability to lead not only systems, but also people – in the most stressful moments. This means being the one who determines the situation. And to achieve this, it is essential that the teaching staff themselves are experts in this field. That is exactly the case with us - at Turība, the majority of lecturers are practicing professionals – security managers, representatives of the military, project managers. This ensures that students are provided with not only theoretical, but also real-life knowledge that can be applied immediately after their studies – or even during them".

In conclusion

The joining of Turība University the CONRIS network and its purposeful development in security education demonstrates its ability to be a leader on a regional and international scale. Security in the 21st century is not only a profession, but also a basic need of society, and Turība contributes to its creators – creating professionals who are able to remain calm in times of crisis and act with confidence.