Mogućnost razvijanja liderskih kompetencija kroz sistem vojnog obrazovanja - otvorenost sistema

Abstract

The paper presents comparative research on the representation of subjects within the study programs of three higher military educational institutions (Military Academy, University of Defense in Belgrade, University of Defense in Brno, Czech Republic, Royal Military School in Belgium), in order to strengthen their leadership competencies. The conducted comparative research was intended to contribute to predicting the future development of education of professional members of the armed forces, as part of the defense system in the field of leadership, especially because the comparison includes educational systems of countries with different social, economic, historical and social milieu. The aim of the paper in a broader sense was to try and decipher the dimensions of leadership of professional members of the defense system; in a narrower sense the aim was to determine the possibilities of developing leadership competencies through the system of military education provided through the study programs of the Military Universities in Serbia, Belgium and the Czech Republic. The main subject of this research is the leadership competencies of professional military personnel. We have defined the concept of leadership as one of the functions of management, which primarily refers to the influence of leaders on other employees, in order to achieve organizational and group goals. The notion of the necessary leadership competencies is defined as a function of knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to perform complex functions and roles of officers, which can be classified as systemic and interpersonal competencies. The problem of leadership in the defense system is complex due to the very nature and characteristics of the system itself. Precisely because of the significance of the topic, as well as the fact that this issue remains current and new, it is scientifically and professionally justified to dedicate attention to researching the problem of developing leadership competencies in the military educational system. Furthermore, given the fact that change has become a way of life inherent to every modern organization, the military ones included, new leadership competencies, necessary to perform complex functions and roles of defense system officers are required of the employees and therefore it is necessary to implement the concept of lifelong, permanent and continued education in order to meet the demands of the job set before professional military personnel.