The Association of University Chief Security Officers (AUCSO), the renowned organisation for security professionals working in Higher and Further Education around the world, is to host its first European Region Winter Conference at Leiden University in the Netherlands.
The Conference, which takes place from Wednesday, 27 November 2024 until Friday, 29 November 2024, is free to all AUCSO members.
European Winter Conference
Benny Vandenberghe, Chair of the European Region for AUCSO will open the Conference followed by a welcome from Professor Mr. Dr. E.R. Muller, Vice-Rector and Professor in Safety, Security and Law, and Leo Harskamp from Leiden University.
Day One will begin with a session on ‘How UCare and Mental crisis intervention supports mental well-being at Ghent University’ followed by ‘Mental support after shocking events and crisis interventions: what can or should be done? Both these sessions will be led by Gunther Groenwals and Sarah Vermeersch from Ghent University in Belgium.
Afternoon session
Eric Lanxner from Université Libre de Bruxelles and Leo Harskamp from Leiden University will also lead a session
The afternoon will see a session on ‘Horizon scanning and foresight – the added value of tools’ led by Leo Harskamp from Leiden University followed by ‘First Alert and ways to utilise it’ with Gus Hodson from Dataminr.
Eric Lanxner from Université Libre de Bruxelles and Leo Harskamp from Leiden University will also lead a session on ‘Physical security – counter criminal and counter-terrorism’.
Day Two session
Day Two will see sessions on ‘Protests as a daily business’ with Jaap Weijermans from Universiteit van Amsterdam and long-term partner of AUCSO, Critical Arc, will be presenting its emergency management planning tool, Safezone, which is rapidly becoming the most widely-used and trusted technology of its kind.
There will also be an interactive session on ‘What should AUCSO Europe focus on’ and announcements of what’s coming up in 2025. The Conference will be closed by Benny Vandenberghe, Chair of the European Region for AUCSO.
Topical and interactive sessions
Julie Barker, Chief Operating Officer, of AUCSO, said, "We are excited to be hosting our first European Region Winter Conference at Leiden University in the Netherlands and we are looking forward to welcoming many of our AUCSO members and colleagues from Higher Education in Poland, Switzerland, Finland, Belgium, and the Netherlands."
Julie Barker adds, "It’s going to be a jam-packed agenda of topical and interactive sessions together with lots of opportunities for networking and having some fun too."