Time: Students can start their studies approximately within a week after enrolling on this course. The estimated time for completing this course is three months. Notice! Next start will be 5th August 2025!
Exceptions during the summer 2025:
Notice that during summer students can enrol on the course, but the course will start on August 5th, 2025. Due to summertime exceptions, there are no nonstop starts between 25th June and 4th August 2025.
Place: Online studies
Extent: 5 ECTS credits
Number of study places: 70
Target group: Everyone interested in the topic
Lecturer: Joel Paananen
Please notice that from September 1, 2024 onwards, only students with a Finnish social security number (i.e. a personal identity code) can start their studies on Xamk Pulse’s courses. You can read more here.
Credited in degree at Xamk: Merenkulun johtaminen (YAMK), Maritime management (master studies)
Area of competence mentioned in Curriculum: Complementary competence
Enrolment by: 31 August 2025. This is a nonstop start and students can start their studies approximately within a week after enrolling on this course.
Price: Free of charge
Note that you can enrol for Open UAS studies at the maximum of 50 ECTS credits per semester. One person’s enrolments exceeding 50 ECTS credits are deleted in the enrolment order. Paying attention to this is important when planning your studies.
Please also notice that Xamk degree students can enrol on this course only via Peppi or Tuudo.
Path students enrol at Peppi or Tuudo only for study courses included in path studies. Check your invitation letter for more detailed instructions for your own path study.
Dive into the heart of Baltic Sea maritime security with this timely and comprehensive online course!
As the geopolitical landscape shifts, the Baltic Sea’s strategic importance is more pronounced than ever. This course offers an in-depth exploration of the region’s maritime security challenges and solutions, viewed through the lenses of international law and EU strategies, and emerging threats like critical maritime infrastructure protection. Strengthen your expertise and understanding of a dynamic operational environment that directly impacts trade, security, and international relations.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand the geopolitical, historical, and current dimensions of maritime security in the Baltic Sea region, as well as key actors.
- Be able to apply key principles of international maritime law and recognize the significance of the maritime regulatory framework (IMO) for global and regional security.
- Analyze the strategies of the European Union and other international actors in promoting maritime security in the Baltic Sea.
- Identify and assess diverse maritime security threats, including traditional and hybrid threats, and understand the importance of protecting critical maritime infrastructure.
- Be able to evaluate the effectiveness of maritime security measures and identify areas for development.
Contents and methods:
- Geopolitical and Security Environment of the Baltic Sea: History, current situation, key challenges, and actors (including Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership).
- International Maritime Law and Regulatory Frameworks: Fundamentals of UNCLOS, the role of the IMO and key conventions and flag state responsibilities.
- Regional Security Strategies and Actors: The EU Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS), NATO’s role in the Baltic Sea, and the activities of other relevant organizations.
- Maritime Security Threats and Countermeasures: Traditional threats (piracy, terrorism), hybrid threats, cyber threats, threats to Critical Maritime Infrastructure (CMI) and its protection, and port and ship security (ISPS).
- Analysis and Development of Maritime Security: Assessing the effectiveness of measures and future outlooks.
The course is designed as flexible online studies that the student can complete at their own pace within the given timeframe (1 June 2025 – 30 October 2025). Learning is based on independent work, including watching recorded video lectures, studying teacher-compiled learning materials, and completing assignments. There are no group works. While there are no time-bound virtual lectures or discussions, students are expected to actively participate in discussion forums in the online learning environment, if provided. All lecture materials are available as recordings throughout the course.
The course covers 5 ECTS credits, totalling 135 hours of student work. The number of hours is theoretical and varies according to student effort.
Study material:
The primary study material consists of materials compiled by the teacher, distributed via the online learning environment. This includes lecture recordings and slides, articles, and other electronic materials. All material is in English.
A key recommended (but not mandatory) book: Kraska, James, and Raul Pedrozo. International Maritime Security Law, BRILL, 2013.
Assessment:
- The course is assessed based on learning assignments and quizzes.
- The quizzes, assignments and their final submission dates will be announced in more detail in the online learning environment at the beginning of the course. All assignments must be submitted by the course end date (30 October 2025).
- No separate exam. The possibility to redo or supplement failed learning assignments will be agreed with the teacher on a case-by-case basis.
Assessment scale:
Accepted/Failed
The Transcript of records will be delivered automatically by email in PDF form. You can read more about the The Transcript of records on: Information on Open UAS, Xamk Pulse studies.
This course is based on the curricula of Xamk’s degree programmes and the Finnish credits are fully compatible with the ECTS.
Additional information on enrolment:
Xamk Pulse, email: openstudies@xamk.fi.
Terms of cancellation:
If you are not able to participate in the course, please let us know as soon as possible by email openstudies@xamk.fi.
Before the course starts, you’ll receive an invitation by email to this course.
Please note that there can be changes in the course details in terms of the timetable and teachers, for example.
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences is audited by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC).