A Multidimensional Approach to National Defense Education in Universities: From Awareness and Environment to Evaluation Reform

Abstract

National security and defense education in universities has often faced challenges in systematic integration, sometimes focusing on foundational awareness rather than deeper institutional embedding. This study advances a multidimensional framework that reorients defense education from isolated curricular modules toward a coherent institutional ecosystem. Drawing on empirical study across twelve higher education institutions, the research identifies three interlocking dimensions: cognitive awareness (knowledge acquisition and critical reflection), environmental embedding (campus culture, infrastructure, and cross-departmental coordination), and evaluation reform (shifting from summative testing to competency-based, longitudinal assessment). A mixed-methods design combines policy document analysis, structured interviews with faculty and administrators, classroom observation protocols, and institutional self-assessment data. Findings indicate opportunities for further optimization: while 92% of institutions report mandatory defense courses, only 31% integrate content into non-military disciplines; campus environments show strong symbolic presence but weak participatory mechanisms; and evaluation remains primarily exam-centric, highlighting the need for more comprehensive indicators for defense literacy and ethical judgment. The proposed framework introduces a recursive logic model—where awareness informs environment design, environment shapes evaluation criteria, and evaluation feedback loops refine awareness strategies. Implementation pathways include modular curriculum scaffolding, co-curricular 'defense learning communities', and tiered institutional certification aligned with quality assurance standards. This approach moves beyond pedagogical supplementation to structural recalibration—positioning defense education not as an add-on, but as a core dimension of holistic university mission fulfillment.