Today, Frontex hosted the opening ceremony for the Joint Master’s in Strategic Border Management programme, Europe’s only such specialised degree. It was developed by the agency, in collaboration with six partner universities and more than 20 EU border guard training organisations and academies.
The Joint Master’s programme reflects one of Frontex’s core commitments to support training and professional education of national border guards by establishing common training standards at the European level.
The 27 participants of the Joint Master’s programme come from agencies with border security responsibility from EU Member States and Schengen Associated Countries. Over the next 18 months, they will cover topics such as fundamental rights, risk and threat management and innovation and technology related to border management at universities and training academies in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Spain.
“At a time when the EU faces unprecedented challenges at its borders, this programme creates a unique opportunity for the current and future leaders of border guard organisations to work and learn together,” said Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri.
“At the end of this learning experience, each participant will be rewarded with a unique Master’s degree in Strategic Border Management,” Leggeri added.
The first group of participants will receive their degrees in June 2017.
The Joint Master’s programme aims to promote interoperability and the highest standards at EU borders, while protecting and promoting fundamental rights in border management. It empowers European border guard managers to rely on and apply professional judgment by developing the skills acquired through problem-solving in a professional context.
“From the European perspective, this programme is a highly cost-effective investment. It helps streamline the high level professional education initiatives, reduce costs and avoid overlaps, duplications and inconsistencies in training,” said Beatrice Comby, the head of the Capacity Building Division at Frontex.
Frontex, the European agency for the coordination of operations at the external borders of the EU, marks its 10th anniversary this year.