Common Core Curriculum (CCC)

Training at the European Border and Coast Guard Academy Training Needs Assessment and Training Evaluation Sectorial Qualification Framework (SQF) Common Core Curriculum (CCC) The European Joint Master’s in Strategic Border Management (EJMSBM) Quality Assurance

The Common Core Curriculum (CCC) for Border and Coast Guard Basic Training in the EU, defined in the Frontex Regulation and Schengen Borders Code, is a curriculum establishing the learning standards for border and coast guarding education at the operational level in EU Member States, and forms the foundation for all other training activities associated with professional development within the European border guard community.   

The Curriculum was first developed in 2003 and has been regularly updated since in close cooperation with EU Member States, Schengen Associated Countries, and several non-EU countries. The CCC Basic is consistent with the SQF for Border Guarding, level 4. Moreover, following the Bologna and Copenhagen principle of life-long learning, the CCC Basic recognises informal learning by introducing the experiential learning phase to be carried out in the workplace, facilitating border guard and coast guard comprehensive learning and advancing job competences outlined in the SQF.

The CCC ML is a natural continuation of the CCC Basic learning pathway. The Common Core Curriculum for the mid-level offers flexibility to EU Member States in terms of its structure, taking into consideration that mid-level border and coast guarding education is carried out in different ways at the national level. Therefore, the CCC ML is based on operationally relevant job competences aligned with the SQF for Border Guarding and is fully compatible with the Bologna and Copenhagen processes. The Curriculum comprises a set of learning units referenced to the SQF for BG, levels 5 and 6. The core roles and tasks of mid-level managers of border and coast guards are determined here in terms of supervision and management in the context of professional responsibility. This approach aims to harmonise the core learning requirements for mid-level management of border and coast guard officers.

The CCC Basic and CCC ML implementation shall be executed by all EU Member States and several non-EU countries. The evaluation of the national integration of the Curriculum is monitored and facilitated by the Agency through the Common Core Curriculum - Interoperability Assessment Programme (CCC-IAP).