Educational standards are cornerstones in building harmonised competencies within the border guard education and training. They promote the quality assurance principles for learning development and recognition at national and European level. The educational standards are based on the Sectoral Qualifications Framework (SQF) for Border Guarding as overarching framework according to Bologna/Copenhagen principles, and the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF).
This area includes the various sets of common core curricula and courses for border guard education and training covering all stages of the career development, as presented below.
The SQF supports the national integration of all common curricula, as it offers specific reference points for all border guard learning requirements. It ensures comparability of qualifications. Being specific to the Border Guard sector, the SQF for Border Guarding creates synergies within the European Law Enforcement Training community and facilitates inter-agency cooperation and coordination in the field of law enforcement training.
This curriculum offers measurable common standards at SQF levels 4–5 for law enforcement officers in the European Union. Implemented by national BG training institutions and teachers for students in all EU Member States, it encompasses a general part and different modules for sea, air and land borders operations. It is the first common curriculum including common skills and competencies (as common standards) for the basic training of law enforcement officers in the EU.
The CCC mid-level aims to harmonise the learning requirements for mid-level BG officers. The product has a modular programme structure comprising a core set of learning standards on SQF level 6. Modules are designed to be integrated in the existing national programmes in a flexible manner. The CCC Mid-level is closely linked to the Operational training for mid-level officers (MLC).
The course is offered to mid-level officers of European Border Guard authorities. It promotes a common European Union approach to the integrated border management, which facilitates interoperability, harmonisation, and mobility in border management and cooperation across the European Union.
Frontex has led the development of the European Joint Master’s in Strategic Border Management. More than 20 Member States, Schengen associated countries and partner organisations joined the efforts, sharing knowledge and experience to create a European border guard higher education.
The programme is delivered by a consortium of Frontex and Europe’s leading universities in collaboration with border guard academies and training institutions that bring in the operational expertise. The duration of the programme is 18 months, during which the students, who are mid-/high- level managers of the border guard organisations, have an opportunity to advance best practice in border management by learning together in a context that reflects operational realities.
The students will study ten modules, each consisting of one week of intensive study time at a different university. They also have to complete their dissertation in their own time, benefiting from rich on-line resources and a virtual learning environment. Experienced border guard professionals from across the EU, as well as high-profile academics, guide the students throughout this learning adventure.
Upon graduation, the students are awarded the diploma for a European Joint Master’s in Strategic Border Management that is issued by all the Academic Partners and recognised as a master’s degree internationally.
For
additional information, please see Prospectus
