Experts take effective steps towards CEPOL’s future higher education programme

A group of 14 experts from several EU Member States, invited by CEPOL, gathered recently in Budapest headquarters to explore how to set the ground for the development of the Agency’s future higher education programme. Leveraging their extensive knowledge in international and national security, higher education and EU regulations, CEPOL engaged with these experts in vibrant discussions and workshops with a view to lay down a roadmap for establishing this new educational offer.

During the meeting, CEPOL's Executive Director, Ms. Montserrat Marín López, gave an overview of CEPOL's activities with a focus on the Agency's new strategy adopted by the Management Board last year: "Today we are about to embark on the first full-year of implementation of our strategy 2023-2027. We are committing all our energies to realising our goals, optimising resource allocation, and ensuring a smooth transition to our renewed role as the EU's hub for law enforcement training. CEPOL's future higher education programme will ensure the highest level of training at European level available to law enforcement officials", she emphasised.

During the meeting, a proposal to implement a diploma course on Fundamental Rights was up for discussion. The integration of top-notch and engaging instructional approaches, such as gaming or virtual reality to deliver immersive experiences and simulate real-world scenarios, were recommended by the experts. This meeting was held back-to-back with the Heads of Law Enforcement Training Institutes workshop seeking for synergies and complementarities with academia and law enforcement training authorities.

In this meeting, CEPOL presented a draft of the higher education programme. This initiative aligns with CEPOL's new strategic framework, filling the need for this innovative educational product.

About the higher education expert group

Established through a thorough process involving consultations, dialogues and nominations, the expert group on higher education brings together fifteen delegates from several Member States and co-chairs representing Hungary, Lithuania and CEPOL. The group's mandate is to engage in discussions regarding the establishment of an EU-level Higher Education Programme under CEPOL's umbrella, and to present a comprehensive blueprint for its execution.