OSCE Border Management Staff College concludes its second one-year Border Security and Management for Senior Leadership course
Edvardas Cerniauskas, Deputy Head Commander of the Vilnius Detachment of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service, receiving a certificate for best coursework at the second Border Security and Management for Senior Leadership course, Dushanbe, 22 June 2017. (OSCE/Eraj Asadulloev)
DUSHANBE, 23 June 2017 – The OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC) today concluded its second one-year Border Security and Management for Senior Leadership Course with participants defending their coursework in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
This blended-learning study initiative was organized in partnership with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), and focused on further enhancing the professional competencies of current and future managers of border security agencies, bringing together professionals from Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Tajikistan, Tunisia and Ukraine.
At the end of the course the participants presented their research findings to the graduation panel. The coursework focused on subjects such as innovating solutions to complex security challenges; inter-agency cooperation; illegal migration; the phenomenon of terrorism and counter strategies; non-military means to address border security threats and challenges; border management modernization; reform assessment as well as monitoring and evaluation.
“With this course we aim to educate a new generation of border security leaders. The course helps to improve the analytical, conceptual and strategic management potential of its participants,” said Dita Nowicka, the BMSC Director.
“DCAF values our joint efforts with the OSCE aiming to contribute to more effective and efficient border security and management throughout the OSCE region,” said Nevenka Tomovic, Senior Adviser at DCAF. “The course has a significant added value; in particular, it brings together professionals representing various cultures, countries, agencies with the aim of further developing their competencies, professional skills as well as their co-operation. This week’s defence of coursework clearly shows the progress that students made throughout the year.”
Course participant Lieutenant-Colonel Olga Derkach of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said: “For us this was a fascinating year of elaborating new ideas, developing freedom of thinking, acquiring new knowledge, professional development, establishing life-long friendships, and getting acquainted with outstanding experts.”
Fellow course participant, Colonel Alexandru Lupan, Deputy Head of the Border Police Operational Directorate at Moldova’s Interior Ministry appreciated that it was a blended learning course which enabled him to combine his daily responsibilities with studies. Adding that while working on his coursework he explored the legislative aspects and measures of how to prevent and detect irregular migration in Moldova, he said, “I am planning to present my findings to my management so as to incorporate them into the existing legislation.”
The course consisted of three modules: Modern Security Challenges and Border Management; Management and Leadership; and Current and Emerging Trends in Border Security Management and Trade Facilitation. They were delivered through a range of training and learning methods, including eLearning, lectures, study trips and seminars.
