Introduction
Common, standardised and comparable capacity-building and training programmes are critical for efficient and effective coast guard cooperation. To start addressing the challenges related to education and training in this area, the Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries financed a project for coast guard academies (European Coast Guard Functions Academies Network project - ECGFA Net) between 2015 and 2019.
The main aim of this project was to enhance educational cooperation in the field of coast guard functions, facilitate interoperability and cooperation between different bodies carrying out these functions, and enhance the coherence and effectiveness of these activities. The project covered an exchange programme (including an on-the job officer exchange programme and a programme of training courses for other authorities), the development of a Sectoral Qualifications Framework (SQF), and the development of a dedicated portal.
The SQF aims to provide coast guard academies with the means to compare qualifications. It is a voluntary framework for describing what the holders of various qualifications are expected to know, understand and be able to do at certain levels in order to perform tasks related to coast guard functions. The SQF could therefore serve as a basis for developing education and capacity-building programmes for coast guard academies on coast guard cooperation and common operations. The SQF is available on the European Coast Guard Functions training portal.
Since capacity building and training is one of the five coast guard cooperation areas, the three agencies are integrating the relevant project outcomes and results in their existing cooperation framework.
Training Courses Catalogue
The main purpose of the Training Catalogue is to provide a list of all training courses currently undertaken by the three agencies. As requested by the Member States, the Catalogue lists all available courses and not just those that involve two or more of the agencies. Where applicable, the lists also indicate the relevant cooperation area for that training course.
A short overview helps users identify whether the available course applies to their needs. This overview may cover one or more of the following:
- the aim of the course;
- the objectives of the course; and
- the target audience of the course.
The Catalogue (available through the dedicated online platform) is split between training courses provided in person and those provided via one of the agencies’ elearning training platforms. The beginning of each section of the Catalogue includes appropriate web links, where users may explore further details on each of the courses listed, including details of how to access/apply for those training courses. Further details can also be obtained by contacting the relevant agency via the email address provided.
A number of training courses have been developed by two, or even all three, agencies and may involve the provision of trainers and/or facilities from each of the agencies in delivering the courses. It is also envisaged that, over time, further joint training courses will be developed to supplement those already provided.
As stated above, further details on all these courses are provided within the Training Catalogue and will be available on the online platform.