Partnership academies : cooperation framework.
Date: 2022-10-20
Institutions: Frontex
Subjects: European conference, Frontex, cooperation in the field of education, external border of the EU, vocational training

Partnership Academies

Cooperation 
Framework

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The Partnership Academies network is an integral part of promoting 
excellence in education and training for all border and coast guard 
organisations throughout Europe, thereby contributing to the 
enhanced safety and protection of all European communities. 

Background

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (“Frontex”) is an essential 
part of the European Union’s efforts to safeguard the area of freedom, 
security and justice. With the 2019 European Border and Coast Guard 
Regulation (“the Regulation”),1 Frontex has gained new responsibilities 
and tools to more effectively support EU Member States2 in managing 
their external borders to provide a high level of security for all their 
citizens. With the European Union’s first uniformed service Frontex 
will count on its own border and coast guard officers to assist national 
authorities.

According to Article 62(8) of the Regulation, Frontex may organise 
training activities in cooperation with Member States and third 
countries on their territory. Frontex supports border and coast guard 
training organisations as important stakeholders in the fulfilment of 
their obligations. Training is understood as the shared responsibility of 
Frontex training providers and learners to identify and develop relevant 
competencies. The expertise available in Member States is utilised in all 
activities to ensure a common EU approach.

The Partnership Academies (“PA”) network is a network of national 
border and coast guard educational institutions mandated to deliver 
training to border and coast guards. Since its inception, the PA network 
has grown steadily, and the collaboration between Frontex and the PAs 
has proved to be a success. It is in the common interest of Frontex and 
national authorities to maintain and further develop the PA network in 
order to continuously improve cooperation in border and coast guard 
education and training and to allow Frontex to provide the required 
training support.

1  Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of 13 November 2019 on the European Border and Coast Guard 
(OJ L 295, 14.11.2019, p. 1).
2  For the purpose of this document, the term “Member State” includes also the States 
participating in the development of the Schengen acquis in the meaning of the Treaty on the 
Functioning of the European Union and its Protocol (No 19) on the Schengen acquis integrated 
into the framework of the European Union, that is, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and 
Iceland.

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Scope and Objectives

The PA network is a vital element for promoting excellence in border and 
coast guard education and training by maintaining effective cooperation 
with EU and non-EU law enforcement stakeholders.

The aim of the PA network is to enhance cooperation between Frontex 
and the PAs as well as among the PAs, which will facilitate national 
efforts in creating transnational partnerships to harmonise border and 
coast guard education and training. This will contribute to strengthened 
national capacities, enhanced cooperation and synergies.

The main objectives of the PA network are as follows:

To facilitate and enhance cooperation 

among border and coast guard education 

and training institutions and Frontex;

To foster a common European border 

and coast guard culture, with shared 

standards, values and practices in border 

and coast guard education and training;

To improve education and training 

for border and coast guards, making use 

of Frontex and national expertise;

To optimise the use of available 

resources for education and training.

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The Partnership Academies network is an evolving entity that is available 
to all interested institutions responsible for the provision of law enforcement 
education and training to border and coast guards.

The network’s aims should be achieved through actions consistent with 
the Frontex training standards and annual work programme.

The objectives of the PA network
are achieved in particular through:

Stakeholder events such as 
meetings and workshops;

Frontex coursesorganised 
in the PAs;

Common projects;

Exchange and mobility programmes;

eLearning courses and modules;

Educational research projects.

A PA working group is established to support the implementation of the 
PA network objectives.

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Common standards

Common educational standards constitute cornerstones for building harmonised 
competencies within border and coast guard education and training. Therefore, 
the implementation of national education and training programmes for border and 
coast guards needs to be aligned with the Common Core Curricula for Border and 
Coast Guards (including Common Core Curriculum for Border and Coast Guard 
Basic Training in the EU (CCC Basic)1 and Common Core Curriculum for Border and 
Coast Guard Mid-Level Management Training in the EU (CCC ML,)2) as well as with 
the Sectoral Qualifications Framework for Border Guarding (SQF for BG)3.

The Common Core Curricula for Border and Coast Guards (CCC) comprise 
a set of common learning standards for border and coast guards at 
the operational level in Member States, establishing a solid base for 
interoperability and cooperation in all border guard activities. The integration 
of the CCC into national systems is evaluated during the interoperability 
assessment programme. As stipulated in Art. 62(3) and (6) of the Regulation 
and in Art. 16 and 17 of the Union Code on the rules governing the movement 
of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code),4 the Member States shall 
integrate the common core curricula into the national training and ensure 
that border guards are specialised and properly trained professionals.

Frontex has also developed the Sectoral Qualification Framework (SQF) for 
Border Guarding which has been validated across the EU and represents 
a high-level reference framework that describes the occupational profiles 
and learning requirements in border and coast guarding. The SQF contributes 
to the harmonisation, comparability and compatibility of qualifications and 
creates the link between operational needs and border and coast guard 
education and training. It serves as basis for further development of the 
Frontex common core curricula and courses as it allows the comparability 
and harmonisation of training standards, irrespective of the particular type of 
national education/training institution or system.

The role played by PAs in the implementation of common standards is 
essential for the integration at national level of all common curricula to 
facilitate a common approach to European border security.

1  The Common Core Curriculum for Border and Coast Guard Basic Training in the EU (CCC 
Basic), Frontex 2017.
2  The Common Core Curriculum for Border and Coast Guard Mid-Level Management 
Training in the EU (CCC ML), Frontex 2019.
3  The Sectoral Qualifications Framework for Border Guarding (SQF for BG), Frontex 2013.
4  Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the 
movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (OJ L 77, 23.3.2016, p. 1).

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Membership

PA network members cooperate with Frontex and among themselves 
in regard to training and education-related matters. There are two 
categories of membership: Full and Associate.

Full  
membership

Associate  
membership

The  PA  network  is  open  to  entities 
that  are  recognised  as  training 
institutions in the Member States and 
provide training and education to law 
enforcement  personnel  responsible 
for  performing  border  and  coast 
guard tasks. The PA network members 
cooperate  with  Frontex  and  among 
themselves on training- and education-
related matters.

Training  institutions  can  express 
their interest in joining the network 
by  submitting  a  letter  of  intention 
and  motivation  to  Frontex  via  their 
respective National Frontex Point of 
Contact (“NFPOC”). After nomination 
by  the  NFPOC  and  upon  receiving 
approval  from  Frontex,  a  formal 
Partnership  Agreement  is  signed  by 
the  respective  PA  and  Frontex.  The 
NFPOC  and  the  National  Training 
Coordinator  (“NTC”)  are  informed 
accordingly.

Insignia

Associate membership may 
be considered for border and 
coast guard training institutions 
from non-EU countries with 
which Frontex has concluded 
a working arrangement. Frontex is 
committed to enhancing capacity 
building in those countries and 
sharing the expertise and good 
practices in education and training.

Non-EU countries’ training 
institutions that wish to join the 
network can express their interest 
by submitting a letter of intention 
and motivation to Frontex through 
their Focal Point of Contact 
(FPOC). After approval by Frontex, 
a formal Partnership Agreement 
for Associate Membership is 
signed by the respective PA 
and Frontex. That approval is 
communicated to the FPOC and 
the National Training Coordinator 
(NTC) where applicable.

All Partnership Academies are provided with an official plaque identifying them 
as Frontex PAs.

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PA Working Group

The PA Working Group comprises representatives with experience in 
training and education, nominated by PAs upon Frontex request.

Its tasks are:
n   Providing content input and active contribution to the PA network 
activities covered by the “Partnership Academies Cooperation 
Framework”;

n   Supporting Frontex in implementing the defined PA network 

objectives and in determining the scope of the network’s activities;

n   Acting as a platform to initiate cooperation activities among PAs;
n   Facilitating the sharing of experience and information between the PA 

network and Frontex;

n   Proposing priorities for the PA network activities.

The PA Working Group is nominated upon Frontex’s Call for Nominations.

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Activities

Stakeholder events

Meetings of the PA network are a key forum for establishing and 
maintaining cooperation between Frontex and PAs.

PA network meetings

PA network meetings and/or workshops are the main instrument 
for establishing and maintaining cooperation among PAs and also 
between Frontex and PAs.

The PA network meetings and/or workshops focus on a thematic 
area of relevance in the field of border and coast guard education and 
training. During the event, sessions for PAs may cover the following 
topics:
n   present and discuss ongoing and future Frontex activities and plans;
n   share information about national activities relevant to the context 

of training and education;

n   identify and agree on areas of cooperation;
n   share developed products and experiences;
n   update PAs on matters relevant to border and coast guard 

cooperation in the field of education and training.

Other meetings of the PA network and/or workshops are organised as 
needed.

Frontex courses hosted by PAs

Frontex may invite PAs to host Frontex courses and workshops on the 
premises of the PAs. In the process of selecting PAs to host training 
activities, Frontex will ensure transparency and equal opportunities to 
all the PA network members. The specific selection criteria are set up 
in the call for hosting a training activity.

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Training grants

Frontex supports national border and coast guard education and 
training projects through a grant scheme. A Call for Proposals is 
launched annually on the basis of identified training needs and Frontex 
strategic objectives.

The grant scheme addresses the development and delivery of 
training activities, curricula as well as mobility programmes and 
exchanges between border and coast guard training institutions. 
The grants support border and coast guard training institutions in 
sharing innovative practices and addressing cross-border challenges 
through training solutions or exchanges. They facilitate the formation 
of transnational consortia that reinforce and promote cooperation 
among border and coast guard training institutions at the regional 
and European level. Projects considered for grants must take into 
consideration the CCC and follow the common standards provided by 
the SQF for BG.

eLearning courses and modules

Border and coast guard training institutions 
are constantly looking for new ways to 
provide more effective learning solutions. 
Therefore, eLearning courses and modules 
are considered of strategic importance, as 
they offer increased training capabilities. 
Frontex and PAs will constantly make their 
latest developments in this field available to 
their stakeholders. In this way all members 
of the PA network can benefit from the 
achievements in this area.

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The Partnership Academies network provides a valuable forum for the exchange 
of experience and serves as an important hub in the search for innovative 
solutions in the training and education of border and coast guards.

Educational research projects

Research information and innovative solutions support operational 
activities and are integrated in education and training. The PA 
network can be used to further cooperation in research and 
innovation among border and coast guard organisations, training and 
academic institutions as well as Frontex. The network may facilitate 
and promote a coherent approach to border management research 
and use the results in education and training.

Dissemination events / roadshows

To share new educational products, Frontex 
may organise activities in cooperation 
with PAs, such as dissemination events or 
roadshows.

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Communication

To ensure smooth cooperation, it is essential to have effective 
communication and information sharing. This is mainly achieved through 
regular meetings, e-mail communication and an online platform (Frontex 
Aula) maintained by Frontex.

Frontex regularly disseminates information on training and education 
matters, awareness sessions and training workshops. Information, 
specific training content and a forum for PAs are available via Frontex 
Aula.

The PAs, in close cooperation with the respective NFPOC / FPOC and 
NTC, support Frontex in dissemination and promotion of training 
activities. Each PA must nominate a Frontex PA contact person who 
receives and disseminates information  
from Frontex on European  
border and coast guard  
training activities.

PA

PA

PA

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P

P
A

PA

PA

PA

Dissemination of information  
on training  and education matters

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The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in 
association with Partnership Academies offers opportunities for 
harmonised courses, exchanges of know-how and best practices, as 
well as for developing common standards in education and training. 

Webinars

For raising awareness about current training developments 
and products, a series of webinars are organised and PAs will be 
offered the opportunity to share their expertise, present a training 
portfolio, or deliver specific activities of common interest. Webinars 
are a cost effective method of regular communication.

Frontex Aula
Frontex’s online Learning Management System (Frontex 
Aula) is used for the management and administration of 
training as well as for providing support for training development 
and delivery. It serves as a forum for the exchange of information 
and good practices, and enables optimisation of learning resources. 
It also provides a working space for cooperation and exchange of 
information, targeting the wider European audience of border and 
coast guards. 

Working Language
The working language of the PA network is English.

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Plac Europejski 6
00-844 Warsaw, Poland
Tel. +48 22 205 95 00
Fax +48 22 205 95 01

frontex@frontex.europa.eu
www.frontex.europa.eu

© European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), 2020

PDF:
TT-06-20-162-EN-N
ISBN 978-92-9471-543-2
doi:10.2819/852957

FPI 20.0110