EU Customs Training Curriculum Overview

Transcription

1 EU Customs Training Curriculum Overview February 2014

2 Table of Contents A. Introduction Document purpose Structure of the document... 3 B. The EU Customs Training Curriculum Background... 3 C. The EU Customs Training Curriculum Introduction What is the EU Customs Training Curriculum? How is the EU Customs Training Curriculum linked with the EU Customs Competency Framework? How does the EU Customs Training Curriculum bring value? Who is the EU Customs Training Curriculum intended for? What are the Proficiency Level Descriptors and the Decision Tree?... 7 D. The EU Customs Training Curriculum Components

3 A. Introduction 1. Document purpose This document describes the background and larger context of the EU Customs Training Curriculum. Additionally it provides an introduction to the EU Customs Training Curriculum by answering some of the commonly asked questions. Finally, an overview of the different components of the EU Customs Training Curriculum is included. 2. Structure of the document This document is organised as follows: The introductory part of the document provides sections on the document s purpose and the structure of the document; The EU Customs Training Curriculum Background chapter provides more information on the EU Customs Training Curriculum s larger context; The EU Customs Training Curriculum Introduction chapter tackles some of the most commonly asked questions related to the EU Customs Training Curriculum; The EU Customs Training Curriculum Components chapter presents the list of documents and supporting tools that form the complete EU Customs Training Curriculum package. B. The EU Customs Training Curriculum Background The development of the EU Customs Training Curriculum is part of a larger strategic framework, namely the Dublin Strategy. The Dublin Strategy is a common strategic performance development framework for the Customs profession within the EU. As such, it sets out a common training and education framework to support Member States (MS) in delivering the skills and knowledge that people working in the Customs profession need, to deliver world leading Customs services throughout the European Union (EU). The Dublin Strategy endeavours to enhance the process of performance harmonisation across the European Customs Union. This is in response to the demand from MS for a more effective action from the EU Commission in support of their current capacity in the area of Education and Training. As a result, a study was initiated to assess the feasibility of an EU coordinated Customs training programme. Upon finalisation of this Feasibility Study (2011) it was concluded that a common framework for learning and continuous development of the Customs profession would be a key step to achieve improved customs operations and better organisational performance throughout Europe. The aim of this framework is to further raise the level of the performance of Customs services throughout the EU. The framework has taken the form of a Competency Framework for the 3

4 Customs profession and its ultimate objective is to create a common basis within Europe that serves as a starting point for the development of EU coordinated Customs training programmes. Based upon this Competency Framework for the Customs profession and its associated Common Customs Roles, an EU Customs Training Curriculum has been developed. This Customs Training Curriculum can be used to develop Customs specific training programmes, for specific target group(s). This context is visualised in the figure below: Figure 1 - The larger context of the EU Customs Training Curriculum 4

5 C. The EU Customs Training Curriculum Introduction 1. What is the EU Customs Training Curriculum? The EU Customs Training Curriculum is part of an overall EU Performance Development Scheme, of which the EU Customs Competency Framework is the foundation. The EU Customs Training Curriculum supports the EU Customs administrations to develop effective and targeted training programmes for its employees. Customs administrations that are interested in developing their employees in an EU coordinated manner can use the EU Customs Training Curriculum to identify the precise knowledge and skills that its workforce needs to build, in order to improve in a specific competency. These knowledge and skill requirements are grouped per competency and are linked directly to both Learning Topics and Learning Outcomes. The EU Customs Training Curriculum is developed in such a way that it can be easily linked to the EU Common Customs Roles. These EU Common Customs Roles represent an overview of all possible roles performed in the EU Customs administrations. Associated to each of these roles is a high level role description and competency profile. The current version of the EU Customs Training Curriculum only applies to Common Customs Roles in the Public Service, i.e. to Customs Administrations. Future versions of the EU Customs Training Curriculum will also take into account the learning needs of Private Sector Customs profiles. 2. How is the EU Customs Training Curriculum linked with the EU Customs Competency Framework? The EU Customs Competency Framework consists of two major items. On the one hand, it consists of EU Customs competencies and on the other hand it consists of EU Common Customs Roles. The EU Customs Competency Framework lists all professional, operational and management competencies that are essential for the work that Customs as a whole performs. The EU Common Customs Roles consist of role descriptions and associated competencies for those roles. This means that a specific set of competencies (i.e. a competency profile) is linked to each EU Common Customs Role. The EU Customs Training Curriculum becomes applicable when training providers want to develop Customs specific training programmes. This works in the following way: 1. Training providers develop Customs training programmes for a specific target group; 2. This target group will be professionals who fulfil Customs roles as identified in the EU Common Customs Roles; 3. Each of this Common Customs Roles has a specific set of knowledge and skill requirements (i.e. the required competency profile for that Customs role); 5

6 4. The training content can then be derived from the EU Customs Training Curriculum as the Learning Topics and Learning Outcomes are documented per competency in this document. 3. How does the EU Customs Training Curriculum bring value? The EU Customs Training Curriculum serves as a tool to realise the value of the EU Competency Framework for the Customs profession in the field training & development (Cfr. the Competency Framework wheel). Doing so it delivers value at four different levels: 1. Level of the individual Increased personal growth through high quality training programmes that are aligned with the EU Customs Training Curriculum. 2. Level of the organisation Improved organisational performance through high quality training & development initiatives that are in line with the EU Customs Training Curriculum. 3. Level of the training provider Value delivered through accreditation and recognition. 4. European level Increased and more consistent performance in the field of Customs. 4. Who is the EU Customs Training Curriculum intended for? The primary intended target group of the EU Customs Training Curriculum are training developers and training providers. They can use the EU Customs Training Curriculum as a basis to develop and/or update the content of their Customs specific training programmes. When training providers develop a Customs specific training programme in line EU Customs Training Curriculum, the training programme can be EU accredited. A secondary target group are the people that are seeking development. For them the EU Customs Training Curriculum provides a means to identify the knowledge and skill areas they should pursue in order to develop themselves in a specific competency. 6

7 5. What are the Proficiency Level Descriptors and the Decision Tree? The Proficiency Level Descriptors and the Decision Tree are two easy to use tools that allow the Customs administrations in the EU Member States to assess the current proficiency levels of its individual employees regarding a specific competency. Figure 2- Proficiency Level Descriptors 7

8 You need more knowledge before you are at the Awareness proficiency level Do I need this competency in my current role(s)? I have a general understanding of what this competency is about. I have basic knowledge on this competency. END PL1: Awareness I have good working knowledge of this competency. I am able to apply that knowledge. I am able to perform standard activities with regards to this competency independently. PL2: Trained I have broad and in-depth knoweldge and skills in this field. Through my experience I am able to deal with a variety of exceptions and special cases related to this competency independently. I am able to effectively share my knowledge and experience with more junior profiles. PL3: Experienced I have extensive expert knowledge and skills in this field. I am able to highlight the (dis)advantages of each of the processes related to this competency whilst linking them to the bigger picture (e.g. the impact on the supply chain, safety & security, Trade facilitation, etc.) I am able to provide tailored advice and to underpin it with relevant and context specific arguments when responding to internal and external queries. PL4: Expert Figure 3 Decision Tree 8

9 D. The EU Customs Training Curriculum Components Training Curriculum 101 Deck (to be specifically requested) This PowerPoint deck provides a high level and visual introduction to the EU Customs Training Curriculum. Training Curriculum Professional Competencies This Word document contains the part of the EU Customs Training Curriculum that is linked to the Professional Competencies of the EU Customs Competency Framework. This means that it contains the Learning Topics that are linked to each individual Professional Competency. Additionally it contains all Learning Topics that are linked to the different proficiency levels of each individual Professional Competency. Training Curriculum Operational Competencies This Word document contains the part of the EU Customs Training Curriculum that is linked to the Operational Competencies of the EU Customs Competency Framework. This means that it contains the Learning Topics that are linked to each individual Operational Competency. Additionally it contains all Learning Topics that are linked to the different proficiency levels of each individual Operational Competency. Training Curriculum Management Competencies This Word document contains the part of the EU Customs Training Curriculum that is linked to the Management Competencies of the EU Customs Competency Framework. This means that it contains the Learning Topics that are linked to each individual Management Competency. Additionally it contains all Learning Topics that are linked to the different proficiency levels of each individual Management Competency. Legislative Reference Table (Provisional version) - This Word document provides an overview of the legal references that are linked to the EU Customs Training Curriculum. Proficiency Level Descriptors This PDF file provides a high level and visual overview of what are the key differentiating factors between the four different proficiency levels. Decision Tree This PDF file serves as a tool for the Customs administration using the EU Customs Training Curriculum and the EU Customs Competency Framework to assess the current proficiency levels of its employees for a specific competency. 9