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VISIONBy the year 2020, the Academy will be an innovative and

internationally recognized learning, research and development center in the fi eld of internal security

MISSIONOur mission is to contribute to the increasing stability and

security in society by way of learning, research and development activities in the fi eld of internal security

CORE VALUESINTEGRITY • RESPECT • PROFESSIONALISM • OPENNESS • DEVELOPMENT

The Academy of Security Sciences is today in the landscape of higher education of Estonia, and in many ways, in the entire European Union, a unique institution of higher education, acting as a meeting point in many different areas of internal security.

Although we have historically been able to demonstrate that our graduates are able to successfully meet security challenges not only in Estonia but also for our partners abroad, we continue to aim to be a fi rm and trustworthy partner to our students and to all the educational, research and development institutions around the world.

We are currently developing a number of academic competences and learning environ-ments, which will contribute to the mutually benefi cial cooperation with all our partners, with the aim to help make the world a better place.

LAURI TABUR Rector

The Academy of Security Sciences is today in the landscape of higher education of Estonia, and in many ways, in the entire European Union, a unique institution of higher education, acting as a meeting point in many different areas of internal security.

Although we have historically been able to demonstrate that our graduates are able to successfully meet security challenges not only in Estonia but also for our partners abroad, we continue to aim to be a fi rm and trustworthy partner to our students and to all the educational, research and development institutions around the world.

We are currently developing a number of academic competences and learning environ-ments, which will contribute to the mutually benefi cial cooperation with all our partners, with the aim to help make the world a better place.

The Police and Border Guard College in Muraste

The Police and Border Guard College Paikuse School

The Rescue College Väike-Maarja School

ESTONIAN ACADEMY OF SECURITY

SCIENCES The main facilities of EASS in Tallinn

As of 2010, in the Academy of Security

Sciences are employed 279 people,

including 70 lectures

As of 2010, in the Academy of Security

OF SECURITY

As of 2010, in the Academy of Security

Sciences are employed 279 people,

As of 2010, in the Academy of Security

Sciences are employed 279 people,

T H E S T R U C T U R E O F A C A D E M Y

The Estonian Academy of Security Sciences (EASS) is an institution of professional higher education which was created in the year 1992 after the Republic of Estonia regained its independence.

The Academy belongs in the area of government of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while meeting the requirements provided for schools by the Ministry of Education and Research. EASS constitutes the only

educational institution in Estonia, which trains specialists in internal security and law enforcement. The graduates of the Academy are ex-pected to be employed by the Police and the Border Guard Board, the Tax and Customs Board, the Rescue Board and the emergency service as well as the prisons under the Ministry of Justice. The Academy has been the breeding ground for several heads of internal security agen-cies being in leadership positions today.

Education of good quality from EASSAutumn 2010, found the Academy of Security Sciences in the position as the only educational institution in Estonia at which all curriculum groups had passed evaluation by an independent quality agency. The curricula of professional higher education and the master’s study of the Academy of Security Sciences received positive evaluations in the transitional assessment of the Estonian Higher Education Quality Agency which means that the curricula of EASS are of high quality and meet the state-set high quality requirements. With the decision of the Quality Agency, the Academy has been given an unlimited right to conduct studies and issue national diplomas, which provides opportunities for graduates to continue their studies in other institu-tions of higher education and in other countries.

While teaching and compiling the curricula the requirements and trends of international education, including the requirements of the Bologna process of European Union are monitored.

EASS as learning, research and development center The Academy of the Security Sciences has created excellent oppor-tunities for successful academic work, conducting applied research, professional self-development and cooperation with organizations for its lecturers and students in Estonia and in foreign countries. The EASS publishes research papers and other internal security and pub-lic service-related educational resources. As a successful civil servant must develop themselves during their entire service, the Academy of Security Sciences offers training courses to civil servants organized by the Centre for Public Service Training and Development within the Academy of Security Sciences.

E D U C A T I O N S Y S T E M O F I N T E R N A L S E C U R I T Y

The Academy of Security Sciences publishes a monthly newspaper, bearing the name of the slogan of the EASS “Verbis aut Re.” Contributions are made by the students as well as by the staff of the academy

The Academy of Security Sciences publishes a monthly newspaper, bearing the name of the slogan of the EASS “Verbis aut Re.” Contributions are made by the students as well as by the staff of the academymade by the students as well as by the staff of the academy

The Academy of Security Sciences publishes a monthly newspaper, bearing the name of the slogan of the EASS “Verbis aut Re.” Contributions are made by the students as well as by the staff of the academythe name of the slogan of the EASS “Verbis aut Re.” Contributions are made by the students as well as by the staff of the academy

The Academy of Security Sciences publishes a monthly newspaper, bearing the name of the slogan of the EASS “Verbis aut Re.” Contributions are made by the students as well as by the staff of the academy

Estonian Academy of Security Sciences is oriented to excellent applied research and development activities of Internal Security and Law Enforcement related subjects as effective contemporary policing and border management, criminology, criminalistics, rescue and crisis management, tax and cus-toms provisions, prison and probation serv-ice as well as modernization achievements and challenges of civil service.

There is an Institute of Internal Security un-der Vice–Rector of Research and Develop-ment coordinating different applied research initiatives and Master Studies of Internal Se-curity at the Academy.

There are various research groups as Euro-peanization of Internal Security and Law En-forcement Education, Effective Fire Preven-tion, Contemporary Methods of Criminalistics and Crime Investigation, Effective Regula-tions on Public Service, Migration Infl uences to Internal Security and others organized to offer science–based knowledge and under-standing for developments of sustainable

security and stability for citizens and society both for Estonia, European Union (EU) and international organizations.

Research and Development activities of the Academy involve also Innovative Learning Technologies using Virtual Training Exercises as contemporary tools for joint instruction and evaluation of crisis management com-mand and control both on operational and strategic level.

Finding new ways of training improvement in help with correspondent scientifi c research has special role to play among new challenges of training and instruction quality developed at Estonian Academy of Security Sciences to successfully meet new opportunities of glo-bal networking and cooperation. All valuable research fi ndings are published in Annual Proceedings of Estonian Academy of Secu-rity Sciences, which is peer–reviewed scien-tifi c journal with international editorial board.

The Academy as centre of excellence of Internal Security in Estonia has number of

valuable research and development coop-eration relations with well–known EU Agen-cies as CEPOL and FRONTEX as well networks and European-wide cooperation bodies as EFSCA, EURASHE, NISPAcee, The Baltic Uni-versity Network and others.

The most important scientifi c event during academic year for Academy is Annual Inter-national Internal Security and Law Enforce-ment Conference in series of “Knowledge Intensive Security” held every year in Tallinn where high-level scientists and security ex-perts both from Estonia and abroad sharing their discoveries and discussing about inno-vative views about current developments and future trends on societal security affairs.

If you would like to cooperate with us, please do not hesitate to contact with Vice–Rector of Research and Development or our Insti-tute of Internal Security. Your cooperation and contribution would be very welcome and valuable for us!

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

MASTER’S STUDIES OF INTERNAL SECURITY

The Master’s Studies of Internal Security is a practical oriented, out-come-based education, which allows professional and personal de-velopment and supports lifelong learning for offi cials in the fi eld of internal security.

The Master’s program of Internal Security is unique in Estonia in its multidisciplinary nature and one of the few in Europe. The training program covers topics across the fi eld of internal security, address-ing, inter alia, actual topics of police, border guard, rescue service, prisons, customs and immigration. The objective of the studies is to enable students to deepen professional knowledge, but also to expand the scientifi c research base in the area of internal security.The Academy of Security Sciences complies with internationally rec-ognized master’s thesis research quality, but also provides operation-al information to the authorities in the fi eld of strategic planning and development activities.

Learning and training process Learning processes for the students of the Master’s program are support-ed and guided by the recognized fac-ulty of the Academy of Security Sci-ences, several professors from other universities in Estonia and from the partners of the Academy of Security

Sciences in foreign countries. It follows that learning takes place in both Estonian and English. The training process includes a signifi cant volume of top internal security professionals who, in addition to the knowledge based competencies offered by the Academy of Security Sciences, will increase the quality of the content of teaching with authentic applied experiences.

Open AcademyThe Academy of Security Sciences offers, through the Open Academy, opportunities for self-development for the offi cers in the fi eld and to cooperation partners who are not part of any curriculum. Subject to availability of vacant places, it is possible to participate, admission free, in all the elective subjects of the Master’s program of internal security and the open lectures and lecture series, gaining knowledge and experience from experts in the fi eld in Estonia and from abroad.

Increasing International DimensionFor the purpose of development of the Curriculum and increasing its international dimension in the range of 2010–2013, activities of the European Social Fund-supported project “Knowledge-driven Security” will be taking place. In the course of the project, an international curriculum for an elective module was created, in the framework of which, within 3 months, a series of open lectures and lecture series in cooperation with external partners and experts of the fi eld will take place. The International elective module was conducted in English and enables the mo-bility of teachers and students.

“Having reviewed the contents of the Mas-

ter’s curriculum of the Academy of Security

Sciences, it was immediately clear to me

that this is what I wanted to learn. Knowing

the lecturers of the Master’s studies as the

professionals in their area, I never doubted

for a moment the depth and value of the

knowledge provided in the program. Since

I have long worked in the fi eld of internal

security and have by now achieved the po-

sition of a middle-manager, the topics of

the curriculum seemed to be just those that

will help me in my future professional suc-

cess.”

Masters student Janek Lass recalls his thoughts preceding his entering the Master’s studies of internal security

Cooperation with Tartu University upon provision of the Master’s Studies in Business AdministrationIn 2005, cooperation with Tartu University was started for the provi-sion of Master’s studies in fi nancial management. Since autumn, 2009, at the Academy of Security Sciences, it is possible, in the framework of the Master’s studies of Business Administration of Tartu University, to pursue one’s graduate studies on the specialties of both fi nancial management and public sector economics and management. While the learners are students of Tartu University and the core subjects are taught by the lecturers of the Department of Economics of Tartu Uni-versity, the electives and the optional subjects are provided by lectur-ers of the Academy of Security Sciences. The graduates are granted a diploma from Tartu University.

The objective of the program is to provide graduate students with ad-vanced knowledge and practical applications in business and in-depth expertise in the direction of studies of management and marketing, fi nancial management, public sector economics and management. The acquired knowledge and experience provide an opportunity for self-improvement and enhanced competitiveness in the labor market.

The program is designed primarily for managers and professionals with work experience who possess a bachelor’s degree or the equiv-alent in economics or related fi eld and whose goal is to develop their knowledge and professional skills in economics and management. Studies can be completed parallel to full employment.

The Financial College

The College of Justice

The Police and Border

Guard College

The Rescue College

COLLEGES

COLLEGES FINANCIAL COLLEGE

Future tax and customs offi cials receive their education at the Financial College of the Academy of Security Sciences. Teaching of the specialty of Customs at the Academy of Security Sciences began in 1996; in 2002, the specialty of taxation was added. The Financial College received its present name in the year 2003, and since 2004, profes-sional higher education in the specialty of taxation and customs is provided in the College.

Development of the curriculumDevelopment of the new curriculum of the Financial College began in 2005–2006 in the framework of the PHARE project “Assistance to the Public Service Academy (PSA) to develop the taxation training curriculum“. Further development of the curriculum has taken place in cooperation with the Tax and Customs Board to ensure the theoreti-cal knowledge and practical skills necessary for the success and development of the graduates in the fi nancial sphere of both the private and public sectors. Today’s train-ing of tax and customs offi cers at the Academy meets all European Union standards.

Quality of the curriculumIn 2010, the Accreditation Center of the Estonian Higher Education Quality Agency ap-proved of the quality and sustainability of the curriculum of Tax and Customs as well as of the required resources and granted an education license for the curriculum for an indefi nite period. The work group stated that the curriculum has been professionally formulated; the organization of the internship is well structured, takes into account the target group and involves both students and employers’ representatives in the development of the curriculum.

Graduates of the Financial College may be employed in the areas of both taxation and customs in the Tax and Customs Board or in the private sector in Estonia and abroad.

COLLEGE OF JUSTICE

The College of Justice of the EASS is the only institution of education training prison offi cials with a professional education for the Esto-nian prison service. After regaining Estonian independence, the train-ing system of prison offi cers has been organized in several different ways, but as of the year 2010, the training has been organized at the three levels of education.

Tranining system of prision offi cers:

• Professional higher education – Educating future middle and sen-ior level prison offi cials. In particular, the educational model and the curriculum are oriented towards the training of inspector- con-tact persons, who play the leading role in management of the re-socialization process of imprisoned persons.

• Vocational education on the basis of secondary education – Train-ing guards and senior guards, whose main task is to supervise the inmates and conduct security and law enforcement protection in the prisons.

• Continuing education – Organization of various courses for prison offi cials in while in service for maintaining and improving their professional skills.

Professional higher education Professional higher education is acquired in the College in three years and the period of study is completed with passing a comprehensive fi nal examination.

The study is of a practical nature, and internships have an important role in the curriculum in acquisition of specifi c professional skills. The internship is carried out in prison and this comprises almost a third of the total study time.

In the theoretical study, several teaching methods that successfully allow the linking of theory with practice are utilized. For example, the knowledge gained in the auditorium is implemented in the “complex of training cells” of the College where the communication takes place through various role-playing in architectural circumstances similar to those of the prison. The students participate in the study process wearing the uniforms of the prison service issued to them for free by the State.

The core areas of the curriculum materials are law, psychology and criminology, principles of surveillance and security, measures of re-socialization (sentence planning, risk assessment, case manage-ment). The studies are free of charge. As of the year 2009, the study process takes place only in the form of day studies and a study group is set up of both high school graduates, as well as of those already working in the prison service. They are able to keep their salary and are released from the obligation to work during their studies.

Vocational education on the basis of secondary educationLearning occurs over a period of one year on the level of vocational education, and the main focus is on the acquisition of professional skills. The internship and the implementation of teaching methods supporting practical skills are of a high proportion.

Learning takes place, in addition to the form of day studies, also in the form of distance studies (in the cases where the offi cials in service who are studying and working simultaneously). The subjects taught are psychology and communication, conducting daily supervi-sion procedures, Russian language and the legal knowledge neces-sary for work. The studies are free of charge.

Continuing educationOrganization of continuing education is based on implementation of the training plan agreed upon with the Ministry of Justice for the calendar year. The College fi nds the lecturers, the premises, organ-izes the training and the collection and analysis of feedback from the participants. The Ministry of Justice as the contracting authority defi nes the areas and volumes of training annually and coordinates the training programs. The Ministry of Justice also fi nances the entire continuing education.

The lecturers The prison service facilitates the rotation of the prison offi cials and the motivation for intra-service movement for the position of lectur-ers and vice versa.

The Director of the College and some of the lecturers are themselves graduates of the specialty of Corrections of the College of Justice and have previously worked in the prison service. In addition to the lec-turers of the specialist subjects of the College, other lecturers of the Academy teach the general subjects in the curriculum, which ensures the optimal and rational use of the teaching staff. Prior to commence-ment of an academic year, lecturers are involved in internships in prison to maintain their professional skills. Cooperation partners and foreign relations The main national partner of the Academy regarding the specialties of Corrections and Prison Offi cers is the Ministry of Justice and the prisons belong to its area of jurisdiction.

An important foreign partner through years has been the prison staff training center in Finland (RSKK), with reciprocal study visits of lectur-ers and students and the organization of joint trainings.

In 2006 to 2008, the College of Justice participated in a foreign project for the creation of a training center for prison offi cers in Georgia and in the training of teachers there, conducted by the training center of the Swedish prison and probation offi cers and funded by the Swedish foreign aid agency (SIDA).

In 2010, in the framework of a Leonardo da Vinci mobility project, the lecturers of the College visited the training center of the Norwegian prison offi cials (KRUS), where experience was gained on organizing practical training.

POLICE AND BORDER GUARD COLLEGE

At the beginning of 2010, the Police and Border Guard Board was estab-lished, and it led to changes in the existing police and border guard related education. At the beginning of the same year, the Police College and the Border Guard College were merged.

The largest college of the Academy now bears the name of the Police and Border Guard College, and as a result of the merger, all the Border Guard and Police related education of the Republic of Estonia is concentrated in a single instruction unit.

New educational model of Police and Border Guard CollegeWith regard to the merger of the colleges and with establishment of the Police and Border Guard Board, changes in the curriculum were imple-mented. The new educational model is for a two-tier education and pre-pares young colleagues capable of bringing their skills and knowledge to perform various law enforcement tasks in the fi eld of border protection as well as the police.

The basic studies consist of a 3-year professional higher education, which is performed in the form of day studies. In distance studies, the offi cials already working in the Police and Border Guard and in prefectures can obtain higher education.

The second educational tier is the Master’s study, which is required for as-suming a managerial position. The college also provides vocational train-ing to prepare competent personnel for posts where higher education is not required.

POLICE AND BORDER GUARD COLLEGE

Teaching takes place at the Police and Border Guard College of the Academy of Security Sciences located in Muraste, and in the Paikuse School operated by the College. Rules of Procedure, which provide the mandatory code of conduct, apply to the cadets and staff of the College. Cadets are fully accommodated by the state and they are provided with very good conditions for learning and dealing with various sports activities.

PartnershipThe Police and Border Guard College of the Academy of Security Sci-ences has been actively involved as a partner in the expert groups of development and further development of pan-European police joint curriculum of CEPOL and pan-European joint curriculum of Bor-der Guard of FRONTEX.

In addition, the college is the fi rst Eastern European institution of po-lice education to belong in the European Police College Association (AEPC) and the European Police College (CEPOL) as a full member, thus keeping an active permanent dialogue with all the agencies of police training involved in collaboration of EU Member States and ENP (European Neighborhood Policy) countries.

The College has also demonstrated its ability as an international educator. Four times, the police offi cers of the Republic of Georgia received nearly six weeks of training under the guidance of interna-tional police teachers in Estonia’s Paikuse facility.

The Service Dog Training Center

The Service Dog Training Center was established in 2005 on the basis of the Neeme School of Border Guard, training service dogs and dog handlers under the Border Guard Board. In 2007, the school moved to the newly built center in the premises of the then Muraste Border Guard School. In 2008, the Department of Criminal Cynology of the Personal Protection Service was merged into the Service Dog Training Center of EASS, and since then, police and border guard service dogs and dog handlers are trained in Muraste. In addition to training, service dog assessments and professional champion-ships are organized. Service dog training has three directions:

• Human Scent Detection - Searching the human scent, which includes trail driving, searching for humans and objects with a human scent

• Drug Detection - fi nding drugs

• Use of force training

Cooperation in the training of service dogs is performed with the Tax and Customs Board, with the Prisons Department of the Ministry of Justice and with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit of the Rescue Board.

Cooperation with foreign countries includes having good training related contacts with the Swedish, Danish and Finnish police dog training centers and the Finnish Marine and Border Guard School, where the Center has re-ceived know-how about training of service dogs. The Center also has an in-tense communication with Latvian and Lithuanian centers for training border guard service dogs. During the last three years the Center has participated in the European Union Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation (FRONTEX) upon development of service for joint requirements and training plans related to service dogs.

RESCUE COLLEGE The Rescue College of the Academy of Security Sciences together with the Rescue School located in Väike-Maarja, provides a thorough preparation for a future rescue worker on the curricula of both voca-tional and higher education.

Vocational training in Väike-MaarjaOn the level of vocational training, it is possible to specialize in the profession of a rescuer, a rescue specialist, or a dispatcher, and the training takes place in the Rescue School in Väike-Maarja. To ensure the highest possible level of professional aptitude of those aspiring to become rescue specialists, the requirement of work experience of at least three years has been established for the applicants. All the stu-dents in Rescue School make use of the modern training fi eld, where it is possible to simulate situations as close as possible to reality to which each person taking on employment in the rescue service will be exposed. The internship of the students is performed in coopera-tion with the Regional Rescue Centers to ensure the highest possible level of preparation for rescue service of those taking up their post.

Training courses and rescue missionsThe Rescue School itself has, since the year 2003, developed into a recognized venue for conducting international training courses. The school has hosted courses of continuing education in the framework of the programs such as the Partnership for Peace of NATO, various UN aid agencies – INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advi-sory Group), OCHA (Offi ce for the Coordination of Humanitarian Af-fairs) and IHP (International Humanitarian Partnership), as well as other programs.

The teachers in Väike-Maarja Rescue School have themselves been involved as members of the Estonian Rescue Team in assessment and rescue missions in crisis regions in Indonesia, Pakistan and Haiti. Together with the students, they have participated in relieving the consequences of major disasters Estonia has suffered. Nearly every year, the students are involved in extinguishing forest and landscape fi res and if necessary, assisting at liquidation of the effects of other major disasters.

Higher educationIn professional higher education on the specialty of rescue service, the curriculum of which lasts four years, the student acquires the knowledge of rescue management, crisis management, monitoring of fi re safety and prevention in the fi eld of rescue work. Great empha-sis in professional higher education is placed on studying engineering related subjects. Those acquiring higher education in the specialty of rescue service are able to work in a Rescue Service Agency in the fi eld of fi re safety supervision, crisis management and operational service, or in an Alarm Center.

Partners in Estonia and foreign countriesThe foreign partners of the Rescue College are the Emergency Serv-ices College of Kuopio, Finland and the Main School of Fire Service in Warsaw, Poland. Similarly, cooperation is conducted with the schools providing rescue training in Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia. Within Estonia, good interaction has been developed with the Rescue Board, the Regional Rescue Centers, Alarm Centers, Exposal Ordnance Disposal Center and Tallinn University of Technology.

CENTRE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

In 2002, the Center of Continuing Studies was established in the Academy of Security Sciences, with the incentive to group to-gether all the expertise in the fi eld of train-ing in the Academy In 2005, the Center of Continuing Studies of the Academy and the Centre for Public Service Training and Devel-opment under the jurisdiction of the State Chancellery (formerly the Institute of Pub-lic Administration of Estonia) were merged. The new structural unit is called the the Centre for Public Service Training and Devel-opment, or ATAK, and its aim is to provide comprehensive service of continuing educa-tion throughout the entire civil service.

Fields of trainingATAK is aimed at state and local government offi cials, who are offered continuing educa-tion predominantly in the fi eld of law, pub-lic administration, management, personnel management and several specialty-specifi c professional skills. Training is mainly pro-vided in the form of short courses and of in-house training sessions, but there are also many long-term development programs. Good examples are procedure related train-

International cooperationATAK is also actively involved in internation-al cooperation. Participation in the coopera-tion networks of the continuing education centers of public administration of the Baltic countries and the meetings in this context have become a tradition. Annual familiari-zation of the work of our other European colleagues and exchange of experience is carried out.

ing of supervisory offi cials and the training of rural municipality secretaries and city sec-retaries.

Training programs and educatorsTraining programs are compiled in close co-operation with the contracting entity and thus unique, based on the needs of the specifi c organization. The educators are both recognized lecturers of the Academy of Security Sciences and practitioners from civil service. Over the years, ATAK has de-veloped a stable and highly valued network of lecturers and cooperation partners. We should highlight the close cooperation with the Public Administration and Public Serv-ice Department of the Ministry of Finance (formerly the Department of Civil Service of State Chancellery).

Flexibility of training programsIn ATAK trainings, in particular the fl exibil-ity in compilation of our training program, and organizing the training, the emphasis on practical skills and directing the lecturers towards the strategies supporting this ap-proach is especially highly recognized.

THE CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE APPLIED LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES

The Center for Innovative Applied Learning Technologies was established in 2007 with the fi nancial support of the European Com-mission, in order to improve National Author-ities’ and Law Enforcement Agencies’ readi-ness, capabilities and fl exible cooperation in prevention and crisis-management of new challenges of acts of terrorism and trans-national crime via joint training methods.

The mission is to provide methodological and didactical support to training institu-tions and other public operational services and agencies.

The Center offers a huge variety of train-ings and exercises in virtual reality, enabling trainings to be more effi cient, fl exible and more interesting.

Required skills for major emergenciesMajor emergencies such as plane and train crashes are critical incidents which are typi-cally complex, initially chaotic and often challenging to manage. These incidents require a team-based approach in which

the activities and efforts of those offi cers involved are effectively cocoordinated and properly directed. Good communication, effective use of resources and information and a clear command policy are essential if the many problems arising from such in-cidents are to be identifi ed, prioritized and resolved.

Virtual reality as learning environmentThe training of offi cers to develop these command skills requires a learning envi-ronment where the complexity, chaos and challenge of a real incident are recreated. This is where simulation is so effective as a training tool. Both programs that are cur-rently in use, the XVR and ISEE simulation systems, have been designed and built from the ground up to recreate live critical inci-dents, thereby allowing command offi cers to practice their skills, to solve command problems and to confront and overcome the many challenges of such events.

The aim of the XVR and ISEE simulation sys-tems is to bring command training to life and

to provide offi cers with experiences of inci-dent command within a training setting that are readily transferable to the real-world of a live incident. Feedback from the students suggests that the high levels of realism and immersion they experience on the XVR sys-tem provides them with a true sense of ‘be-ing there for real’.

To be realistic and immersive, simulations must be designed so that they mirror the re-ality of command. This means that the simu-lated event is one that the student might reasonably expect to be confronted with in the course of their normal work and is in line with their roles and responsibilities.

XVR SimulatorXVR is a training simulator based on 3D en-vironments and objects designed to provide incident commanders and their command teams with training that is as close to a real incident or emergency as possible. Realism within a training setting ensures that the ex-periences gained within the XVR simulator can be readily and easily transferred to live incidents and events.

Characteristics of the XVR simulation system include:

• Runs in real time

• Replicates the complexity and chaos of critical incidents

• Multi-media rich

• Team-based allowing a real command team to work together

• Support for both fast-time and slow-time decision making

• Support for both tactical and strategic levels of command

• Provision for complex information and action fl ow

• Full decision tracking and audit.

The XVR system provides students with a chance to experience the management of

XVR and ISEE are fully fl exible simulation systems that can accommodate a huge vari-ety of tactical and strategic command train-ing. Exercises delivered on either system are designed, developed and built by simulation staff at each site in response to the training needs of their organization.

Critical incidents such as plane crashes, chemical spillages, explosions, etc, are com-plex, initially chaotic and challenging to

command and manage. Simulation of such critical incidents must re-create this com-plexity, chaos and challenge by providing the students with an information rich en-vironment that looks, sounds and feels like the real thing. Through the use of 3D tech-nology combined with the audio, photos, operational radio traffi c, telephone, maps, intelligence, documentation, background noise, we are able to recreate such incidents in a very vivid and realistic way.

large-scale critical incident command with-in a safe but challenging training setting where good practice can be identifi ed and shared but where mistakes have no opera-tional consequences.

The ISEE SimulatorThe ISEE Simulator is a simulator application specially developed for practicing the logis-tic aspects of contingency planning across the entire emergency services chain.

The essence of exercising with the ISEE Simulator is to see how course participants, in a given scenario, deal with the effi cient deployment of scarce resources. A limited number of people, equipment and vehicles are available, all of which can only be de-ployed at a single location.

One unique aspect of the ISEE Simulator is the realistic representation of the coun-try or region in which the exercise takes place.

The distances between emergency serv-ices, the incident location and the resources available can also be adapted to the local situation, in the ISEE Simulator. In other words, the system deals with all problems

for which the tactical and strategic com-manders are responsible.

Training delivery and supportThe Center uses the best practices and in-structors available regarding large-scale emergencies. All of the instructors have wide experience in the area of crises Man-agement and received special training to support all the learning activities in order

to help the learner achieve all the learning goals. The Center can offer custom designed trainings to all the security services and to private security companies. The aim of the Center is also to fi nd possibilities to share knowledge gained internationally and to fi nd ways for cooperation and joint training. If our methodology can save at least one life – then we already justifi ed all the invest-ments made.

• Since 2007, the Centre has participated in the ERASMUS program of Estonian language courses in English as the language of in-struction (EILC) for foreign students from European countries, who after completion of the course will begin their studies in different universities in Estonia.

• Effective and sustainable was the intensive course of the Russian language – a collaborative project with the Norwegian Defense Academy.

• The Language Centre has had successful cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Research, with the Integration Founda-tion Our People, with Tallinn and Tartu universities and institutions of professional higher education upon the implementation of lan-guage-related projects.

• In cooperation with ATAK (Center for Public Service Training and Development), we conduct trainings of offi cial language for the employees of government agencies (Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Police and Border Guard Board, Rescue Board, the parliament, and various city, county and local governments).

The lecturers of the Language Center also take an active part in in-ternational and national professional congresses, conferences and seminars.

LANGUAGE CENTRE

The lecturers of the Language Centre of the Academy of Security Sci-ences create opportunities for students, as future civil servants, for acquisition of the offi cial language and of foreign languages neces-sary for professional communication.

Learning environmentA precondition for effective language learning is a motivating learn-ing environment: classrooms equipped with modern teaching de-vices, teaching aids needed for language learning and a faculty with professional education and long-term language teaching experience. The teachers create a relaxed and a creative atmosphere in the class-room, are attentive to students’ individual needs and support and en-courage them. The educational materials and the methods of active learning of the language courses support each student’s individual linguistic development, including the development of creativity and analytical ability. Constructive criticism received from the students’ feedback forms the basis for designing new language courses.

Language learning projectsThe Language Centre has developed cooperation with establishments of higher education in the framework of various language learning projects both in Estonia and abroad:

• In the years 2001–2006 the Centre participated in the interna-tional British Council PEP-project.

• Since 2001, the Centre has been participating in the annual semi-nars on Communication Skills Workshop (CSW) of the foreign lan-guage teachers of Estonia and Finland, in which the main focus lies in new directions in language learning.

The motto of the teaching staff of the Language Centre is the concept by K. G Jung, according to which: “Having free will means to fi nd joy in doing what you have to do!”

The activities of the lecturers of the Language Centre are characterized by the keywords:

• CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT,

• COOPERATION,

• FLEXIBILITY,

• OPENNESS and

• VALUING THE

EMPLOYEES

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSInternational relations are one of the top priorities for the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences. Cooperation and exchange of best practices with universities and other educational institutions aboard have always been highly valued by the Academy’s staff, professors and students.

The aim of the International Relations Offi ce is to help fulfi ll the mis-sion of EASS in education, research, and the area of internal security and law enforcement by promoting valuable international coopera-tion. The most important means to this end is the effi cient man-agement and further extension of its student, academic staff and research exchange programs.

To this purpose, the Offi ce:

• coordinates tasks defi ned in the bilateral agreements between EASS and foreign higher education institutions

• participate in the Erasmus, Leonardo and other mobility pro-grams

• fulfi lls tasks related to the Academy’s membership in internation-al organizations and networks

• helps organize the offi cial visits of university staff

• coordinates the programs of foreign guests visiting EASS

• contributes to the international promotion of the Academy

Some of our closest cooperation partners:

• European Commission

• Council of Europe

• British Council

• Embassy of the United States of America in the Republic of Estonia

„I am very glad to have

chosen EASS for my Erasmus

Intensive Language Course,

as I believe there wouldn’t

be any better place to start

off life in Estonia. I felt

very well prepared and the

family-like atmosphere in

the Academy helped us

adapt to our new lives very

quickly. “

Tina Habelt, participant of the EILC Summer Course 2010

• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (U.S.)

• Police College Hungary

• German Police University in Münster

• Kuopio Emergency Services College (Finland)

• Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg (Germany)

• Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia

• Polizeiakademie Niedersachsen, Germany

• Police Academy in Bratislava

• Warsaw Main School of Fire Service

• University of Mykolas Romeris (Lithuania)

• St-Petersburg University of Ministry of the Interior

• Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (Netherlands)

• University of Huelva (Spain)

• University of Maribor (Slovenia)

• NOEA Academy of Professional Higher Education Institute of Applied Management (Denmark)

• Fachhochschule für Verwaltung und Rechtspfl ege Berlin

• Laurea University of Applied Sciences (Finland)

• Ministries of Internal Affairs – as one of the implementers of intergovernmental coop-eration agreements – from Finland, Austria, Latvia, Germany, Ukraine, Russian Federa-tion, United Kingdom, Hungary

• and with government of the United States of America

EUROPEAN MIGRATION NETWORK ESTONIAN NATIONAL CONTACT POINT

In year 2009 the Estonian Academy of Secu-rity Sciences was appointed as the Estonian national contact point for communicating with the European Commission.

Objective of the European Migration Net-work (EMN) as well as EMN Estonian Na-tional Contact Point is to meet the informa-tion needs of Community institutions and of Member States’ authorities and institutions on migration and asylum, by providing up-to-date, objective, reliable and comparable information on migration and asylum, with a view to supporting policymaking in the European Union in these areas; also pro-vide the general public with information on these subjects.

EMN’s activities • Supply the European Community and its

Member States and broader public with objective trustworthy and comparable information regarding migration and asylum on the European as well as Mem-ber State level.

• Compile and issue studies and reports re-garding migration and asylum situation in the Member States (refl ecting migra-

tion and asylum statistics as well as poli-cies).

• Submit queries and reply quickly and competently to unoffi cial (ad hoc) que-ries of other Member States.

• Collect, create and preserve informa-tion regarding migration and asylum, allowing its availability to politicians, re-searchers and broader public in Estonia as well as other European Union Member States.

• Enter information about migration and asylum to EMN Information Exchange System and keep the information up to date.

• Take part of the compilation of asylum and migration glossary and thesaurus.

• Organise annual seminars and confer-ences concerning asylum and migration topics.

• Inform the public of the activities of the EMN and disseminate the outputs of the EMN.

Activities of the Estonian National Contact Point in year 2010 Studies:

• Satisfying Labour Demand through Mi-gration in Estonia

• Temporary and Circular Migration: em-pirical evidence, current policy practices and future options in Estonia

Background papers:

• Effect of economic crisis to labour migra-tion in Europe

• Refugees of Afghan origin in Europe

• Contribution of European countries in aiding victims of Haiti earthquake

Previous reports and studies • Unaccompanied Minors, 2009

• Assisted Return to and Reintegration in Third Countries – European Union pro-grammes and strategies, 2009

• The Practices in Estonia Concerning the Granting of Non-EU Harmonised Protec-tion Statuses, 2009

• The Organisations of Asylum and Migra-tion Policies in Estonia, 2008

• etc

PHYSICAL PREPARATION

The Academy of Security Sciences has been the Alma Mater for a large number of good athletes, such as an alumnus of the College of Justice, Heiki Nabi, who in the year 2006 became the world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling. An alumna of the Financial College Maarika Võsu won the silver medal in épée fencing at the World Championship during her studies at the College; an alumnus of the Po-lice College, Allar Raja has won several medals in rowing championships.

Emphasis on physical preparationAt the Academy, in comparison to a regular institution of higher education, a greater emphasis is placed on physical preparation, since in most specialties of the Academy the offi cial physical tests are a requirement. Those attempting to enter the Police and Border Guard College, the College of Justice and the Rescue College, must pass the physical tests, among other examinations.

Physical requirements for cadetsThe cadets of the Police and Border Guard College and the College of Justice of the Academy must pass the classes of physical education and self-defense; the Rescue College has also mandatory physical education classes. The physi-cal abilities of cadets are checked by way of annual tests.

Training and competitionsThe cadets are able to train for free in the sports halls of the Academy, workouts and competitions are arranged for

them and organized participation in the competitions of students, the police system, the rescue services and the prison system is carried out. On fi ve occasions, students have won fi rst place at the Estonian Students Summer Games. The team of the Academy has achieved the overall second and third place in the sports games of the Estonian law enforcement agencies held twice.

Sports eventsA long tradition of the Sports Centre of the Academy is the sports events held at the anniversary of the Academy with the participation of the alumni, and the elections of the best athlete. On an annual basis, staff members attend the tournament of the employees of institutions of higher education and in the volleyball tournament of the area of government of the Ministry of Interior. Friendly ball games with the Maritime Academy and Tallinn University of Applied Sciences have been organ-ized for the cadets.

ResearchIn the Sports Center, research related to physical abili-ties and physical activity is also conducted. The Center participates in the development of professional tests, as well as enters into contracts with other gyms for ex-tracurricular training dates and coordinates the sports related cooperation between the entities of the Acad-emy.

STUDENT LIFE

Maximizing the educational experience through sports competitions, the annual formal ball, sounding off through the school paper, the choir, dancing lessons, the band, help when needed and organized parties are all part of the Student Council Estonian Academy of Security Sciences – which repre-sents the needs and interests of all students in the university. Every student is involved in making student life easier, more comfort-able and of course – enjoyable.

Student CouncilStudents want to be heard, so they are en-couraged to write articles in the school paper. Polls about different problems are also con-ducted, so the Council and Board can react and work to remove any disadvantages. Deal-ing with the students’ problems is the main priority – members of the Council participate also in the Council of the Academy, where they can explain problems and concerns, and which allows the opportunity to cooper-ate with other institutions in the academy.The main task in the Student Council’s work is to make the students life better – not only

in school but also beyond it. Students want to get the best education possible, but also they want to chill out, get loose and relax – a well motivated student is better and more active in school. Most activities are or-ganized by the Student Council, but students from different colleges also help, so every-one is involved.

Annual BallThe biggest event is obviously the annual formal ball, where students and teachers get together and have a great time. But of course, this needs good pre-season train-ing – so, dancing lessons are offered not only for learning but also for an alternative from the studies. Choral singing is also a planned activity, where all the singing fans can develop their musical skills and perhaps even become new superstars. Surprisingly, choral singing has been extremely popular amongst students, but this yet again dem-onstrates the higher activity level of the stu-dents. Student’s musical skills can also be used in the school band, so there are plenty of activities for people who love music.

Sports and other activitiesStudents of the Academy have always been very successful in sports, competing against each other in different events usually bring a lot of students and supporters to the com-petitions. Participation in sports and having fun is good for everyone.

The school territory is very large and this provides several possibilities for organizing different events – for fi rst-year students and all others.

The Council also takes part in activities or-ganized by other Universities around Estonia and especially, around Tallinn – so there is plenty of time for studying and relaxing.

Organized activities for the students provide possibilities for a better and more conven-ient life, so all students are involved. That is the reason the Council has been successful and will continue to fi nd ways and activities to make everything even better.

Students of EASS enjoying wintertime

Quotes by the Rectors of the Academy

PRIIT MÄNNIKRector of EASS 2005–2010

The EASS is a unique phenomenon in the Es-tonian educational system, as it is the only institution of education specialising on the training of specialists in the fi eld of inter-nal security. It is our job to quarantee the preparation of the offi cers standing for the internal security of the country and the con-

tinuos improvement of the knowledge. The Academy is not only a part of the Estonian changing educational system, it is also a part of that of whole Europe.

Prof. PEETER JÄRVELAIDRector of EASS 2003–2005

Renewing and modernisation of the infra-structure of the EASS has been in the agenda for a long time. My hope is that the Estonian politicans will be able to see the institution of education providing the sustainability of the country’s internal security in a broader per-spective than just as an establishment sat-isfying the needs of the Ministry of Interior.

HEIKI LOOTRector of EASS 1998–2003

As it is common in case of institutions of education, the most important aspect is the studies and the curricula determining the studies. Unlike a university, an institution of professional higher education has to start compiling its curricula with trying to answer the question: who are we teaching?, and not – what are we teaching?

Prof. EDUARD RASKARector of EASS 1991–1998

The EASS is and has to be a lot more than just one of the many institutions of special-ty education. I have been trying to explain that in the grandiose process rebuilding the country after it regained its independence, a role of an utmost importance has been as-signed to the EASS – to set a foundation to

the research and training activity in the fi eld of national defense, to develop it to the levels of European standards and to make it suit-able for a contemporary democratic state based on the rule of law.

WHERE ARE WE LOCATED?

Main facilities of EASS in Tallinn

The Police and Border Guard College in Muraste

The Police and Border Guard College Paikuse School

The Rescue College Väike-Maarja School

WHERE ARE WE LOCATED?WHERE ARE WE LOCATED?WHERE ARE WE LOCATED?WHERE ARE WE LOCATED?WHERE ARE WE LOCATED?WHERE ARE WE LOCATED?WHERE ARE WE LOCATED?

ESTONIAN ACADEMY OF SECURITY SCIENCESKase str 61, 12012 Tallinn, Estonia

•International Relations Offi cePhone: (+372) 696 5402 Fax: (+372) 696 5343

E-mail: info@sisekaitse.eewww.sisekaitse.ee/eass/