Three stages are delivered during a year and a half, starting in September-October every two years and finishing in March-April, eighteen months later
Stage 1: Modules 1 to 6 (contents the general issues needed for this Master)
Each Module has a previous phase of readings and preparation for a mandatory presential week (once a month or 40 days, as an a average). During the presential weeks seminars, workshops, lectures are combined. Some of them have exams, working groups, assessment report after the presential week, etc). More details in the Students Handbook are provided to the elected candidates to be EJMBSM students)
Module 1: Strategy, planning and evaluation in border guarding. (5ECTS)
Being the first Module, Module 1 aims to be the foundation for the subsequent modules of the Programme. This module aims to develop border guarding strategies and implementation plans, evaluate effectiveness of strategic plans and review them in the context of national and EU requirements. For those reasons, the module is designed to build competences in developing strategic approaches to border management and strategic thinking skills. On completion of this module –which is structured in 14 Sessions in 2016-, the student will be able to recognise the strategic context in border management, develop basic border management strategies and implementation plans taking into consideration the Fundamental Rights; Critically evaluate implementation plans and identify areas for improvement to the strategies; Compare and contrast European Border agency approaches to strategy and planning in the context of international practice; Apply a range of evaluation techniques to assess the effectiveness of strategies and implementation plans; Review and enhance strategic goals in border management.
Module 2: Fundamental rights and ethics in European Border Security management. (5ECTS)
Module 2 aims to integrate the respect, promotion and fulfilment of fundamental rights and ethics into strategic decision making and also considering their implications on border management. The Module Handbook gives the student an overview of the main components of the module, expains the learning process and also contains the list of the international legal acts that the student is expected to be or to get familiar with. The Module, which will be developed through 13 Sessions in 2016, pretends that the student could be able to analyse where the actions taken and decision making by border guards can engage the organisation’s and the State’s obligations under the fundamental rights legislative framework; Selectively identify the potential risk of a breach of fundamental rights, including the right to make an application for international protection, and ethics within the organisation and develop strategic solutions to address them within the scope of available resources; Critically evaluate and incorporate the mechanisms for improving the strategy for fundamental rights and ethical standards within the Border Agency; Selectively identify and propose work place mechanisms to motivate and improve the culture promoting fundamental rights and ethics; Critically evaluate and promote adherence to fundamental rights and ethics resulting in performance enhancement; Selectively identify and apply good practices to avoid potential breaches of fundamental rights and ethical standards through cooperation with other EU border guarding agencies; Identify barriers to inter - agency/State cooperation in the field of protection of fundamental rights and ethics in border management and recommend appropriate action; Take timely strategic decisions in sensitive critical situations where fundamental rights could be breached, taking into consideration the implications at both national and EU level.
Module 3: Leadership and organisational development in border mangement (5ECTS)
The aim of Module 3 –which is organiced in 15 Sessions in 2016, is to address theoretical and practical requirements for managing and leading changes in organisations. The Leadership and Organisational Development in Border Management Module provides theoretical and practical frameworks with the aim to provide students for their role of change agents. The Module is based mainly on the following disciplines and fields: Organisational Development; Organisational Behaviour; Leadership in Organisations; Organisational Culture and Change Management. On completion of this Module students will be able to reflect on their own organisational culture and identify and address potential barriers in order to facilitate the application of the learning organisation culture at national and EU level, Selectively apply relevant leadership styles to promote ongoing organisational development reflecting fundamental rights and professional ethics; Analyse the impact of management and leaders’ decisions and actions in terms of EU/international standards, on relevant stakeholders; Critically evaluate alternative organisational development approaches in the context of EU standards and policies, including quality management frameworks, to sustain organisational improvement; Perform effectively in team problem solving activities, build interpersonal capability, and benefit from team learning processes; and finally Design and evaluate organisational improvement solutions in relation to interoperability through the application of change management processes. The Module Handbook gives teh student an overview of the main components of the Module, explains the learning process and contains the list of the international legal acts that the students are expected to be or to get familiar with.
Module 4: EU Borders Policies and strategies(5ECTS)
The aim of this Module, organiced through 17 Sessions i 2016, is to engage students in EU border security policies, strategies and resources, including EU decision-making procedures and strategic integration of fundamental rights. In order to enhance their professional competencies, students should be fully aware of the role played by the different institutions and agencies in the development and implementation of EU policies and strategies in the field of border management. On completion of this module the students will be able to define, explain and critically evaluate a broad range of EU border security policies and strategies, and appreciate the implications for their implementation in the national context; critically evaluate national border security policies and strategies within the context of EU security strategies; critically evaluate and apply the existing legal and procedural framework related to resource management in border security; apply a broad range of concepts and tools to implement, review and improve EU Border Strategies; strategically integrate fundamental rights within EU policies, strategies and resources.
Module 5: Innovation and technology in border security.(5ECTS)
The aim of Module 5, which contains 16 Sessions in 2016, is to critically evaluate major technological trends related to Integrated Border Management (IBM), and assess their feasibility in terms of effectiveness and strategic compatibility, applicability and cost efficiency. This module will also instil a sense for innovative approaches to be adopted in tackling specific Border Management issues and resulting improvements. On completion of this Module is pretended that the student will be able to critically evaluate emerging trends in technology related to border security in a European and national context; Strategically manage the selection, utilisation and evaluation of existing technology in order to improve the quality of border security in the context of European integrated border management; Design potential innovative solutions aimed at improving interoperable border control, taking into account organisational barriers; Ensure that the use of border technology systems complies with relevant legal and fundamental rights standards; Identify, prioritise and support the directions for research and development (R&D) that will enhance border security while facilitating the movement of goods and people.
Module 6: Researching Management practices in Border Security.(5ECTS)
Module 6, divided through 19 Sessions in 2016, emphasis on quantitative approaches in investigation. Students will be provided with an introduction to appropriate quantitative research methods and their qualities (validation, reliability, generalization...) relevant to conducting such a study leading to a research report (e.g. constructing and deploying a simple questionnaire and the evaluation and interpretation of the data obtained. In order to achive those goals, the Module Handbook gives the student an overview of the main components of the module, expaining the learning process and containning all the relevant information for recognition of prior learning.
Stage 2. Modules 7 to 10 (contents the issues for deeeping knowledge about Border management)
Module 7: The Goblal context of european Border security. (5ECTS)
Module 7, which is divided in 14 Sessions in 2016, gives the student the ability to confront and discuss global, transnational and European security concerns, identify geo-political. Socio-economic and cultural trends that can impact global and European security an influence collaboration and decisión making in border management systems. The module Handbook gives the studentd an overview of the main components of the Module, expains the learning process and contains relevant information for recognition of prior learning.
Module 8: Strategic risk and threat management for european border security.(5ECTS)
Having in mind that Risk Management implements plans and activities to reduce the possibility of the events occurring, to mitigate their consequences that should occur, and exploit the opportunities they may present, Module 8 deals with all the mentioned ideas. Module 8 considers that Risk analysis and management constitute a continuous process, and one that cannot be addressed separately or in isolation from operational design. They boath are intrinsic to planning as their results lead to refinement and adjustment of the current organizational risk management, and to a series of indicators to be monitored and contingency plans that may be implemented, requiring on-going operational management. Strategic Management of Risks and Threats, which will be dealt through 6 Sessions, are placed in the context of the European Border Management and in the context of daily work of current and future border management professionals.
Module 9: Cooperation in strategic Border Management.(10ECTS)
The aim of Module 9 -through its 11 Sessions in 2016-, is to provide students with the competence to critically evaluate the application of all previous learning in strategic context, providing comprehensive perception of methods and forms of cooperation. To identify and apply good practices in cooperation in the context of border guard management relating to such issues as investigation of cross-border crimes, policies, procedures, and so on. Module 9 also foresees enhancing the ability to apply multi-institutional, multidisciplinary and multicultural approaches. As Learning Outcomes dealt on completion of this Module, the students will be able to interpret and critically review international, EU and national cooperation mechanisms and identify barriers and solutions for productive cooperation in border security; selectively identify working principles of the international institutions and national authorities that impact on the cooperation in border security related to the EU; critically evaluate border security cooperation in the operational multicultural and multidisciplinary environment and propose feasible tactics to improve cooperation; critically evaluate the level of cooperation in cross-border investigations and find solutions to improve intra-service, inter-agency and international cooperation.
Module 10: Researching integrated practices in border Management. (10ECTS)
Module 10 deeply deals (28 Sessions in 2016) with qualitative research techniques (e.g. interview, case study, observation) and scientific writing and presentation skills the student needs for writing the Master final dissertation. Students will be given a basic introduction to qualitative methods and their qualities (validation, reliability, generalization, etcetera.) relevant to conduct such a study leading to a research report (e.g. constructing and deploying a simple case study and the evaluation and interpretation of the data obtained). In addition, students will integrate the knowledge gained from previous topics covered in all the modules of the programme and you will learn from the specialists who are embedded in a border surveillance organization (field visit). Students will finish the Module with a research report and a presentation and also a brief reflection about the practices in a group of three students.
Stage 3. Dissertation (Master thesis). (30ECTS)
This step is awarded with 30ECTS due the huge importance of this stage. After the ten modules received in one academic year, the students have around four months to prepare their dissertation, followed by a public defence with a Committee of 3 PhD including their Supervisor (no voting member)
Dissertation: Students will have to go through several Phases (1st Dissertation Meeting: Draft on individual Research Proposal; 2nd Dissertation meeting: final individual research Proposal; 3rd Dissertation meeting) aimed to the final defense of the Master Thesis. An strict control of ethics and methods for the dissertation subject has been implemented
