LIMITED 1. Course framework 1. Course framework 1.1.	Background Following the adoption of the Common Integrated Risk Analysis Model and the development of the Guidelines for Risk Analysis Units, in order to ensure harmonisation of standards in EU Member States and Schengen Associated States with respect to border management-related risk analysis, having as ul- timate goal to guarantee the availability of relevant expertise in risk analysis offices, a training and certification system for European CIRAM risk analysts was designed using the competence of EU MS specialists. Under the joint certification system, officers nominated by Member States and Schengen Associated Countries are jointly trained based on an EU curriculum, using EU training tools and course programme, while the course delivery is per- formed by EU trainers assigned by Frontex. At the end of the training, learn- ers are certified by an assessment team acting under the mandate of Frontex, based on the already designed certification system. The EU dimension of the course is ensured by the joint development of the course materials, course pro- gramme, course schedule and course assessment system under the umbrella of Frontex. The EU course for CIRAM risk analysts was built and it is being de- livered by actual risk analysts and FRAN members for future border manage- ment risk analysts and – why not – for future FRAN members. Border management organisations from EU Member States and Schengen As- sociated Countries (SAC) willing to be embrace the spirit of this programme, are kindly invited to assess and internally recognise this certification (CIRAM risk analyst) based on the already designed common standards, as a step forward in enhancing the scale of existing professional network that will enable – following such course – mutual recognition of qualifications and con- sequently Erasmus-like programmes for CIRAM risk analysts under the pa- tronage of Frontex. 1.1.1. Common definition for ‘CIRAM risk analyst’ CIRAM risk analysts are the staff operating in EU Member States or Schengen Associated Countries border management authorities, carrying out CIRAM- based risk analysis as support for decision-making. 11

LIMITED Frontex European course for CIRAM risk analysts 1.1.2. Credit points The course for CIRAM risk analysts was built in line with the European Training Qualification framework and subsequently in line with the Sectorial Qualifi- cation Framework endorsed by the Frontex Management Board in November 2012. Equivalent number of credit points: 9 (213 training hours). It follows pro- visions of the Copenhagen Declaration and Bologna Process principles. In order to have the qualification recognised in home states, documentation (English version) may be handed out to the certified CIRAM risk analysts at the end of the course. The present publication may also serve as a basis to initiate the national recognition of qualifications for CIRAM risk analysts. 1.2. Course description The basis of the course is the ‘Common core curriculum for CIRAM risk ana- lysts’ (part of the present publication) developed by Frontex Training Unit in cooperation with EU Member States and Schengen Associated Countries. The course includes one online entry module, three contact/centralised modules, 5 days of assessment and 60 hours of experiential learning in home states (di- vided between modules). The task of carrying out the experiential learning stages in home states (in border management risk analysis offices) falls un- der the responsibility of the learner and needs to be confirmed in writing by the border management Risk Analysis Unit of the respective Member State. 1.2.1. Knowledge, skills and competences In order to act as CIRAM risk analyst, the learner will be trained to: „„ justify the role and the need for a Common Integrated Risk Analysis Model; „„ describe risk analysis process and products used for comprehensive bor- der management; „„ perform risk analysis tasks; „„ prepare risk analysis products in line with CIRAM; „„ brief specific audiences in border management risk analysis-related topics; „„ take responsibility for the quality of analytical products delivered and for the information exchanged with other units/agencies; „„ ensure the reliability, integrity and validity of information collected for risk analysis and the protection of fundamental rights when performing risk analysis tasks (e.g. personal data); 12

LIMITED 1. Course framework „„ promote     cooperation and cooperate with other units within the scope of CIRAM implementation 1.2.2. Entry requirements „„ Fair command of English language (B1 minimum); „„ Available for the entire duration of the course; „„ Working as/planned to work as CIRAM risk analyst as soon as the course is completed; „„ Agreement of the sending authority to ensure future employment as risk analyst; „„ Acceptance of the sending authority of the course qualification(s) and cer- tification process. 1.2.3. Modules Course is divided into four modules, as follows: Module I (entry module) is delivered online, as self-study. Content of the mod- ule is made available, via Frontex Virtual Aula, to all potential candidates. Fu- ture or actual staff working in border management risk analysis offices may enrol online to the entry module following communication with national au- thorities, as soon as the course is officially declared open. There is no fixed limit in relation to the number of candidates enrolled by each Member States to the entry module. Enrolment requires prior registration to Frontex Virtual Aula. Access to the platform may be granted by the Virtual Aula national administrator or by the Frontex Administrator. It has to be mentioned during a candidate’s registration that the purpose is the EU course for CIRAM risk analysts. Such information will enable the administrator to provide candidates with access to the system and – at a later stage – to the entry module. Access to the entry module is granted to all candidates at the same date. Spe- cific materials are available for self-study. However, all materials available under the course platform – at the moment of receiving access to the entry mod- ule – shall be treated as supporting materials for the entry exam. The regis- tration period has a duration of 5 weeks. The allocated time granted to study the materials for entry exam is 6 weeks. 13

LIMITED Frontex European course for CIRAM risk analysts The entry exam is carried out online, at the same time for all registered learn- ers. A simulation exam is conducted usually 3 weeks in advance in order to check if technical specifications required by the platform are met by all stations to be used during the official entry exam. The exam date is communicated in advance to all learners while the exact hour is decided following a question- naire addressed to all enrolled candidates. The exam has 40 questions (mul- tiple choice) and 50 minutes allocated. The result is revealed to the candidate immediately after the test, based on the number of points achieved, as ‘short- listed’ or ‘not shortlisted’. A minimum of 50 % from the total number of points must be achieved in order to be shortlisted. Admission to the course is granted to the candidates that have passed the test, within the limit of available seats (one – exceptionally two candidates per state) based on the result obtained (e.g. if only 15 seats are available, the first 15 candidates in the order of merit will be accepted provided that they are from different states and all of them reached the minimum number of points fore- seen). In case no candidates from a certain state reaches the minimum num- ber of points foreseen, the seat is released and may be occupied by a second candidate from another state (order of merit). In case the balance per partici- pating state is considerably affected following the entry test results, the course management team reserves the right to change the required number of points for admission to 40 %. In case two candidates from the same state have the same score, the seconding state will be asked to decide on the final candidate, unless extra seats can be arranged by Frontex Training Unit. „„ Candidates are notified if they are shortlisted as soon as the entry test is submitted; „„ Detailed test results are available individually and can be seen only by the candidate; „„ General test results (ranking) will be available under the course platform in the same day; „„ The final list (course learners) will be published under the course platform latest next day; „„ The official invitation to the first course session is sent within a maximum of 5 days; „„ Non-qualified candidates will lose access to the course platform. Module II (basics of risk analysis) includes 5 days of seminars in connection with the entry exam topics and specialised sessions focusing on intelligence cycle, analytical tools and techniques, types and sources of information. An 14

LIMITED 1. Course framework experiential learning stage at home with a minimum duration of 20 hours be- fore joining module III is required. Module III (models of risk analysis) includes 5 days of lectures and seminars related to the Common Integrated Risk Analysis model, including exercises related to the identification and use of CIRAM elements in practice. An expe- riential learning stage at home with a minimum duration of 20 hours before joining module IV is required. Module IV (applied risk analysis) includes 5 days of lectures and practice re- lated to the development and use of various analytical products, CIRAM based. Simulations of certification exams are included. An experiential learning stage at home with a minimum duration of 20 hours before joining the assessment session is required. 1.2.4. Certification session This includes the knowledge test (online), the practical test (product devel- opment) and the analytical test (critical analysis of a risk analysis product). 1.2.5. Reassessment session As a resit procedure (in case of failure) the learner will be re-examined at the end of the next course which generally means 6 to 12 months later. Exception- ally, if the assessment team consider as feasible and the learner agrees, reas- sessment can be done at the end of the same assessment session. In such case, the learner will lose the right to join the initially planned (official) re-examina- tion session (6 to 12 months later). 1.3. Course venues 1.3.1. Declaration of the interest to host The locations where the modules will be carried out are selected based on the declaration of interest of training centres from EU MS and SAC. A decla- ration of interest to host must be communicated to Frontex Training Unit at the latest in September of the current year (for sessions to be carried out dur- ing the following year). 15

LIMITED Frontex European course for CIRAM risk analysts 1.3.2. Requirements for hosting locations In order to host a course module, the respective location needs to offer the following basic conditions: „„ A training facility with campus-based accommodation (minimum 20 rooms with individual shower and bathroom); „„ A hotel in the proximity of the training location (minimum 8 rooms available); „„ An airport nearby, requiring maximum 60 minutes transportation time to/ from course location to the airport; „„ A functional free Wi-Fi available both in the training centre and at the lo- cation of accommodation; „„ A training room for minimum 25 persons with functional training equip- ment (flipchart, video beamer, printer) and internet access. 1.4. Training team 1.4.1. Considerations on the assignment of the CIRAM main trainers Only experienced border management staff certified by Frontex Training Unit as ‘CIRAM risk analyst’ (with a minimum overall grade ‘good’) may be assigned as ‘CIRAM main trainer’. Main trainers are bound to attend all sessions of the course, delivering training and providing feedback to learners. Specialised topics are to be covered by the Agency’s internal staff (e.g. Risk Analysis Unit, Fron- tex Situation Centre). Assigned CIRAM main trainers are obliged to attend a Frontex train the trainer’s certification course within a maximum of 1 year fol- lowing the date of their nomination. ‘CIRAM main trainers’: „„ must have a good command of the English language (B2); „„ must have been involved in the development of training for CIRAM risk analysts; „„ must have a minimum 7 years of experience in border management risk analysis; „„ must presently work in a border management risk analysis office in an EU MS or SAC; „„ must have graduated previously from a European Course for CIRAM risk analysts organised by Frontex; „„ should have experience in delivering training for border guards/police if possible (desirable); 16

LIMITED 1. Course framework 1.4.2. Considerations on the assignment of the CIRAM course assessors ‘CIRAM’ course assessors are appointed from among existing ‘Eurosur main trainers’. Exceptionally, the main trainers used in one course may also act as assessors for the same course. However, for quality assurance purposes, it is preferable that the course and the learners are evaluated by staff who were not involved in training delivery. ‘CIRAM course assessors’: „„ must prove a good command of the English language (B2); „„ must have been involved in the elaboration of CIRAM-related documents at EU level; „„ must have been continuously involved in the development of training for CIRAM risk analysts; „„ must have minimum 10 years of experience in border management risk analysis; „„ must presently work in a border management risk analysis office in an EU MS or SAC; „„ must have acted as CIRAM main trainer in at least one European Course for CIRAM risk analysts; „„ should be a member of FRAN if possible (desirable) 1.5. Certification framework The certification session includes three tests: the knowledge test (to assess whether the theoretical concepts are mastered), a practical test (to ensure the learner is able to use their own analytical capability and own creativity in or- der to deliver CIRAM-based analytical products) and an analytical test (to as- sess whether the learner is able to evaluate and report on the quality of a risk analysis product). Tests are simultaneously evaluated by four course assessors. 1.5.1. Knowledge test This is based on points. There are 40 questions (multiple choice), each ques- tion having 0.5 points allocated for the correct answer (20 points maximum). A minimum of 10.00 points is required to pass the test. Allocated time is 50 min- utes. The test is performed online under the direct supervision of the train- ing team. The learner receives the feedback as soon as the test results are submitted. The test cannot be repeated within the same assessment session. 17

LIMITED Frontex European course for CIRAM risk analysts 1.5.2. Practical test This is based on points. It consists in the development of a risk analysis prod- uct (including methodology), based on a set of documents provided by the as- sessment team. Allotted time for the test is 180 minutes. The test is performed (in writing) under the direct supervision of the assessment team. The maxi- mum number of points is 20.00). A minimum of 10.00 points are required to pass the test. Points are granted individually by each assessor for each evaluation item, and they are cross-checked afterwards. Each sub-item may be marked from 0 to 1 points in five steps (0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00) based on a common evalu- ation file. The acceptable difference between the points granted by assessors for the same evaluation sub-item is 0.25 points. The acceptable difference be- tween the points granted by assessors for the same evaluation item is 0.50 points. The acceptable difference between the total points granted by asses- sors for the test is 1.0 point. In the case where the difference between assessors is bigger than the accepta- ble difference, negotiations are carried out until the difference is clarified. If no agreement is reached, the sub-items of assessors are both reduced automat- ically to their average until balance is established. The learner receives feed- back/results from the assessment team at the end of the certification session. 1.5.3. Analytical test This is based on points. It consists in the critical analysis of a risk analysis prod- uct (oral). Allotted time for the test: 35 minutes (10 minutes are allotted to study the case and 25 minutes for presentation and interview). The test is performed under the direct supervision of the assessment team. The maximum number of points is 20.00. A minimum of 10.00 points are required to pass the test. Points are granted individually by each assessor for each evaluation item, and they are cross-checked afterwards. Each sub-item may be marked from 0 to 1 point in five steps (0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00) based on a common evaluation file. The exception is the ‘CIRAM-based analysis’ sub-items marked from 0 to 2 points in five steps (0.00, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, 2.00). The acceptable difference between the points granted by assessors for the same evaluation sub-item is 0.25 points (0.50 points in the case of ‘CIRAM based analysis’ sub-items). The acceptable difference between the points granted by assessors for the same 18

LIMITED 1. Course framework evaluation item is 0.50 points. The acceptable difference between the total points granted by assessors for the test is 1.0 point. In the case where the difference between assessors is bigger than the accepta- ble difference, negotiations are carried out until the difference is clarified. If no agreement is reached, the sub-items of assessors are both reduced automat- ically to their average until balance is established. The learner receives feed- back/results from the assessment team at the end of the certification session. 1.5.4. Final grade In order to be certified as a CIRAM risk analyst the learner must pass all tests foreseen. In case of failure, the certification session is resumed with the pos- sibility for resit during the next certification session. Such procedure does not involve repeating the course. The learner will be re-examined only in connec- tion with the failed test(s). The final grade is calculated as follows: „„ 54.00 points or more and no failed tests: ‘outstanding’ „„ 43.00 to 53.99 points and no failed tests: ‘good’ „„ 36.00 to 42.99 points and no failed tests: ‘satisfactory’ „„ 35.99 points or less (or/and failed tests): ‘not compliant’ (failed) The final grade shall be mentioned in the graduation paper. 1.5.5. Course theses Learners are invited to elaborate a thesis (team-based or individually) of 20– 25 pages, on a specific subject (risk analysis related). The subjects are estab- lished at the end of Module II. Following the analysis by the course management team, the Frontex Training Unit may publish the most relevant theses with the support of EC (OPOCE). For every thesis marked by the course manage- ment team as ‘considered to be published’, (up to) 1.00 save point is granted to contributor(s). The point can be used during the official assessment session in any of the planned tests, as needed by the learner. 1.5.6. Save points policy At the start of each centralised module, an interim evaluation is performed (online test). The results of the interim assessments, together with the results of the entry test, are converted up to a maximum of 1 point that can be used during the official assessment session, in any of the planned tests, as needed 19

LIMITED Frontex European course for CIRAM risk analysts by the learner (sample calculation: 35 % obtained on the first test + 55 % ob- tained on the second test + 90 % obtained on the third test. Overall average: 60 %. Converted to save points: 0.60 points to be used by the learner in the official assessment session. If we include also the 1.00 save points related to the thesis, a maximum of 2 save points can be earned during the course, and these can be used by the learner during the official assessment session. 1.5.7. Selection for the pool of CIRAM main trainers Based on the results obtained (minimum ‘good’), the CIRAM course assessors may select certified CIRAM risk analysts to be taken on board as CIRAM main trainers during any of the future courses. Selected candidates will be asked to complete the train the trainer’s course delivered by Frontex Training Unit. 1.6. Administrative issues 1.6.1. Responsibility of trainees Learners are expected to fully respect all tasks given and to act according to usual disciplinary rules in the hosting state and according to the Frontex Code of conduct. Participation in the course will be ended in case of intoler- able behaviour. 1.6.2. Costs of participation All costs for training (including training materials) and participation in the course (including accommodation, catering and transportation costs) are fully covered by Frontex. Daily allowances to the participants will be reimbursed by Frontex according to the existing reimbursement rules established for every session. 1.6.3. Accommodation As a rule, learners will be accommodated on campus (single or double room equipped with individual bathroom) or hotels (depending on local possibilities) for the entire duration of the course. 20