On Tuesday, 25 October 2022, the Ministry of the Interior, the State Police College, Riga Stradiņš University and the University of Latvia signed an agreement on the establishment of a long-term consortium “Internal Security Academy”.
The establishment of the Internal Security Academy will improve the quality of education of law enforcement personnel, prepare high-level specialists for the needs of internal affairs and other law enforcement agencies, and attract the best teaching staff to joint educational programmes. It is also intended to create a training-relevant, modern infrastructure.
The parties concerned have agreed on common cooperation objectives, a consortium management and work organization model, jointly implemented study programs and resource-sharing facilities. Thus, on 25 October, the Minister of the Interior Kristaps Eklons, the Rector of Riga Stradiņš University Aigars Pētersons, the Rector of the University of Latvia Indriķis Muižnieks and the Director of the State Police College Dmitrijs Homenko signed the agreement on the establishment of the Internal Security Academy.
“We would like to express our gratitude to Riga Stradiņš University, the University of Latvia and the State Police College for this important step in improving the professional competence of internal affairs officers! We have gained valuable partners with whom we will be able to introduce common study programmes and who will be able to attract the most experienced staff from each of these educational institutions to the training process. The Internal Security Academy will contribute to the training of professional staff for law enforcement, improve the quality of pre-trial investigations and operational work, and in the long term reduce the shortage of critical staff. “The signing of the agreement will allow intensive work to be undertaken on the establishment of study programmes so that training can be started in the autumn of next year,” emphasizes Minister of the Interior Kristaps Eklons.
“Cooperation is the key word when we talk about preparing high-level specialists for law enforcement purposes. Riga Stradiņš University as a science university will make a significant contribution not only to the development of joint study programmes, but also to the improvement of research activities within the framework of the Internal Security Academy,” emphasizes the Rector of Riga Stradiņš University, Professor Aigars Pētersons.
“Participation in the consortium is a new challenge for the University of Latvia, which it undertakes, being aware of its responsibility towards the quality of higher education in general and, in this case in particular, towards the training of professional staff for the needs of law enforcement agencies. Security in the broad sense of the word, including physical, legal and other aspects of security, is one of the most important elements of a state governed by the rule of law, the impact of which is invaluable when it comes to people’s trust in their country, their desire to belong to it, feel protected by it and protect it themselves if the need arises,” expresses the Rector of the University of Latvia, Professor Indriķis Muižnieks. “Alongside the external security of the state, no less important is the internal security of the state, which is unthinkable without professional, loyal and responsible employees.”
The statement of I.Muižnieks is complemented by Kristīne Strada-Rozenberga, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia: “The University of Latvia, using the resources already at its disposal and independently expanding and strengthening them, is joining the consortium with its own area of responsibility in the field of justice and human resources management. We are already proud of our achievements in quality teaching and research in these areas, and we are glad that the state has recognized them by offering us the opportunity to join this consortium, transferring our knowledge directly to law enforcement officers - future and current investigators, lawyers and heads of investigative bodies. Undoubtedly, this new direction of activity will also provide a basis for the improvement of study programmes and research carried out by the University of Latvia.”
“The modern world is evolving very fast, so we need to be able to continuously find more innovative and effective solutions, including in training. The establishment of the Internal Security Academy will provide a broader opportunity to attract the best Latvian and foreign experts in the field who excel in specific topics and areas. I have no doubt that this is the most effective way to promote and develop the training process, to prepare qualified, educated and knowledgeable professionals, thus ensuring a safer Latvia. Our goal is to create a modern and up-to-date training environment where the highest level of knowledge, experience and skills can be acquired, and this is the way to achieve all that,” points out Dmitrijs Homenko, Director of the State Police College.
The founding agreement of the Internal Security Academy includes a commitment to develop and jointly implement six unique professional study programmes, attracting the best educators, industry specialists and lecturers from specialized universities abroad, as well as to develop scientific research in areas related to internal security and law enforcement. It is planned that the Internal Security Academy will offer short-cycle professional higher education, bachelor and master level studies.
The development plans of the Internal Security Academy provide a perspective for the construction of a new training / study building on Ezermalas Street 8a and 10 building complex and its sharing capacity study programmes.
On 7 February 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the establishment of the consortium “Internal Security Academy” between the Ministry of the Interior, the State Police College, Riga Stradiņš University and the University of Latvia.
Additional information:
Zane Plone
Minister of the Interior
Advisor to the Minister on Communication Issues
Telephone: +37128627003
E-mail address: zane.plone@iem.gov.lv