June 8th, 2017, diplomas were awarded to 24 graduates of the European joint Master's Degree programme Strategic Border Management. The graduation ceremony was held at Spain's University of Salamanca, one of six universities implementing the programme.
This is the first graduating class of the 18-month Master's Degree programme, during which students study in different institutions together with their peers. The programme is delivered in 3 stages and each stage represents one semester of full-time studies.
The programme was initiated by the European Union (EU) border agency, "Frontex."
Six European universities established a consortium to implement the programme, specialising in practical learning. Aside from University of Salamanca, the other universities are: the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences, Spain's National University for Distance-Learning Education, Mykolas Romeris University (MRU), Latvia's Rezekne Academy of Technologies and the Netherlands Defence Academy Faculty of Military Science.
The programme prepares border guard specialists who are well-qualified to coordinate the external EU border protection and challenges arising with the issue. EU member country universities were invited to participate in implementing the programme. In the end, there were 6 universities that agreed to take part.
Border guards, with lots of professional experience have the opportunity to study in the unique Master's Degree programme.
So far 3 graduating classes of the Master's programme have been accredited. The last class, of this programme, is set to graduate in 2021.
Programme coordinator A. Peres said that the programme, fully financed by Frontex, is expected to continue past 2021.
Some of the lectures have been held at MRU.
According to MRU Vice-Rector for Education and Research Dr. Inga Žalėnienė, the joint Master's programme is unique and there is nothing like it within the EU.
"The goal of the programme is to bring together the best EU border guards and help them to exchange practical information and learn from one another," said Dr. Žalėnienė.
It's also recognition of the quality of studies and research at Mykolas Romeris University, Dr. Žalėnienė said.
Students, graduating from the programme, are awarded a joint diploma of European Joint Master's in Strategic Border Management. It is signed by all the academic partners and recognized as a Master's Degree internationally.