“Explaining and Understanding Policing and Counter-Terrorism in Europe – EUPOLCT provides research-led excellence in teaching and learning at the intersection of two fundamental areas of EU policy – the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (formerly known as Justice and Home Affairs) and EU counter-terrorism policy and law (also within the CFSP, notably in relation to counter-terrorist financing) – through an international cross-section of doctoral, post-graduate and graduate students. The objective is pursued by advancing cutting-edge blended learning formats, distance-learning, strong inter-disciplinarity, policy relevance by creating three new courses (two of them distance and blended learning) and contributing to the creation of a full Masters programme in Terrorism, Policing and Security in Europe by distance learning – the first such Masters programme in Wales and the UK, and one of the very few in Europe as a whole.

The AIMS of the EUPOLCT, are fourfold. First, to ensure students positively benefit from high-quality research-based, comprehensively multi-disciplinary teaching and make them enthusiastic about the European Union. Second, to provide a foundation by which academics and students alike are beneficially influenced via a series of cutting-edge innovative blended learning/distance learning formats on a range of multi-disciplinary themes related to EU Justice and Home Affairs. Third, to offer a series of outputs by which a wide cross-section of motivated members of civil society can be viably informed of the rich variety of contemporary EU developments. Fourth, to reinforce the various Jean Monnet objectives.

The OBJECTIVES of these inter-linked activities are first, to viably expand upon the ICPS’ original status, by developing its initial commitment to digital education into a fully-developed online Masters programme. This objective underwrites both the first and second aim of offering high-quality, research-based output offered in purely online formats, or through blended learning. The second objective goes to the heart of the research-led teaching and academic services of the ICPS, namely to offer regular, interactive and contemporary debating activities on key EU themes like EU counter-terrorism.

EUPOLCT is structured around the following outputs:

  • 1. The development of two online courses each designed to be distance-learning and blended-learning ready = leading to on Online Master Programme on Terrorism, Policing and Security in Europe (180 credits UK)
  • 2. The development of 1 traditional course, integrating Simulation exercises (PBL) within the teaching methodology
  • 3. Four research webinars per academic year within the European Security, Terrorism and Intelligence research series enhancing the aforementioned teaching activities
  • 4. One EuroSIM event activity per year for students of the University of South Wales to simulate the EU with other students from Europe and the USA
  • 5. One book series on European, Security and Justice Critiques with the Publisher Edward Elgar
  • 6. One website linked to EU Justice and Home Affairs
  • 7. Research books and other publications in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice