The Impact of International Cooperation in Public Safety Training and Education: the Case of the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS) 2014-2022

Abstract

The paper aims to enlighten impact of the international cooperation on establishment and development of public safety training and education system in Kosovo according to internationally recognized standards. There will be shown efforts of international partners, mainly the Western world, consisted namely by the United States and the European Union, to address policies and strategies of capacity building in law enforcement and public safety of an after-war country, such is Kosovo. Moreover, there will also be explained the absorbing capacities of a consolidating society, such is the one of Kosovo, to improve and strengthen its educational system both in vocational training and higher education in the field of public safety. This, amongst others, has been achieved through the IPA funds of the European Union, setting up a well-established system according to the European Qualification Framework (EQF). Additionally, there will also be described internationally recognized quality assurance achievements, such is accreditation and re- accreditation of the highest possible level from the US-based International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST). Moreover, due to the certain status of Kosovo in its European integration path, there will also be described concrete results of inclusion of Kosovo law enforcement officers in the different capacity building activities of the European Union Agency on Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL).