Summary

Development of Joint Curriculumfor First Responders on the Use of Force and First Aid Tactical Procedures

Funding:       Erasmus+ project, Key activity 2, KA220-VET – Cooperation partnerships in vocational education and training

Project Partners:

Lead Partner: 

• Ministry of the Interior, Police Academy – The First Croatian Police Officer (PA HR)

Partners:        

• Police School in Słupsk, Poland (PSS)

• Lithuanian Police School, Lithuania (LPS)

• Agency for Education and Professional Training, B&H (AEPT)

Project lump sum: 250.000,00 EUR

Project duration: 20 months (1/9/2023 – 30/4/2025)

Main objective: The main objective of the project is to develop joint curriculum (program) for the training of police officers in the area of tactics and techniques in the use of force and providing first aid. Along with the program, an accompanying manual with materials for teachers and participants will be developed – with the description of the exercises and rubrics for evaluation; a list of tactical approaches with regard to the level of threat; video materials with displays of tactics and techniques, etc. The project also foresees four pilot trainings during which the program and manual will be refined and perfected. Ultimately, actions and conduct of first responders regarding the tactics and techniques in the use of force and giving first aid will be improved and standardized through the exchange of experiences and good practices, and the harmonization of national programs of partner countries.

Partners

- Agency for Education and Professional Training (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

- Ministry of the Interior (Croatia)

- Police School in Słupsk (Poland)

Police School in Słupsk (Poland)

Throughout 70 years of its existence, Police School in Słupsk (hereinafter referred to as the PSS) has achieved dynamic technical development and has undergone countless structural and sociological changes. This resulted in the school transformation from a modest Training Centre of Citizens’ Militia into a modern Police training centre.The history of PSS – the oldest Police training centre in Poland – dates back to 28 May 1945. The PSS does not only own a modern educational infrastructure, it employs highly qualified staff and contributes to the overall Police activity by numerous special courses and events of educational, sports and voluntary nature.

Currently, the staff of the PSS consists of 189 police officers and 137 civilian employees of the Police.The current number of cadets studying at the PSS is about 1,000.What are the activities and experience of the organisation in the areas relevant for this project? What are the skills and/or expertise of key persons involved in this project?The efficient preparation of police officers to perform any tasks in the territorial units is organised as a part of basic vocational training system (for cadets) supplemented by special courses. Currently, the PSS conducts approximately 30 special courses for police officers who are in service. As the only training centre in Poland, it offers special courses for commanding officers and police officers who serve in police contingents in Peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (EULEX). Another crucial undertaking of the PSS involves the recruitment process of individuals who want to serve in Police structures.The PSS also has extensive experience in the international aspect.

For many years, it has been cooperating with foreign police training units and taking part in international projects, such as: Erasmus+, European Union Police and Civilian Services Training, Cepol, etc.The PSS has also organized several international professional workshops on topics such as: first aid, shooting, use of force. Key persons for the implementation of the project on the side of the PSS have extensive, many years of professional experience in the fields covered by the project, i.e. first aid, shooting, use of force. They also have experience in serving abroad, on EU missions, both in executive and managerial positions.

Agency for Education and Professional Training (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

The Agency for Education and Professional Training (hereinafter referred as the AEPT) is an administrative organization within the Ministry of Security of BiH, operationally independent, established pursuant to the Law on Directorate for coordination of police bodies and police support agencies of Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Official Gazette Službeni glasnik BiH number: 36/08).The Law on Directorate for coordination of police bodies and police support agencies of Bosnia and Herzegovina lays down the competencies and duties of the AEPT:a) Develop, harmonize and propose curricula and training programmes in accordance with the needs of BiH police bodiesand law enforcement agencies,b) Organize and carry out education and professional development and specialized training programs for members of BiHpolice bodies and other law enforcement agencies (basic, specialist, on-going and other forms of police trainings), including:1) Education of BiH police members at level I for a rank of police officer;2) Education of BiH police members at level II for a rank of junior inspector;3) Training for members of the agencies responsible for protection of people and property;4) Training for members of detective agencies;5) Professional training (courses, seminars etc.);c)Develop research and publishing activities and contribute to the improvement and modernization of police work;d) Library operations;e) Relevant documentation and record keeping.

In accordance with the above legal competencies, the AEPT, as its primary task, organizes and carries out basic, professional and specialized training programmes for police bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina such as:- State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), responsible for conducting organized crime investigations, fightingagainst terrorism and human trafficking, etc.- Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina- Directorate for coordination of police bodies of BiH responsible for protecting government buildings and VIPs, internationalcooperation, including INTERPOL, etc.The AEPT also facilitates and conducts training courses for other police bodies of BiH and Armed Forces of BiH, including other law enforcement agencies (Intelligence and Security Agency – OSA BiH, Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, Indirect Taxation Authority BiH – UIO BiH, etc.) when the need arises, in accordance with its tasks and duties foreseen by the law.

Since 2020 the AEPT has been seated in its newly built complex of facilities, stretching on 40 000 m2, which were built in compliance with the latest police education standards. The complex internal area is ca. 9 500 m2:- Administration building;- Teaching & learning building (lecture hall with 280 seats, 12 classrooms 24-48 seats, including E-learning classroom,criminology and forensics classroom, IT classroom);- Student accommodation building with a total capacity for 280 students (84 rooms, dining area, restaurant, 4 living rooms);- Sports venue with special facilities for Special physical education (use of force and martial sports) and gym;- Shooting range (indoor, modern, fully equipped, in compliance with security standards);The complex includes:- Tactical training range (container settlement);- Driving training area;- Sports grounds with the track and field.What are the activities and experience of the organisation in the areas relevant for this project? What are the skills and/or expertise of key persons involved in this project?achieved respectable results: we annually provide training for ca. 100 – 150 students of basic police training and ca. 1500 students of various types of professional development training courses.- The AEPT has been a holder of IADLEST (International Association of Law Enforcement Standards and Trainings)certification since 2020, which is a recognition and evidence of the fulfillment of international training standards and theefficient performance as a police academy.

The AEPT has been constantly working to align the curricula with the international training standards – it has been amongthe first police education institutions in the region to align the Basic Training Curriculum for BiH Border Police cadets withthe FRONTEX Common Core Curriculum 2017, and conduct the training courses according to it.- The AEPT is currently working to develop and harmonize the curricula for middle-level management with FRONTEXCommon Core Curriculum.- The AEPT has taken part in CEPOL’s EXPRO programe.- The AEPT is a member of INTERPA.- The AEPT is a member of AEPC.- The AEPT has excellent cooperation with NATO – the training curriculum for EOD Technician of Border Police of BiH(basic training) has been developed in accordance with NATO STANAG 2143 international standard.- The AEPT has excellent cooperation with OSCE.

Lithuanian Police School (Lithuania)

Lithuanian Police School (hereinafter referred to as the LPS) is a police vocational training institution aimed at providing vocational training which meets the requirements of the police officer’s professional activities in accordance with the thirdlevel training standard for police training and at improving the qualifications of police officers, career civil servants and employees. LPS helps the Police Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania to ensure the functioning and improvement of the training system for police officers. LPS also guarantees a high quality training process and aims to prepare police officers competently for the protection of human rights and freedoms, public safety, supervision of traffic safety and prevention of violation of law. They shall use professional means of persuasion and coercion in conflict situations, provide social assistance to individuals, prevent violation of law, qualify administrative violations of law and recognize the features of criminal offenses.LPS aims to provide learners with theoretical knowledge, practical skills, to develop the personal qualities necessary for prospective professional activities, to conduct continuing vocational training aimed at improving the qualification of the people or gaining other qualifications, to organize and implement the improvement of the qualifications of the national police system, to promote and popularize the police officer’s profession.

At present, the number of LPS employees is approximately 130, and of cadets – 130. In the last three years, on average about 16 000 participants per year have attended LPS qualification improvement events in accordance with various training programmes.What are the activities and experience of the organisation in the areas relevant for this project? What are the skills and/or expertise of key persons involved in this project?LPS devotes special attention to practical skills and competences of prospective officers, constantly developing new forms of training and sharing good practices with international partners and applying the best practices to develop their own competences. In order to exchange the experience in vocational training methods and forms, during the last three years LPS lecturers have participated as experts in the Erasmus+ strategical partnership project, where LPS has been a beneficiary institution. In addition, joint pilot trainings for the cadets of partner institutions have been organized and implemented. LPS aims at strengthening the international cooperation by means of student/cadet exchange programmes and joint events related to training, culture and sports.

The majority of the employees, including LPS authorities, have a vast experience in the establishment of cooperation with foreign organizations, negotiations and international meetings, presentations at international events and introduction of the institution to foreign guests. They also have experience in the organization and implementation of the projects of Erasmus+ programmes. They are also active participants in the planning and implementation of training and other events which develop professional and general competences.The project implementation group shall consist of employees from different LPS divisions, who have the extensive experience in participating in international projects as well as the experience in organizing international events, programmes and accommodation of programme participants. The employees also have experience in preparing cadets and personnel for the international exchange programmes.

Ministry of the Interior (Croatia)

The Ministry of the Interior (MoI HR) is a national public body and its scope of work is defined and prescribe by the Law on Organization and Scope of Ministries and Other Central State Administrative Bodies (hr. Zakon o ustrojstvu i djelokrugu ministarstva i drugih središnjih državnih tijela – Official Gazette No. 93/16, 104/16, 116/18, 127/18). The internal organizational structure and the scope of work of each organizational unit, as well as all other issues important for functioning of the Ministry, is prescribed by the Regulation on Internal Organization of the Ministry of the Interior (hr. Uredba o unutarnjem ustrojstvu Ministarstva unutarnjih poslova – Official Gazette No. 70/12, 140/13, 50/14, 32/15, 11/17, 129/17, 5/18, 109/18, 24/19, 79/19, 97/20, 7/22).

According to the mentioned legislation, Ministry of the Interior deals with administrative and other tasks related to the following areas of work: police, administrative and inspection affairs, and civil protection. The Ministry is also responsible for the education and training of police officers on all levels of education (basic, higher and lifelong).Police Academy – The First Croatian Police Officer (hereinafter referred to as the PA HR) is an institution under the jurisdiction of the General Police Directorate, which is a part of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia. It is the only institution carrying out vocational police education and training in the Republic of Croatia on all levels of education. It organises education and trainings for all operational levels and all line of police work, ensuring the acquisition of professional skills and qualities for police officers in area of protection of the public safety, human rights and freedoms and prevention of violation of law. PA HR trains learners on tactics and skills necessary for proper and effective conduction of their duties, such as legal knowledge and procedures, use of force, community collaboration and aid, communication strategies, basic and advance criminal psychology, emergency aid, mental toughness and prevention of violation of law, among others.

In organizational aspect, basic police education within PA HR is provided by Josip Jović Police School, while University of Applied Sciences in Criminal Investigation and Public Security organises and implement higher police education. Adult education and training is provided by the Department for Police Training and the Department for Lifelong Learning, which conduct courses and trainings for every line of police work. There are several other departments, which carry out international trainings and develop police education in the broadest sense, coordinate and implement projects and research, publish or provide handbooks and professional journals, and train service dogs and their handlers.At present moment, PA HR has approximately 200 employees, more than 650 cadets, and 150 students annually in formal education, whilst there is more than 88 different programmes annually for more than 5500 learners in adult education.What are the activities and experience of the organisation in the areas relevant for this project? What are the skills and/or expertise of key persons involved in this project?PA HR develops and implements diverse range of curricula in order to maintain challenges following global social trends. Due to the need for educated and professional police, in addition to recent integration of the Republic of Croatia in Schengen Area, PA HR is involved in wide range of national and international educations and trainings. From 2019, PA HR conducts trainings with German Federal Police Academy, which involve participants from the Western Balkan migrant route – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Türkiye. These trainings focus on common approaches to policing at green border with special attention on human rights.

Similarly, since 2013 PA HR with United States of America conducts trainings within the project “Partnership for Education”, which focuses on crime investigation of serious organized transnational crime and involve participants from Balkan countries as well. Furthermore, in 2022, PA HR initiated and organized five-day trilateral cadet exchange with Police School in Slupsk and Szeged Police School.Some of PA HR’s international cooperation is organised through European agencies. PA HR is providing experts for Standing Corpse Category 1 training for European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), and organise many micro trainings in cooperation with the Agency, such as Cross Border Crime Detection, Motor Vehicle Crime Detection or Use of Force, for Frontex Border Guards and external participants. Within European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), PA HR implemented more than 12 residential activities since 2013.Regarding the Erasmus+ programme, PA HR participated as partner institution in several K1 and K2 activities. Project “Development of the International Police Cadets Training Concept through Cooperative Learning” was implemented from 2019 to 2022, by the Lithuanian Police School, Police School in Slupsk and PA HR. HYBRIDC “Cooperation for developing joint curriculum on tackling hybrid threats” is an ongoing project between Estonian Academy of Security Sciences, Mykolas Romeris University from Lithuania and PA HR.Additionally, PA HR participated in projects funded by the European Commission within the H2020 Framework Programme (PROPHETS – Preventing Radicalisation Online through the Proliferation of Harmonized ToolkitS; UNITY- Enhancing cooperation between law enforcement agencies and citizens – Community policing; COST action: CA17102 – Police Stops; Participation in the project – Improved response to intolerance through research, strategic advocacy, and training (IRIS). Furthermore, MoI HR is currently involved in Twinning project EU 4 Fight against Cybercrime in BiH.Experts for this project will be from different PA HR departments, Zagreb Police Administration and Interventions Command. Their expertise includes involvement in specialized course for border guards, in area of law enforcement tactics and the use of force interventions.

In addition, they have experience in national and international projects and developing curricula, planning and delivering of training and overall professional experience in the context of use of force training. Among many, they are experienced in communication, including threat recognition, risk assessment, de-escalation and conflict avoidance techniques. They also have experience in martial arts trainings and physical education, same as tactical weapon training10 / 51Call 2023 Round 1 KA2KA220-VET – Cooperation partnerships in vocational education and training Form ID KA220-VET-1EC648A1 Deadline (Brussels Time) 22 Mar 2023 12:00:00ENand defensive tactics and advanced tactics. National experts are active participants in the planning and implementation of a different trainings and educations, which develop professional competences on national and international level. The project coordinators are employees of the PA HR whose scope of work is preparation and application of different proposals, the implementation and quality insurance of projects on national and international level.

News

Lithuania hosts the second pilot training as part of the Erasmus+ project FIRST-TAC

From 10 to 14 June 2024 the second pilot training was held at the Lithuanian Police School in Mastaičiai, within the Erasmus+ project Development of Joint Curriculum for First Responders on the Use of Force and First Aid Tactical Procedures (FIRST-TAC). 

The project is led by the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia, Police Academy – The First Croatian Police Officer, and its partners: the Agency for Education and Professional Training from Mostar, the Lithuanian Police School and the Police School in Slupsk, Poland. 

Within the project, experts from partner institutions have jointly created a training program for police officers in the field of tactics and techniques for the use of force and tactical medicine. The ultimate goal is to improve and standardize the conduct of first responding police officers when using coercive measures and providing first aid through the exchange of experience and harmonization of national programs of partner countries, under the motto “Saving lives – harmonized and standardized European policing”.

The first step of the training was independent online learning through the e-learning system of the Police Academy – The First Croatian Police Officer, which required approximately eight hours of learning. Upon completion of online learning, learners were ready to be included in a practical five-day live training. Online phase of learning gave them the opportunity to refresh and improve their theoretical knowledge before coming to the practical part of the training – by studying the materials prepared for them and checking their understanding of those materials through a series of short quizzes.

Overall 24 learners from partner institutions were included, six from each. During the five days in Lithuania they had a chance to learn and practice together, sharing their thoughts and experience.

“The most useful part of the training for me personally was tactical medicine, because it was the first time that I was involved in a training related to the MARCH protocol and providing first aid in situations that are not safe”, said Ružica Baćak after the training, adding that it was very useful to see that actions of police officers from various countries are actually very similar, with minor differences in techniques. 

This observation is in line with the objectives of the Erasmus+ program, from which the project is funded – professional, cultural and personal exchange and development, as well as the strenghtening of a common, European identity.

After this second pilot training, two more are planned – at the Agency for Training and Professional Development of Personnel in Mostar in September and the Police School in Slupsk in October 2024 – where 48 new participants from the participating countries will be included.

FIRST-TAC pilot training held in Croatia

Experts in use of force and tactical medicine completed the work on a joint training program

FIRST-TAC project experts gathered at the third development meeting

Second development meeting of FIRST-TAC project experts

FIRST-TAC project experts met at the first development meeting

From 27 November to 1 December 2023 the first development meeting of the FIRST-TAC project was held in Zagreb.

Second online meeting of the Erasmus+ project FIRST-TAC

At the beginning of this week, experts from Police Academy – The First Croatian Police Officer, Agency for Education and Professional Training Mostar, Lithuanian Police School and Police School in Slupsk held the second online meeting within the Erasmus+ FIRST-TAC project.

In two 60-minute sessions, experts for the use of force and tactical medicine from partner institutions further developed the topics for the future common curriculum, which were determined during the first online meeting. The result is harmonized list of techniques and tactics – i.e. preferred practices – related to police actions that will be the subject of the future curriculum.

The conclusions of the first two online meetings are the foundation on which the common curriculum will be built, and the experts will continue their work face-to-face, from 27 November to 1 December 2023, at Police Academy – The First Croatian Police Officer in Zagreb.

Experts from partner institutions began their work on the new, joint curriculum

Kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+ FIRST-TAC project

On 6 September 2023, kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+ program Development of Joint Curriculum for First Responders on the Use of Force and First Aid Tactical Procedures (FIRST-TAC) project was held in Split, Croatia.

Partners in the project are Ministry of Interior, Police Academy – The First Croatian Police Officer, as the leading partner, and Agency for Education and Professional Training Mostar, Lithuanian Police School and Police School in Slupsk, while the main goal of the project is to create a joint curriculum on use of force and giving first aid tactics and techniques. Along curriculum, partners will develop training manual with material for trainers and learners – description of exercises and rubrics for evaluation, list of tactical approaches with regard to the level of threat, video material with description of techniques, etc. Furthermore, the project foresees four pilot trainings that will enable partners to refine and perfect the developed curriculum and training manual.

The ultimate goal of the project is to improve and standardize conduct of first responding police officers when using coercive measures and providing first aid, through the exchange of experiences and good practices and the harmonization of national programs of partner countries.

Project duration is 20 months (1/9/2023 – 30/4/2025), and project lump sum is 250.000,00 EUR.

The project contains four Work Packages:

• WP1 Project Management
• WP 2 Development of a joint curriculum and training manual for first responders on the use of force and first aid tactics and techniques
• WP 3 Implementation of the curriculum and training manual for first responders on the use of force and first aid tactics and techniques in pilot trainings in partner countries
• WP 4 Sustainability and visibility of the project.

The project was opened by the head of the Police Academy, Josip Ćelić. He thanked the project partners for joining the project and noted that the Ministry of the Interior, Police Academy, as the leading partner, chose the partners because of their commitment, expertise and excellent existing cooperation. By working on the project, he added, partners will be able to strengthen these ties further and thereby contribute to long-term benefits for police education in partner countries.

During the meeting, representatives of partner institutions also had the opportunity to express their expectations from the project and present their institutions.

Director of the Agency for Education and Professional Training Mostar (AEPTM), Marko Vujević, thanked the hosting institution for the invitation to participate in the project, stressing that AEPTM is very open to international cooperation and that it already successfully cooperates with international organizations and EU agencies such as INTERPA, CEPOL, Frontex and the like. AEPTM was founded in 2008 within the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its main goal is the education of police officers at the state level. The key partners of AEPTM in the training are the Border Police of BiH, the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the State Investigation and Protection Agency.

Deputy Head of the Lithuanian Police School, Mindaugas Bilius, expressed his gratitude for participating in the project with the Police Academy and the Police School in Slupsk once again, recalling the previous joint project, which focused on the cadets and basic training of future police officers. The new project, with a new partner, will be an opportunity to upgrade the acquired experience, he added. The Lithuanian Police School is part of the Ministry of the Interior, Police Department, and is one of the four institutions in charge of police education in Lithuania. It provides basic police education, as well as continuous education.

Commandant of Police School in Slupsk, Piotr Cekala, also expressed his satisfaction with participating in the project and the opportunity to exchange experience in the education of police officers through a joint project. Acting Head of Commandant’s Office, Michal Jaskowski, presented the work of the School, which is one of six institutions for police education and is the oldest in Poland. More than 1,500 participants of basic training annually, as well as more than 2,500 police officers on 30 different specialist programs attend the school.

Presenting Police Academy and its project team members to the partners, Deputy Head Mirjana Abramović emphasized that Police Academy actively facilitates and encourages its employees and departments to participate in tenders for EU funding. It is one of the organizational units of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia, which, in addition to the Internal Security Fund (ISF), applies through other programs and funds, including the Horizon Europe program, as well as Erasmus+. “We can proudly say that the FIRST-TAC project is our first initiative within the Erasmus+ program, in which we are the leading partner”, she concluded.

In the first part of the meeting, the project manager in front of Police Academy, Ksenija Vujčić, presented in more detail the planned activities and obligations of the partners in the project. The second part of the meeting was dedicated to concrete arrangements regarding the first project activity – online meeting of experts who will participate in the development of the new curriculum.

Training package

Evaluation Questionnaire

for assessing the „Use of Force and Basics of Tactical Medicine for first responding uniformed police officers” Joint Curriculum

TRAINERS

Please give your comment and evaluate the compliance of the curriculum and the training delivery, using a scale where 1 indicates insufficient and 5 indicates excellent.

• Are there any obstacles to achieving learning outcomes (lack of material, equipment, inappropriate learning conditions), and if so, please list them:

1. Name the topic that you consider most important for achieving the learning outcomes and explain your choice:

1. If there is a topic that you consider unimportant for achieving the learning outcomes, name it here and explain your choice:

1. If there is a topic that, in your opinion, should be included in the future trainings, name it here and explain your choice:

1. Additional comments and notes:

LEARNERS

ONLINE LEARNING

Please give your comment and evaluate the quality of structure, learning material and technical implementation of online learning. Use a scale where 1 indicates strongly disagree and 5 indicates strongly agree.

Indicate what you find most useful and least useful in online learning, and explain your choice:

FACE-TO-FACE LEARNING

Please give your comment and evaluate the quality of structure, exercises and implementation of face-to-face learning. Use a scale where 1 indicates strongly disagree and 5 indicates strongly agree.

Indicate what you find most useful and least useful in face-to-face learning, and explain your choice:

If you have any additional comments and notes regarding the training as a whole, you can share it here:

Link for the virtual classroom of the Training in the use of force and basics of tactical medicine

Link for the virtual classroom of the Training in the use of force and basics of tactical medicine is here: https://e-obrazovanje.fkz.hr/course/view.php?id=1129

Note: Self-enrolment is not enabled. If you are interested to see the learning material, upon official request from your institution, we will grant you the access to virtual classroom.

CURRICULUM -TRAINING ON THE USE OF FORCE AND BASIC OF TACTICAL MEDICINE for first responding uniformed police officers

CURRICULUM – TRAIN-THE-TRAINERS WORKSHOP for the training on the use of force and basics of tactical medicine for first responding unifromed police officers

ERASMUS+ PROJECT FIRST-TAC

Development of Joint Curriculum for First Responders

on the Use of Force and First Aid Tactical Procedures

Aim of the workshop

The workshop is focused on teaching skills improvement of the trainers for the use of force and basics of tactical medicine training. The aim of the workshop is to equip the trainers who will deliver the Training on the Use of Force and Basics of Tactical Medicine for First Responding Uniformed Police Officers with the necessary competences related to training delivery methodology.

Furthermore, during the workshop trainers will be introduced to the goals and learning outcomes of Training on the Use of Force and Basics of Tactical Medicine, and they will be presented with the implementation plan of the curriculum.

Implementation model

The workshop will be implemented in face-to-face or online model. Online model will be delivered in real time, and with the same number and type of tasks for learners, therefore there are no differences in the learning outcomes of the two implementation models. All exercises are developed in a way that makes them suitable for both implementation models.

In face-to-face implementation model, the institution organizing the workshop will provide all resources and cover all costs.

The workshop will be implemented in national languages of partner countries, simultaneously in every partner institution.

Requirements

Time: 24 learning hours during three days

Learners: 20 (1 class) maximum

Instructors: 3 instructors minimum (4 learners per instructor)

Resources:

• 1 PC or laptop
• Internet access
• E-learning platform with virtual classroom (in online implementation model)

Location: physical or virtual classroom

Target group and entry requirements:

• Use of force and/or tactical medicine instructors
• Experience in the use of force and/or tactical medicine training delivery.

Workshop learning outcomes

Learning Strategy

The workshop is focused mainly on skills improvement regarding the implementation of learning and assessment methods of the Use of Force and Basics of Tactical Medicine Training, which will enable learners to fully deliver the training. Learners are police instructors and therefore expected to have basic knowledge in targeted area.

The workshop includes a combination of:

1. Short lectures and presentation on key topics and teaching/learning methodology
2. Active sessions in which learners practise and discuss learning and assessment methods.

Active sessions and tasks provide opportunities for learners to develop and practice skills, as well as to judge their own progress and receive feedback from peers and instructors. All exercises are related to the content of the Use of Force and Basics of Tactical Medicine Training, and the examples are extracted from it.

Learners are expected to actively take part in the discussion and practical exercises. The trainers support the learners to explore and integrate the concepts related to the workshop and also steering the process and encourage debate.

Assessment strategy

The workshop assessment strategy is designed to support learners in reaching learning outcomes. It is based mostly on formative assessment, i.e. individual feedback. Even though there are no pass/fail assessments, trainers have an obligation to point out the critical mistakes clearly, and provide suggestions for the correct course of action.

For the exercises, rubrics are created, in order to assess whether the learners have achieved learning outcomes in key areas. Feedback is provided throughout the course to ensure continuous progress and general critical standards are established.

Exercises structure of the training

Workshop Structure

Project Management Package

Activity report

Participants list

I hereby allow myself to be photographed, my personal data and voice processed in accordance with the needs of the FIRST-TAC project and Data Protection Rules

Consortium Agreement

https://e-obrazovanje.fkz.hr/pluginfile.php/96735/mod_book/chapter/657/Consortium-Agreement-countersigned-by-all-partners.pdf?time=1726663588575

Dissemination and Communication plan

Development of Joint Curriculum for First Responders on theUse of Force and First Aid Tactical Procedures

Working package:     WP 4: Sustainability and visibility of the project

Specific objective:     SO 1: creation of dissemination and communication plan, according to which dissemination of the intellectual outputs will be done

Lead Partner:            Ministry of the Interior, Police Academy

Content

1. Introduction

2. Main elements of the Communication and Dissemination Plan

3. Communication and dissemination activities, channels and tools

3.1. Quantitative indicators

4. Project logo and visual identity

4.1. European Commission’s visibility requirements

This project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union under grant number 2023-1-HR01-KA220-VET-000154168

This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the FIRST-TAC consortium and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

1. Introduction

The FIRST-TAC project was launched with the main objective to improve, harmonize and standardize conduct of first responding police officers in partner countries, primarily in tactics and techniques in the use of force and providing first aid. The main objective will be achieved through joint development of the new curriculum and training manual. The project will enable teaching staff, experts and participants of pilot trainings to exchange experience and good practices in both teaching methods and police tactics. Ultimately, it will make the first responders better equipped for daily challenges.

According to the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2024, communication and dissemination activities are aimed at sharing information about the project and results during and beyond the project life cycle. With that aim and under the Working Package 4 “Sustainability and visibility of the project” project partners created this Communication and Dissemination Plan. Main purpose of this document is to raise awareness of the project activities and to ensure that the common good practice regarding the use of force and first aid is acknowledged widely, among national authorities and first responding police officers throughout the partner countries, as well as among related agencies and services, such as fire brigades, mountain rescue services, military etc.

All project partners are considered ambassadors of the project and are encouraged and expected to be involved to different degrees in communication and dissemination efforts.

Through joint communication and dissemination activities, project partners will ensure that the impact of the project and its results is shown. Proper and intensive communication will expand partners’ network for future collaborations, raise awareness of how the EU budget is spent and show the success of European Programme.

2. Main elements of the Communication and Dissemination Plan

The communication and dissemination plan addresses the following elements:

• Purpose (“why?”) – The overall aim of the project is to develop the new curriculum and training manual which will improve, harmonize and standardize conduct of the first responders in partner countries, primarily in tactics and techniques in the use of force and providing first aid.
• Messages (“what?”) – During the first phase of the project, the main messages will be of a more general nature to create awareness of the project and its aims, and engage the relevant stakeholders. Once the project starts to generate results, the general messages will be accompanied by specific messages promoting results and other activities. Ultimately, the aim is to increase the impact of the project. The main massage is “Saving lives – harmonized and standardized European policing”
• Key audiences (“who?”) – Communication and dissemination activities will reach different stakeholders and audiences:
  • Decision-makers and leaders of partner organizations
  • Experts and teaching staff/trainers of partner organizations
  • Participants of pilot trainings
  • Wider interested public of partner organizations
  • International police organizations
  • Decision-makers and leaders of related agencies and services (fire brigades, mountain rescue services, military etc.)
  • Experts and trainers of related agencies and services
  • General public
• Methods (“how?”) – Ministry of the Interior, Police Academy will coordinate the communication and dissemination activities, working closely with the project partners. Joint effort will be key to ensure the maximum outreach and to enhance project’s impact. For these activities, the tools and channels of all partners will be used, as well as joint tools and channels. Communication to different internal and external publics will use appropriate tools and channels.
  

3. Communication and dissemination activities, channels and tools

Internal communication refers primarily to communication between partner organizations that enables the timely implementation of all planned activities, as well as the necessary reporting and creation of project outputs. The project proposal foresees the roles and tasks of each individual member of the project team. Daily communication between the project manager and the project coordinators takes place via email and/or telephone. Furthermore, a calendar of online meetings and live meetings as well as pilot trainings was created, during which all information about the progress of the project, the produced outputs and the undertaken activities are exchanged. For each individual activity, meeting notes and posts for the web and social media are made, which will be integral parts of the progress report. In case of need and with the aim of timely execution of project activities, project partners will hold ad-hoc online meetings.

Each project partner is responsible for internal communication within their organization and providing necessary information to decision-makers, as well as experts and teaching staff. In this way, support and understanding of relevant stakeholders will be ensured, and information about the project and its benefits will be disseminated. The way information will be provided is, but not limited: newsletters, thematic workshops and meetings, daily briefings, web and social media posts etc.

In addition, all project partners will present the project milestones from the moment of launching through their websites and social media.

Table 1: Calendar of activities

In addition to internal communication, external communication is also an important part, which ensures the wider outreach of the project and its sustainability even after the end of the project. Primarily, it refers to sharing information as well as project intellectual outputs with other police educational institutions, related organizations (fire brigades, mountain rescue services, military etc.) as well as the interested public.

Ministry of the Interior, Police Academy as the leading partner, will store all project intellectual outputs at the EPALE’s Erasmus+ Space, and make them available for the trainers and their learners in partner countries, but also to other police education institutions. In addition, all intellectual outputs, especially during development process will be stored in virtual classroom e-learning platform of the Ministry of the Interior, Police Academy.

Project web site will be created and used for internal communication flows and external dissemination of carried out activities at international and national level. In addition, it will be used for publication/uploading of all produced intellectual outputs according to an open access approach. It will be linked to project partner organizations’ official website, in order to strengthen virtual networking and increase visibility. Project web site will be primary source of the project overall aim and objectives, activities and achieved results. According to the progress of the project, the content of the website will be continuously extended and updated.

The project web site, websites from project partner organizations and Erasmus+ Space will act, according to an open access approach, as:

• A platform for project management;
• A communication resource to promote the project, its objectives and partnership;
• A communication resource to update interested parties on progress, events, results and outcomes;
• A repository for key deliverables and reports.

Therefore, even after the project has concluded, the information about the project and its results will be online and available to several target groups:

• Trainers/instructors who conduct in-house trainings on the use of force tactics and techniques, and first aid – a valuable source of teaching material;
• National police organizations – availability of all intellectual outputs in one place that can be used to conduct further trainings at the national level. Intellectual outputs can also serve as a basis for further training upgrades, as well as for new partnership with international and national partners;
• International partners – possibility of taking over and implementing developed, ready-made curriculum with accompanying training manual;
• Related organizations – possibility of developing new partnership with partner organizations and basis for joint trainings.

In order to achieve the greatest possible outreach at the national level, project partner organizations will use national resources to translate all intellectual outputs to their national languages.

Project partners will use their social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, LinkedIn) for internal and external communication. Each project partner is responsible for posts on their media accounts, and posts should be short, sharp and punchy. FIRST-TAC project will actively use various social networks and online communication channels to increase the impact and generate straight communication channels to allow interactions with the wide internal and external audience thought different tools depending on the communicative objective. Social networks are a powerful tool to achieve a multiplier promotional effect on communication activities.

Kick-off meeting in Split, Croatia on 5 and 6 September 2023 was basic and good informative start of the project. Project partners were introduced to the project – WP’s, financial and administrative aspects of the project. Train-the-trainers workshops in national languages will be organized simultaneously in all partner institutions through the online three-days activities, in order to disseminate the goals and key points of the curriculum and its implementation tips to as many use of force and first aid trainers as possible. Closing conference will be used for presentation of all intellectual outputs to relevant stakeholders and wider audience.

3.1. Quantitative indicators

A performance indicator, in this case a quantitative criterion is set to measure how successful communication activities are.

Table 2. Quantitative indicators

4. Project logo and visual identity

Project partners have adopted a project logo as an important tool to attract target groups’ attention and make project results sustainable. Project logo is unique, and its shape and colors will remain the same through the project implementation.

Logo will be used on all materials related to project such as project website, digital material, printed material, social media accounts etc.

For meetings and different events, as well as for reports or other project deliverables a set of standardized templates have been created. Throughout the project duration, FIRST-TAC consortium will use Power Point and Word templates designed at the beginning of the project. This ensures consistency in the visibility FIST-TAC receives and makes sure that key information on the project and its partners are shared.

4.1. European Commission’s visibility requirements

FIRST-TAC as a project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union must be implemented in full compliance with the EU visibility rules and guidelines. All project partners must be aware that:

• All project partners’ dissemination and exploitation actions are consistent with the Union’s values and priorities and with other EU-related communication activities and events
• Any communication, publication or output resulting from the project, made by the beneficiaries jointly or individually, must indicate that the project has received European Union funding. This means that all material produced for project activities must carry the Erasmus+ logo and mention: “Co-funded by the European Union”. The EU emblem is the default visual brand used to acknowledge and advertise the Union’s financial support and no other visual brands may be used for this purpose

• While using the FIRST-TAC logo and EU emblem in communication materials, the EU emblem must remain distinct and separate and cannot be mingled with, or modified by, any other visual mark, brand or text.
• Regardless of the scale, scope or objective of an action, the EU emblem must be visibly and prominently displayed – at least as prominently as that of the implementing partner concerned – on all communication and visibility materials associated with the action.
• Unless the Erasmus+ Program or the Commission requests or agrees otherwise, the following disclaimer shall be added to the inner pages of the publications: “This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the FIRST-TAC consortium and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union”.

Financial Report template

https://e-obrazovanje.fkz.hr/pluginfile.php/96735/mod_book/chapter/655/Financial%20Report%20template.xlsx

Timeshift template

https://e-obrazovanje.fkz.hr/pluginfile.php/96735/mod_book/chapter/654/Timesheet-template.xls?time=1726663095148