European union Frontiers and security: Sant’Anna school, Brigata Paracadutisti Folgore and pisa fire brigade cooperate in the heat training project for Frontex border guards
Sant’Anna School trains Frontex border guards with the support of Brigata Paracadutisti Folgore and Pisa Fire Brigade. Education and training for Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, is carried out on the basis of academic activities and training offered at the Dirpolis Institute (Law, Politics, Development) under the supervision of Professor Andrea de Guttry. The training activities of the first HEAT course (Hostile Environment Awareness Training) in Pisa continuing until Friday, October 11, aim at building capacities in International Law and implementing operations related to border management and screening, debriefing, and identification of migrants. For 2019-2020 academic year, the Dirpolis Institute will offer four HEAT courses.
Courses are taught in Pisa Sant’Anna School, at the Fire Brigade premises, at the Caserma Lustrissimi building and in the Valle Ugione area. The Frontex officers will be required to undergo specific induction and Hostile Environment Awareness training. The HEAT course is designed for border guards or individuals to receive relevant training to work and operate in hostile and high risk locations. It also allows attendees to cope with dangerous situations and potentially hazardous environments, in conflict or post-conflict areas. The course addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including border integrity, border checkpoint management, measures to tackle cross border landmines pollution combined with responsibilities linked with operational cooperation and coordination between the Agency and the authorities of specific areas.
The Dirpolis activities undertaken in the Hostile Environment Awareness training have been carried out over the past decade. Dirpolis faculty members have successfully provided training for a variety of officers and officials from UN, World Food Program, and NGOs by preparing them through workshops, role-plays and demonstrations. More recently, they have delivered hostile environment awareness training in collaboration with the expert teams of the 1 Reggimento Carabinieri Paracadutisti Tuscania, and the II Brigata Mobile dei Carabinieri.
At the opening ceremony of the HEAT course, Professor Andrea de Guttry highlighted the importance university education and training promoting the development of a common European culture. “At Sant’Anna School we are proud to provide learner-centered and effective training activities, based on the implementation of EU border management approach to the extent necessary for the performance of military or civilian duties. Our unique course guarantees the highest levels of professional knowledge and offers an academic excellence recognized by Italian armed forces and European agencies. Attendees will be able to work effectively in a hostile environment and cope with human trafficking and terrorism as well as other cross-border crimes”.
