EPTA II: Innovating Together: Connecting European Penitentiary Training Academies
In the past years, the EPTA network has proven its great potential, having developed into an even more professional and structured network. The development was marked by a substantial increase in the number of members and the launch of a new website. EPTA II: Innovating Together: Connecting European Penitentiary Training Academies further builds on these achievements in order to strengthen the network, increase its sustainability and foster more in-depth information sharing.
The ETPA network will stimulate participation and exchange among its members, allowing existing and future European partners to profit from the results of the trainings. As a direct target group, the National Training Academies will get access to innovative tools developed by the ETPA network, which enable keeping track of new developments in the field of correctional staff training. By stimulating mutual learning, the Academies will directly benefit from the project and save resources in the process of developing high quality trainings for their correctional staff.
The project will undertake the following activities:
- further development of the current ETPA website, the online platform and the Knowledge Management System
- three annual network meetings
- a crisis management workshop related to innovative training methods
- three cross-border training staff exchanges
- a meeting between EPTA and other staff training institutions such as the Confederation of European Probation.
Our Aim
Through these activities, the project aims to:
1) Improve communication between EPTA members
2) Stimulate professional exchange and cooperation between training academies on a European level, and
3) Address three specific needs identified with the Training Academies through tailor-made work sessions. These outcomes will provide a stronger and even more sustainable network with increased capacity to tackle training needs and improve cross-border cooperation.
EPTA I Membership growth
Achievements and Future Plans
Over recent years, the EPTA network has demonstrated its potential for growth and impact. The network has become more professional and structured, marked by an increase in membership and the launch of a new website. The “EPTA II: Innovating Together” project aimed to build on these achievements by strengthening the network, enhancing its sustainability, and promoting more in-depth information sharing.
The EPTA network will continue to encourage participation and exchange among its members, enabling both existing and future European partners to benefit from training outcomes. National Training Academies will continue gaining access to innovative tools developed by EPTA, aiding in tracking new developments in correctional staff training.
Some of the achievements of the project included:
- Further development of the EPTA website, online platform, and Knowledge Management System
- A crisis management workshop focused on innovative training methods
- Three cross-border staff training exchanges
- A Criminal Justice Crossover Training with the collaboration of EuroPris, the Confederation of European Probation and the European Forum of Restorative Justice.
Project Implementation
Funder: European Commission
Partners: European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services, Scoala Nationala de Pregantire a Penitenciare Tirgu Ocna (Romania) Department of Justice and Equality (Ireland), General Directorate Execution of Sentences (Bulgaria) and the Ecole National d’Administration Penitentiare (France).
Project period: 30 months, start in spring 2021
Budget: € 707,059.21
