OSCE Mission Supports Kosovo Academy for Public Safety in Functionalizing Quality Assurance Commission

As part of its ongoing commitment to support the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS), the OSCE Mission in Kosovo recently facilitated the second study visit to the North Carolina Justice Academy (NCJA) in the United States (US).

Building on a previous course delivered to senior officials of KAPS, Kosovo Police, Police Inspectorate and Corrections by NCJA, with the support of the Mission, and the adoption of the Co-operation Protocol between NCJA and KAPS in 2024, this latest study visit marks the successful completion to fully functionalize the Quality Assurance Commission within KAPS.

The second group of public safety quality assurance co-ordinators representing KAPS alongside key institutions such as the Emergency Management Agency, Customs, and the Kosovo Probation Service, explored best practices for addressing recommendations from the Kosovo Qualification Authority and the U.S. based International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST), which has internationally accredited both NCJA and KAPS.

During their time at NCJA, the co-ordinators were introduced to the NCJA internal quality assurance mechanisms in law enforcement training academies. They explored the academy’s curriculum development processes, instructor training standards, and overall quality frameworks, all closely aligned with IADLEST criteria and widely implemented across U.S. law enforcement training academies.

The delegation’s visit was warmly received by high-level representatives of North Carolina, including the Attorney General Jeff Jackson and the State Bureau of Investigation of North Carolina, underscoring the importance of international collaboration in public safety and law enforcement training.

For Maria De Benito, Acting Director of the Department for Security and Public Safety in the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, delivering high-quality training for law enforcement and security personnel is more crucial than ever.

“Modern challenges, ranging from terrorism to cybercrime, including transnational crime, demand more than just technical proficiency. They require sound judgment, ethical leadership, and good international expertise to respond to effectively. To meet these demands, we must not only elevate our training standards but also promote international collaboration and an exchange of best practices with accredited academies”, said the Acting Director.

“Ultimately, only the best-prepared public safety professionals can truly safeguard communities”.  

This visit marks the culmination of efforts to fully establish the Quality Assurance Commission within KAPS, training all six of its public safety quality assurance co-ordinators to international standards. Equipped with the insights and skills gained from their NCJA experience, these co-ordinators are now tasked with developing and maintaining internal procedures to assess and improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and relevance of public safety training services, ensuring alignment with international accreditation standards and quality assurance standards.