Professionalization of Customs in Latvia

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Professionalization of Customs in Latvia

• Prof.,Dr.Aivars Krastinš Riga Technical
  University

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Requirements for customs officer profession

• education
• specialized knowledge
• practical skills
• work experience
• work functions
• goals

CUSTOMS OFFICER
PROFESSION
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Recruiting in customs (1)

• hiring people with level of education
  (college, bachelors degree, masters
  degree, etc) necessary for the specific post
  obtained in specialities close to customs

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Recruiting in customs (1)
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Recruiting in customs (2)

• organizing determined education of customs
  officers in accordance with profession standard
  and requirements of education standard

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Recruiting in customs (2)
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Education of customs officers in Latvia

• SHORT INSIGHT INTO HISTORY
• 1991 restoration of independence of the
  Republic of Latvia
• 1994 merge of two institutions dealing with tax
  administration the Customs Department and the
  Financial Inspection to establish a single
  national tax administration authority the State
  Revenue Service (SRS)

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Education of customs officers in Latvia

• PROBLEMS OF INCEPTION PERIOD
• disarray in legislation
• no profession standard for customs officers
• insufficient information on such education
  systems abroad
• no experience in elaborating such education
  systems
• elaboration of specific subjects and programs

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Education of customs officers in Latvia

• PROBLEMS OF INCEPTION PERIOD (continued)
• lack of teaching and methodological literature
• shortage of qualified lecturers
• specific customs terminology in Latvian language
• weak language skills of customs officers
• shortage of financial resources, etc

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Education of customs officers in Latvia

• SHORT INSIGHT INTO HISTORY (continued)
• 1994 foundation of International Business and
  Customs Institute (SESMI) under the Faculty of
  Engineering and Economics of Riga Technical
  University (RTU)
• a commonly used Latvian abbreviation

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Education of customs officers in Latvia

• ACHIEVEMENTS
• Professional standards developed and approved
• Customs Expert
• Head of a Structural Unit of a Customs Office
• Study programme developed
• Administration of Customs and Taxes

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Education of customs officers in Latvia

• 1st LEVEL PROFESSIONAL TERITARY EDUCATION
  PROGRAMME (college level)
• 2 years full-time 80CP ? qualification
  Customs Expert
• PROFESSIONAL BACHELORS PROGRAMME
• 4 years full-time 160CP ?
• PROFESSIONAL MASTERS PROGRAMME
• 1,5 years full time 60CP ?

qualification Head of a structural unit of a
customs office,
Professional Bachelors Degree in administration
of customs and taxes
Professional Masters Degree in administration of
customs and taxes
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Education of customs officers in Latvia
FEATURES OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM

• covering levels of college, professional
  bachelors and masters education
• studies final stage - qualification or diploma
  paper
• studies in public higher education establishment
• accredited study programme in three levels

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Education of customs officers in Latvia
FEATURES OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM (continued)

• education in area of customs and tax
• education of customs officers and customs clients
• qualification raising courses for customs
  officers and customs clients
• close co-operation between RTU and SRS

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Customs profession standard
FEATURES OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM (continued)

• similar requirements for profession of customs
  officer in different countries
• improvement of customs officer professionalism
• customs capacity building
• better co-operation in the areas of education of
  customs officers and science

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• Thank you for your attention!