The COVID-19 pandemic has affected crisis management training the world over. Even so, the authorities still need to ensure that their specialists are capable of doing their duty in different areas and regions. Operations have also had to come up with new ways to train the specialists arriving in their area, and online induction is now a common method.

In spite of the pandemic, Crisis Management Centre Finland (CMC Finland) added 40 specialists to its pool through basic training in 2020. Only 23 of our specialists could participate in advanced special courses last year. The CMC had to cancel three of its own special courses, but we managed to organise two HEAT courses, which are required for high-risk areas.

New forms of training are in development

The pandemic continues to cause uncertainty for the availability of training in 2021. In particular, less in-depth training will be available, and it is likely to be mainly online training or postponed until the autumn.

The year’s first basic course in civilian crisis management will be partly organised as distance learning in March and April. We are hoping to organise three HEAT safety courses.

Last year, we piloted a course in civilian crisis management for people with experience in the field, in parallel with our basic course. We will continue to offer this new type of basic training (Civilian Crisis Management Specialist Training) in addition to the full basic course that meets the requirements of international organisations. Application coaching is part of Civilian Crisis Management Specialist Training, and we will be producing online materials to support specialists applying for operations.

Training packages in 2021

• Supported by the Finnish Border and Coast Guard Academy, we will be planning and offering the Integrated Border Management course to meet the training needs of EU operations.
• We will be piloting a peace mediation course.
• With the Research Initiative on Organised Crime, we will be offering the Advisory Support to Tackling Organised Crime course for the specialists working in different operations in Kosovo.
• With the Finnish Police University College, we will be producing an online course for improving the knowledge and people skills of specialists working in areas where religious views strongly influence society, and thus the working culture of the specialists. The course is part of the EU-funded EUPCST project.
• We will organise two in-area training courses under the EUCTI project. Their themes are yet to be decided, and we will be happy to listen to the needs of those working in these operations. You can email your suggestions directly to the training unit at training@cmcfinland.fi.
• With the Finnish Police University College, we will assist the UN in the deployment of the new mandatory STM UN Police Officers course by organising instructor training for this training package.
• We will assist the Finnish Defence Forces International Centre in the organising of the EU Integrated Approach course in September.

We are monitoring the training offered in our field and seek to provide special courses with excellent content and implementations for developing the skills of our specialists. Only a few special courses will be available this year as contact teaching, and we will be announcing online courses that specialists can complete by themselves.

All specialists selected for duty must complete Pre-Deployment Training (PDT). We will review the training requirements of every specialist’s operation and duties. At a minimum, PDT includes employer induction and an introduction to the operational area, but it may also include HEAT safety training or other special courses, for example.

Read more about training organized by CMC Finland. You can also use the CMC Finland course calendar to see the courses and training offered by us and our partners. (The links take you to the Finnish language site at the moment.)

Further information: Kinga Dévényi, training specialist, CMC Finland, tel. +358 50 597 8718, training(at)cmcfinland.fi