Ukraine: ICITAP Assistant Patrol Police Academies Go Virtual During COVID-19 Pandemic

On August 4, the ICITAP-Ukraine mission provided an update on how ICITAP is helping the National Police of Ukraine develop a virtual training platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since before the COVID-19 crisis, ICITAP has been working with the three Patrol Police Academies (PPA) to coordinate a plan between all three PPAs for online testing, development of common standards and procedures for electronic training courses, and scenario development. To solve the PPA system’s immediate need for a better Learning Management System (LMS), ICITAP worked with the PPA IT Department to develop a transition plan from the current LMS to a new system that would be able to accommodate remote training for cadets at all three locations. ICITAP has worked to ensure a smooth transition of the data from the old system to a new one, which includes test results and all course materials for distance learning. So far, the Rivne PPA has transitioned fully to the new LMS, while the Kryvyi Rih PPA transition is seventy percent (70%) complete. In a related project, ICITAP has spearhead the development of an “Interactive Multifunction Training Hub,” which will allow the Kyiv PPA to stream training events, workshops, and conferences to other PPA locations. This will facilitate live, online participation of students regardless of which Academy they attend. This is especially valuable for events with international partners, as it allows all students and Academies to participate, thereby expanding their reach and impact. ICITAP has completed drafting the main concept, technical design, and equipment specifications for this project. In Ukraine, ICITAP works with the support of and in coordination with the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).