13/09/2024

The annual conference of the European Association of Police Colleges and Academies (AEPC) was held in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, from September 9 to 11, with the participation of Marko Vujević, Director of the Agency for Education and Professional Training.

The central theme of this year's conference focused on artificial intelligence. Over the course of two days there were a series of lectures and discussions about the application of artificial intelligence in higher education for police forces, challenges in education, the relationship between artificial intelligence and law enforcement, improvements in operations, and the use of artificial intelligence in police activities, as well as the practical aspects of using artificial intelligence in preventing and investigating crimes.

A meeting of the AEPC General Assembly's Board of Directors was also held in Tbilisi, during which Stefan Aegerter, Director of the Swiss Police Institute was elected as the new President of the European Association of Police Colleges and Academies.

AEPC was founded in 1996 and today brings together 59 police academies, universities, and colleges from 45 European countries. Its main goal is to promote and exchange knowledge, practices, and research in the fields of strategic police management and innovation in police leadership. Additionally, AEPC encourages the harmonization of police training and ensures that the highest standards are applied in all member countries.

"Unity in diversity will be achieved when member countries actively participate in the further development of AEPC. I count on your active support in the future. I also invite our partner institutions, CEPOL, MEPA, EUROPOL, and INTERPOL, to join forces and intensify joint efforts in finding a coordinated and effective response to the growing challenges of policing in today's world," stated the new AEPC president, who thanked Dr. Norbert Leitner for his wise leadership of AEPC over the past eight years.