On 26 May, EUBAM concluded the joint educational program held together with Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University in the first half of 2021. In the light of this, EUBAM organized a study trip to the Odesa Sea Port for the graduate students, as the last session of the University’s EU-Ukraine Integration Course.

There, EUBAM, together with representatives of border and custom authorities, presented and discussed with the students real-life aspects of their daily work in the port in order for them to gain greater understanding on the topics introduced during the first three theoretical sessions. At that time, EUBAM’s experts from Finland, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania visited the University and briefed the participants of the course about the Mission’s mandate, its contribution to the regional security and economic development. Therefore, students expanded their knowledge on a wide range of topics related to the EUBAM’s work, such as integrated border management and fighting cross-border crime.

Taking the students out of the classroom into the real world was nevertheless a great way to spark their interest and partake in an enjoyable learning experience. At the end of the study visit, top management of the Mission awarded certificates to the best-performing students and congratulated them on successful completion of the course.