CARIFORUM Project Launches a Postgraduate Scholarship Programme with the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies, Charles Sturt University, for Capacity Building in Customs Administration.

Georgetown, Guyana – The CARIFORUM Capacity Building in Competition, Public Procurement, and Customs and Trade Facilitation Project is excited to announce its partnership with the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies (CCES) at Charles Sturt University. Through the partnership, 8 CARIFORUM nationals will pursue the Graduate Certificate Programme in Customs Administration with the University. The scholarships encompass all application and tuition fees, in addition to providing essential course materials. The recipients come from diverse backgrounds and represent the Customs and Excise Departments of various CARIFORUM States, including Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica and Jamaica.

The Project is funded by the European Union under the 11th EDF “Support to CARIFORUM Member States in furthering the implementation of their Economic Partnership Agreement commitments and in meaningfully reaping the benefits of the Agreement” Programme. Ms. Alexis Downes-Amsterdam, Director-General, CARIFORUM lauded the partnership as another initiative aimed at strengthening the capacity of the CARIFORUM States to effectively implement the Economic Partnership Agreement between CARIFORUM and the EU.

Accredited by the World Customs Organisation, the Postgraduate Programme is designed to provide customs professionals with advanced knowledge and skills in the field of customs and border management. It has an international focus making it suitable for professionals from all around the world. The curriculum is tailored to enable students to develop advanced technical skills in traditional and topical aspects of international customs law and customs administration. Students will gain advanced judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner working in a CARIFORUM customs administration and the course will provide them with a pathway for further learning. They will be trained in international customs law, key features of customs management in the contemporary globalised world, the role and responsibilities of customs policy and practice, strategic and operational management issues, risk management in the customs context, and international trends that impact Customs such as social expectations, emerging technologies and the global economy. 

The students commenced the Programme at the CCES in March 2024 with an anticipated completion date of January 2025. Upon completion, these scholars will assume a crucial role in shaping the customs regimes in CARIFORUM and in elevating regional proficiency to effectively apply contemporary policies and practices on cross-border trade management, including the facilitation of legitimate trade, thereby contributing to the overall progress of CARIFORUM nations. We extend heartfelt congratulations to the scholarship recipients and applaud their commitment to advancing their expertise in these vital fields. 

CARIFORUM means the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States. The CARIFORUM countries that are beneficiaries of the project are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

For further inquiries or to apply for future intakes, please contact bkearney@csu.edu.au

To learn more about the project please visit: https://www.cfeucapacitybuilding.com