More than 450 alumni from 12 countries have graduated from 22 BCAMP training programmes over the past 10 years. — Photo courtesy of RMIT University

HCM CITY — RMIT University has partnered with Việt Nam’s Ministry of Public Security and Australia’s Department of Home Affairs to support pandemic preparedness across Southeast Asia through an online course for immigration and border control staff.

The Border Control Agency Management Programme (BCAMP), held from mid-July until the beginning of August, includes 52 immigration and border officers at the forefront of international efforts who will reflect on border closures, prepare for the resumption of travel and improve readiness for future pandemics.

The programme explores four key themes over four weeks, covering challenges faced by immigration agencies, best practices during COVID-19, reopening of borders, and preparations for future pandemics, with a focus on building skills and connections between immigration stakeholders.

Anita Dodds, BCAMP Programme Manager at RMIT, said that COVID-19 has challenged immigration and border operations around the world.

“While we previously realised that diseases don’t recognise borders, we were not prepared for the scale, rapidity and far-reaching impact of this pandemic," she said. "As we continue to manage the crisis, this course provides an opportunity to pioneer a flexible, online programme to review the experiences of immigration and border control agencies across the world, with a view to improving future pandemic preparedness."

Since 2010, BCAMP has provided specialised training for immigration, border and customs officers from ASEAN countries and Timor Leste under a partnership between the Australian Department of Home Affairs, Việt Nam’s Ministry of Public Security, and RMIT University.

In their usual face-to-face setting, BCAMP participants benefit from expert advice from senior immigration managers and industry stakeholders.

The newly introduced online delivery mode will include more than 20 high-ranking executives from national immigration authorities in Asia, Europe and Australia. 

United Nations’ agencies, including the World Health Organisation and the International Organisation for Migration, will also contribute.

Over the past 10 years, more than 450 alumni from 12 countries have graduated from the 22 BCAMP training programmes that have been delivered in Việt Nam and Cambodia. — VNS