EU Counterintelligence Operations

Enabling officials to conduct counterintelligence operations to regional and international standards.

The EU Counterintelligence Course (EUCIC) combines foundation and advanced surveillance, investigation, security and counterintelligence courses with specialist counterintelligence informant handling and analysis, counter-terrorism and anti-terrorism programmes as prescribed by international and regional curriculum. Students learn offensive and defensive counterintelligence techniques, advanced counterintelligence agent handling, surveillance, security and investigation suitable for countering state-level actors. The course draws particular focus to regional and international law, ethical standards, security and policy.

Introducing students to counterintelligence, the course takes students with an existing knowledge of intelligence to the position of recognised counterintelligence practitioners.

Target Audience

The course is oriented towards trained and experienced intelligence professionals with a specific pre-existing skill set and has historically attracted the following representations. Therefore, in addition to the usual minimum requirements for all Institute training, applicants should also posses regional training in:

• intelligence on the operations, analysis or command track, equivalent to the EUIOC, EUIAC, EUIMC, or similar; and
• interview and interrogation equivalent to the EU3IC or similar.
• informant handling equivalent to the EUAHC or similar.

	Internationals: Representatives from EU, UN and other international agencies, missions and institutions.		Nationals: National intelligence, military and law-enforcement delegates attending on behalf of European states.
	Non-Profits: Functionaries in a position of public trust representing the media, NGOs, charitable and other third sector organisations.		Others: Professionals from the private sector, academia and other organisations.

Learning Objectives

	ECIM Concepts: Understand the European Criminal Intelligence Model (ECIM), the professional standards of counterintelligence agent handling and historical case studies of counterintelligence failure.
	Security: Understand security risks to covert operations and the role of the security manager. Report counterintelligence and security activity as appropriate. Understand conventional threats and the nature of emerging threats such as open source and cyber intelligence.
	Production & Technology: Conduct intelligence analysis to produce counter-intelligence products and provide security advice and assistance. Employ modern technologies in physical, technical, personal and material security to international and regional standards.
	Investigation: Understand the principles of investigation and operations in a law-enforcement and intelligence context. Liaise with other organisations in the conduct of counterintelligence activity. Legally arrange for an investigative search, seizure, and surveillance activities in relation to a counterintelligence case. Collect, handle, and report evidence admissible as such at court. Plan investigations, collect information from open and closed sources and conduct interviews with well trained deceptive targets to prove or disprove allegations.
	Agent Handling: Use counterintelligence agents in denial, deception, technical and other covert and special activities. Understand the process of escalation and how to extract personnel overseas. Conduct advanced technical and physical surveillance under cover and employing firearms. Understand how to process walk-ins, defectors and verify and validate intelligence acquired from other potentially deceptive sources.

Course Format

The EU Counterintelligence Course is designed to develop regional skills and knowledge as a counterintelligence officer so you can more easily work across nation states. To develop these skills a variety of formats and delivery methods have been used including:

1. Flexible Delivery: Workshops and exercises as well as traditional lectures.
2. Communal Activities: Travel passes and visits to historically significant sites throughout the area offering valuable networking opportunities with colleagues on the course.
3. Coaching & Mentoring: Career advice in the security sector from recognised experts, assistance and support with course content and sustained aftercare.
4. Blended Learning: The latest iteration of the course combines preparatory training via our e-learning platform with consolidated learning in an intensive attendance programme.

Part 1 - e-Learning

Prior to attendance each candidate must pass a preparatory e-learning programme delivered over no less than six months. Candidates are free to sign up and begin study at any time and on their own schedule.

Part 2 - Residential/Online School

After completion of the e-learning programme in Stage I, more sensitive information and practical training needed to provide counterintelligence functions across Europe will be delivered in a one week intensive programme over five consecutive days. Candidates can choose to attend on-site in Vienna or by video-conferencing online.

Part 3 - Extended Training (Optional)

Specialised optional training is offered with each of the Institute's courses. Although this does not form part of the curriculum it is assessed and can offer candidates the opportunity to gain a more practical insight into specific area of their training. The Optional Training Assessments (OTAs) offered as a part of this course are listed below:

Optional Training (OTAs)	Delivery	Cost
Information Warfare	P/T (Evening) or D/L (Online)	€270

Dates & Times

Candidates are free to sign up and begin studying the e-learning component at any time and on their own schedule. The residential school and its online alternative anually, beginning on the fourth Monday in November and running for 5 consecutive days. Applications take approximately 4 weeks to process but security vetting may take up to 6 months to complete for applicants who lack a current security clearance. The extensive pre-qualifying e-learning course takes at least 6 months to complete and candidates may not be admitted to the residential school or online equivalent without having achieved at least a passing grade on the e-learning element.

Assessment

Assessment may be by any valid and accredited competency assessment meeting course requirements. However, competency is most commonly evidenced through the following combination of assessment methods:

• A pre-selection dossier including validated: security vetting, professional/academic reference checks, higher education certification (degree-level or equivalent), fitness/medical checks and evidence of a relevant career history and assessed knowledge in European security.
• A score of greater than 49% on the intelligence operations section of the MCPE or an equivalently balanced examination of similar content.
• Submission of a portfolio of work satisfying the criteria for at least a pass according to the candidate handbook.
• An approved assessor's independent testimony of observed competency across the counterintelligence domain of the Integrated Competency Framework (ICF) for Intelligence throughout at least 10 hours of supervised professional practice.

Standards

Credentials are fully accredited for compliance with international standards. For further details on Institute requirements, international standards and accreditation, view the Accreditation page.

Certification

The EQF Level 3 Certificate in EU Counterintelligence Operations accompanying this credential is earned after accruing 14 credits at approximately 140 guided learning hours.

Fees & Discounts

Not including accommodation, the course is delivered at a cost of €3000. Payment is accepted by bank transfer, card or PayPal. The following discounts are available:

	Member's Rate: If you have previously attended courses at the Instutute or hold any other form of membership, log in with your user ID and password to receive a €150 discount.
	Distance-Learning Rate: Gain an additional €500 discount by electing to complete the residential element of the course online instead of attending on-site.
	Group Rate: If you are booking on behalf of a group, further incentives may apply. Please contact the head of the training and directing staff for further details.

Downloads

 IEIS Candidate Handbook (PDF, 365KB)

 EUCIC Syllabus & Curriculum (PDF, 259KB)

Location

Vienna or Online.