The EU Informant Handling Course also known as the EU Agent Handling Course (EUAHC) combines counter-surveillance, foundation and advanced informant handling courses as prescribed by international and regional curriculum. Students will learn how to identify, develop, recruit, train and re/de-activate covert informants. Students will learn how to meet informants safely, secure communications, task and debrief, among many other tradecraft skills. The course draws particular focus to regional and international law, ethical standards, health, safety and security.
Introducing students to informant management, the course takes students with an existing knowledge of intelligence to the position of recognised human intelligence collectors.
The course is oriented towards trained and experienced intelligence professionals. 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. Historically, the programme has attracted the following representation:
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. |
ECIM Concepts: Understand the European Criminal Intelligence Model (ECIM), sources of information and the finishing of intelligence. Apply human intelligence theory as prescribed by EU policies and practice. Conduct efficient and effective cross-border operations in accordance with EU policies and practices. |
|
Intelligence Law: Understand the civil liberties, human rights, legal and ethical connotations of handling informants. Including authorisation and accountability requirements. |
|
Agent Psychology: Apply psychological and methodological processes to the systematic identification, recruitment and handling of agents. Apply debriefing, elicitation, conflict resolution, deception and deception detection techniques. |
|
Agent Operations: Use informants in controlled delivery, test purchases, undercover operations, technical operations and other functions. Understand how to use cover, covert infrastructure, operational security and tradecraft. Understand the capabilities of physical and technical surveillance, conducting countermeasures as necessary. Undertake risk assessments and apply techniques to operate safely and confidentially in hostile environments. Protect the identity of informants and develop compromise protocols. |
|
Information Handling: Evaluate the credibility of informants and their information according to EU standards. Document informants and their activity while recording, sanitising and exploiting the intelligence they provide. |
|
Case Study: Understand the professional standards of informant handling and historical case studies of human intelligence failure. |
The EU Informant/Agent Handling Course is designed to develop regional skills and knowledge as a handler or co-handler throughout cooperating European states. To develop these skills a variety of formats and delivery methods have been used including:
Prior to attendance each candidate must pass a preparatory e-learning programme delivered over no less than three months. Candidates are free to sign up and begin study at any time and on their own schedule.
Block 1
Intelligence & Security
Block 2
Combined Operations
Block 3
Ethics & Law
Block 4
Cultivation & Recruitment
Block 5
Profiling & Documentation
Block 6
Contact & Reporting
Block 7
Covert Operations & Risk
After completion of the e-learning programme in Stage I, more sensitive information and practical training needed to safely, effectively and efficiently handle HUMINT sources 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.
Day 1
Induction & Cover
Day 2
Cultivation & Recruitment
Day 3
Special Security Measures
Day 4
Surveillance Countermeasures
Day 5
Ex. APEX
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 (OTA's) | Delivery | Cost |
---|---|---|
Social Engineering | P/T (Evening) or D/L (Online) |
€270 |
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 run anually, beginning on the third Monday in September 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 3 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 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:
Credentials are fully accredited for compliance with international standards. For further details on Institute requirements, international standards and accreditation, view the Accreditation page.
The EQF Level 3 Certificate in EU Informant Management accompanying this credential is earned after accruing 15 credits at approximately 150 guided learning hours.
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 a current membership, log in with your user ID and password to receive a €150 discount when making your payment online. |
|
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. |
|
Induction Fees: Candidates using the Institute to obtain a security clearance for the first time must also complete the Intelligence Security (INTSEC) awareness course. Those who have not studied with the Academy before must complete the Intelligence Foundations (INTFND) selection and induction course. Fees for these online short-courses are €350 and €150 respectively. |
Vienna or Online.