The aim of the research, development and innovation activities at the EASS is to support the learning process, and the development of lecturers and new methodologies so that new knowledge and solutions supporting safety and the development of security would reach both the Academy and other internal security institutions. Research, development and innovation activities, and the introduction of new knowledge, innovative technologies, skills and solutions form a basis for today’s higher education. In order to have high quality curricula and learning activities, the Academy has to base its activities on research and knowledge, but also on the international level organisation of RD activities and their efficiency. On the other hand, the Academy serves the public interests, which relies on the needs of the administrative area of the Ministry of the Interior (incl. the ministries of justice and economic affairs and communication). The same applies for the research, development and innovation projects conducted at the Academy.
Since 2016 all members of the academic staff on the level of a lecturer the least (lecturers, associate professors, research fellows and professors) are expected to actively contribute into research, development and innovation activities.
RD activities and focal points are appointed to each structural unit separately.
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Name of the structural unit |
Specific areas |
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Prison Service College |
1. The prevention of recidivism. Assessment of the probability of recidivism . Different target groups and their rehabilitation; the assessment of rehabilitation activities |
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2. Analysis of imprisonment-related regulations and the optimisation of the process of making proposals for amendments and conducting of disciplinary proceedings |
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3. Analyses of the application of physical force and other related studies; the development of the practice of applying physical force while considering human rights and safety |
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4. National criminal policy and its implementation methods |
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Rescue College |
1. Fire safety – relevance of the existent fire safety regulations (analyses, establishment of methodologies), new fire safety regulations (development, feasibility analyses). |
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2. Crisis management – risk management (emergency situations, vital services, environmental influence, enterprises liable to be affected by major accidents), crisis management (management models, management structures, information management, decision-making in a time-critical situation, situational awareness) |
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Financial College |
1. Modelling of public policies and the analysis of their influences in the areas of public finance and internal security |
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2. Ways for influencing tax compliance and tax behaviour, the assessment and analysis of the influence of the measures |
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3. Innovation in entrepreneurship and the sustainability of entrepreneurs (obligation to do accounting, report, pay taxes) and the role of family undertakers in commerce; influence assessment and analysis |
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4. Analysis of the influence of commercial policy related measures and of the respective implementation problems |
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5. Development of modern teaching materials for the speciality of customs |
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Police and Border Guard College |
1. Radicalisation and terrorism |
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2. Penal law and misdemeanour procedure related problems |
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3. Cultural diversity and human rights |
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4. The ideology and methodology behind restorative justice |
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5. Police tactics |
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6. Integrated border management |
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Internal Security Institute |
1. Hate speech and hate crime – legal, social and organisation-related aspects. |
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2. The area of internal security – theoretical bases and the Estonian context. |
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3. Hybrid threats |
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Language Centre |
1. Didactics and methodology related to the teaching of foreign languages for specific purposes |
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2. Content and language integrated learning (CLIL) |
In addition, there are more universal topics, e.g. the enhancement of learning activities (didactics), innovative education technologies and the development of the learning environment. When looking at the future needs, we will need to focus on and contribute more into such topics as: radicalisation and terrorism, hybrid threats, cybercrime, big data, and privacy in the area of security, information systems and the inoperability of such systems, financial security incl. cyber money related topics.