Transcript Slide 1

Sharing Expertise: An example of transEuropean co-operation in Forensic Science
The EDUFORMAK Project
A contribution from the universities of Ss Cyril & Methodius, Skopje,
Nottingham Trent, Jagiellonian, Krakow & Forensic Research Institute,
Krakow
PRESENTER:
Raymond G Wallace, School of Science & Technology, Nottingham Trent University, UK
AUTHORS:
David Butler, School of Science & Technology, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Pawel Koscielniak, Analytical Chemistry Department, Jagiellonian University, Krakow,
Poland
Mimoza Ristova, Physics Department, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics,
University of Skopje, Macedonia
Raymond G Wallace, School of Science & Technology, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Janina Zieba-Palus, Criminalistics Department, Forensic Research Institute, Krakow,
Poland
a Tempus Joint European Project
MAIN OBJECTIVE
Creation of a Graduate Educational
System in Forensic Studies in the
Republic of Macedonia
BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT
• Break up of Yugoslavia, Republic of Macedonia becomes an
independent state
• Turbulent developments in Balkan region, transformation of socioeconomic systems, unfulfilled aspects of daily lives sees growth in
crime rate
• During the last 15 or so years, the criminal activities in the Republic
of Macedonia have increase enormously
– smuggling of goods, arms and tobacco
– trafficking in human beings with women a particular target
– economic crimes
• The rate of the unresolved criminal cases shows a constant rise
BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT
• For instance, President Kiro Gligorov's assassination (1995) remains
unresolved; the war crimes that were committed during the
Albanian's insurgency in 2001 are still not proven, because of the
lack of material evidence and forensic expertise; not to mention
hundreds of others in which the victims were ordinary people.
• Other indicators of the lack appropriate forensic related expertise to
enforce the law are seen in
– Organised crime and money laundering related to essentially a cash-based
economy
– Environmental laws that are frequently severely violated, the environment often
being heavily polluted
– Republic of Macedonia is also known to be at the bottom of the European list for
a foreign investments, mainly because it is known in the world of business, as
an investment spot with a high risk because of crime
• In the context of integration of the Republic of Macedonia into the
European Union internal security has to be addressed
BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT
• In particular security needs to be reinforced – crime has a
destabilising effect on the entire social and political society of the
Republic of Macedonia as a whole
• Government has shown formal commitment and determination in
the fight against crime
• However there is no definite strategy and progress in combating
illegal activities
• Some co-operation with Croatia & UN General Assembly has
adopted a resolution on co-operation in the fight against organised
crime proposed by Macedonia
• The current governmental aim is to establish regulations for
prevention of organised crime and other serious forms of crime
BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT
• Additional it seeks to harmonise domestic legislation with the
legislation of the European Union
• Nevertheless, there is a gap between the education system in
forensic science and the needs of the juridical system
• To support these objectives there is a real need to establish
co-operation between the police, prosecutors, judges and
forensic experts in fighting and preventing organized crime
and illegal activities
• This co-operation could be facilitated by the introduction of
an educational system in the forensic sciences which could
enhance the functions of prosecution and law enforcement
a Tempus Joint European Project
PUTTING A PLAN INTO ACTION TO
ADDRESS THESE ISSUES
The birth of the EDUFORMAK
PROJECT
Time line
• In the late autumn of 2006 a Tempus application led by Prof Pawel
Koscielniak of the Faculty Chemistry, Jagiellonian University under
the title EDUCATION SYSTEM IN FORENSIC SCIENCES FOR THE
REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA (EDUFORMAK) was submitted to the
European Commission
• The consortium comprised four partners :- the universities of Ss
Cyril & Methodius, Skopje, where a Masters course in Forensics was
to be developed; Nottingham Trent where there was an established
undergraduate programme in Forensic Science; Jagiellonian, Krakow
where courses in Forensic Toxicology and Criminalistics were offered
and the Forensic Research Institute, Krakow
• The project was accepted for funding and work began essentially
one year later
a Tempus Joint European Project
THE PROJECT ITSELF
Setting up a Graduate
Educational System in Forensic
Studies:
A Masters Course in Forensics at
Skopje University
Stages of the Project
• Stage 1 –identification of needs and requirements
– Meeting held at the University of Skopje in November 2007
• Stage 2 – training and development of ideas
– Meeting held at Nottingham Trent University in February 2008 followed
immediately by a meeting in Krakow
• Stage 3 – review of progress and developments (prior to
anticipated launch of the Masters programme in the autumn)
– Meeting to be held in Macedonia in September
Important features of the Project
• Approximately one third of the total budget is being used to aid
modernisation and equipping of the laboratories of Skopje University
for forensic practical courses
• Module syllabi are being written in conjunction with all partners in
order to deliver a sound, vibrant and up-to-date course
• The course will be accredited by the relevant educational authorities
in the Republic of Macedonia
• Translation of selected material into Macedonian and publishing it in
Macedonian is scheduled
• The course will be a 1 year 60 ECTS credits, post 4 year Bachelor,
modular MSc in Forensic Sciences
• Students have already shown keen interest in the course
Modules developed to date
• Ballistics and firearms
• Sound and forensic audio
• Photography and Forensic Image Processing
• Physico-chemical analysis of traces
• Drugs analysis
• Forensic chemistry
• Forensic DNA analysis
• Molecular genetics
• Topics in forensic biology
• Statistical and IT methods in forensics
• Forensic medicine
• Forensic criminalistics
• Legal system and legal issues in criminal justice in the Republic of Macedonia
• Crime scene investigation
Masters Degree in Forensic Sciences Course Structure
Termpus CD_JEP-41105-2006(MK)
EDUCATION SYSTEM IN FORENSIC SCIENCES FOR THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
(PHYSICS + CHEMISTRY + BIOLOGY)
FIRST SEMESTER
A1.Legal System and Legal issues in the Criminal Justice of the R. Macedonia (4 cp)
A2. Crime Scene Investigation (7 cp)
A3. Forensic Criminalistics (7 cp)
A4. Statistical and IT Methods in Forensics (4 cp)
A5. Forensic Medicine (4 cp)
SECOND SEMESTER
FORENSIC PHYSICS
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
FORENSIC BIOLOGY
P1. Forensic Image processing - (6 cp)
C1. Forensic Chemistry (6 cp)
B1. Topics in Forensic Biology (6 cp)
P2. Sound and Forensic Audio (6 cp)
C2. Drugs analysis (5 cp)
B2. Molecular Genetics (5 cp)
P3. Ballistics and Firearms (6 cp)
C3. Physico-chemical analysis of traces (7 cp).
B3. Forensic DNA Analysis (5 cp)
1. Elective ( 6 cp)
1. Elective (6 cp)
1. Elective (4 cp)
2. Elective (4 cp)
Specialist Work (10 cp)