The significance of behavioral science and the possibilities of competency development in the higher education of law enforcement

Abstract

Aim: The aim of our study is to present the main stages of competency based training in the higher education of law enforcement. We approach the choosen topic from a human-specific perspective: we discuss the role, significance and function of behavioral science in the law enforcement training/education; with best practices we highlight the possible (feasable) ways of competency development.
Methodology: We used document analysis, semistructured interviews (with 10 teachers) and visitation of classes to identify and examine best practises in relation to competency development in the higher education of law enforcement.
Findings: Based on our examination (investigation) it can be clearly stated that intentions towards competency developments in the higher education of law enforcement can be found as early as the beginning of 2000. After joining the European Higher Education Area, the need for competency based education amplified. As result of this need, syllabuses and methods aiming for competency development started to appear in curriculums. On the other hand, it became clear throughout the interviews that though teachers try to answer to the changed requirements, the lack of pedagogical knowledge and aligning to the quickly changing student population can cause them difficulties. By analysing best practises, we concluded that interactivity and experimential learning is a common element in all of them.
Value: Our investigation wants to highlight how higher education of law enforcement responds to new requirements, what we achived so far, what are the challenges, and in which areas we still have unanswered questions.