From 12 to 23 October, Algeciras hosted the contact weeks of Module 9, Cooperation in Strategic Border Management, for the 2nd iteration of the European Joint Master’s in Strategic Border Management. The module is led by the University of Salamanca.

Over two weeks, participants explored how cooperation works in practice across the EU’s border, asylum, migration and police systems. Topics included integrated border management, risk analysis, the reintroduction of internal border controls, the Pact on Migration and Asylum, screening and border procedures, returns and readmission, police cooperation through Europol, and crisis situations. The programme also covered fundamental rights, the external dimension of EU migration policy and Frontex’s work with third countries, EU-Africa cooperation, and new technologies such as AI, Smart Borders, EES and ETIAS.

The highlight of the first week was the visit to the Port of Algeciras. Guided by the Policía Nacional, participants saw how border management and cooperation work at one of Europe’s busiest ports and a key gateway between Europe and Africa. The visit gave the classroom discussions a concrete setting, and the participants’ reflections on it feed into their final written reports.

Speakers included officers from Spain’s Policía Nacional and its border and operational units, together with academics and legal experts from several European universities.

Beyond the classroom, participants took part in cultural excursions to Gibraltar and Tangier over the weekend, which added a view of the Strait’s border realities.

The two weeks ended on 23 October with team case study presentations, in which participants applied what they had learned to practical cooperation challenges.

For more pictures, please visit Photo Gallery.