Introduction - European Asylum Curriculum

Introduction to the European Asylum Curriculum Training Catalogue

The European Asylum Curriculum (EAC) is the comprehensive training framework developed by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) to support a harmonised, high-quality approach to international protection across the European Union. Designed in close collaboration with Member States and external experts, the EAC equips asylum and reception officers with the essential knowledge, practical tools, and professional competencies required to carry out their roles effectively, fairly, and in line with EU and international legal standards.

The curriculum includes a wide range of learning modules structured across several thematic and professional levels, offering training for all stages of a career in the field — from newcomers and support staff to experienced case workers, trainers, and managers. Modules are aligned with the European Sectoral Qualifications Framework (ESQF) for asylum and reception officers and are developed using a learning-outcome-based approach that ensures clarity on the knowledge, skills, and autonomy expected from participants after completing each module. These learning outcomes are in turn aligned with the European qualifications framework (EQF) levels 2 , ensuring transparency and comparability across learning paths.

The EAC covers the full spectrum of international protection, including:

• Foundation and introductory modules, ideal for those new to the field or from related sectors, such as registration officers.

• Core and advanced modules, designed for case workers and decision-makers directly involved in assessing asylum claims, with dedicated modules on interviews, evidence assessment, inclusion, exclusion, vulnerability, and country of origin information.

• Reception modules, which support the delivery of safe, rights-based reception systems, with special attention to vulnerable groups.

• Managerial and cross-cutting modules, including training for trainers, assessors, coaches, and managers in asylum and reception contexts.

• Tailor-made trainings, developed to address specific operational needs or emerging challenges, such as digital communication, public speaking, or the use of assessment tools in reception.

The curriculum is rooted in the legal framework of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), drawing on key instruments such as the 1951 Refugee Convention, its Protocol, and other relevant international and EU law. Modules are regularly reviewed and updated by EUAA in collaboration with its Reference Group, which includes representatives from the European Commission, UNHCR, and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), ensuring accuracy, relevance, and alignment with current standards and practices.

Training delivery methods are flexible and accessible, with a combination of blended learning (trainer-led sessions combined with online and independent study), self-paced e-learning, and webinars. This ensures that learning can take place in ways that suit operational realities and learner preferences.

As part of its ongoing development, the EAC now includes a suite of self-paced online modules based on the new legal framework introduced by the Pact on Migration and Asylum. These modules enable learners to understand and apply the latest legislative changes across core areas such as the asylum procedure, reception conditions, the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR), and vulnerability.

EUAA places learners and national administrations at the heart of its training mission. All training products are built around real-world tasks and responsibilities, ensuring that what is learned can be immediately applied in practice. This is underpinned by a robust Training Quality Assurance Framework, part of the EUAA’s broader Training and Learning Strategy, which ensures that all training is delivered to the highest standards of quality, efficiency, and transparency.

Practical Information

• Registration: Training National Contact Points (NCPs) should submit the registration form via the EUAA Learning Management System to: training-ncp@euaa.europa.eu before the stated deadline.

• Language: Training is delivered in English.

• Costs: There are no participation fees. However, for face-to-face sessions, travel and accommodation costs are to be covered by participants or their administrations unless otherwise specified.

• Assessment: Some modules include optional assessments to evaluate whether learning outcomes have been achieved. Participants may withdraw from assessments up to 8 working days before the scheduled date without penalty. Late withdrawals or non-attendance will be considered a 'no show', unless mitigating circumstances are communicated by the NCP to EUAA.

• Certification: Participants who complete a module or successfully pass an assessment may receive a certificate of completion or achievement, depending on the course format.