Following the success of previous Knowledge Academies and in the interest of continuing to provide high-quality training for Customs officials and trade practitioners, the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Demos Group held the Third WCO Knowledge Academy for Customs and Trade from 2 to 11 July 2013, at WCO Headquarters in Brussels.

This year’s Knowledge Academy was attended by 155 Customs and private sector professionals from 50 countries, representing a 20% increase over the last year. They took part in the two-week intensive learning programme, at which key experts in various fields from a range of organizations delivered presentations on relevant issues impacting on the current international Customs and trade environment, followed by intensive discussions among participants.

The Knowledge Academy included modules touching upon long-established Customs issues, such as the Harmonized System, Customs Valuation, Rules of Origin, the WCO Data Model, Trade Facilitation, the SAFE Framework of Standards and the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme. Participants also had an opportunity to learn more about the progress in the Economic Competitiveness Package (ECP), as well as the new initiatives such as the Compliance and Enforcement Package (CEP) and the Organizational Development Package (ODP) that the previous week’s WCO Council sessions had endorsed. In addition, building on the outcomes of the Women in Trade, Customs and Leadership Conference held on 1 July, the WCO hosted a unique ‘Women in Leadership’ Workshop as an integral part of this year’s Knowledge Academy. WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya awarded Certificates of Attendance to participants who successfully completed the training course.