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The leadership of EPSI for the period 1999–2014 was removed from institutional records in 2014. This page serves as a documentary archive attesting to its existence, activity and academic output, and includes a selection of the work carried out during that period.
INTRODUCTION
EPSI (Escola de Prevenció i Seguretat Integral) was established in 1999 within the UAB Foundation, under the direction of Ramon-Jordi Moles Plaza. The school was created to provide high-quality university education in the field of prevention and integral security — an area the European Union had identified as a new and growing source of employment. In 2002, EPSI moved to the FEPSI (Fundació per als Estudis de Prevenció i Seguretat Integral), a foundation spun off from the UAB specifically to house this activity.
From its creation, the school offered first- and second-cycle degrees and continuing education, and collaborated in doctoral programmes, becoming the leading university centre for integral security in Spain.
During the periods 2002 and 2003–2006, when Ramon-Jordi Moles Plaza held responsibilities in the Generalitat de Catalunya, the school was directed by Dr. Joan Amenós (2002) and Dr. Marta Franch (2003–2006). From 2006 to 2014 Rut Carandell. In 2014, following an institutional reorganisation, FEPSI was dissolved and the school’s leadership was assumed by others who continue to build on its original foundations today.
During the period 1999–2014, under the leadership of Dr. Ramon-Jordi Moles and his team, the following activities were established, some of which remain active today
Academic programmes
Graduat en Prevenció i Seguretat Integral (UAB own degree, 1999–2009)
The first degree of this kind in Spain. It trained professionals for the private, public and technical management of integral security. Graduates could obtain the following professional licences: Senior Occupational Risk Prevention Technician (Departament de Treball, Generalitat de Catalunya), Security Director (Ministry of the Interior, 28 June 2000), and Private Investigator (Ministry of the Interior, 3 July 2000). The degree also allowed access to group B of the Civil Service Forces and Security Corps.
The degree received a positive assessment from ANECA (ANECA Bulletin no. 18, June 2004) for official recognition. In 2006 it was recognised by the Ministry of Education and Science as equivalent to a university diploma. Up to its replacement by the official Grau in 2009, the programme produced 405 graduates (302 men, 103 women), with a 95% professional insertion rate (73% in the private sector) and an efficiency rate of 91%.
Grau Oficial en Prevenció i Seguretat Integral (from 2009)
Official UAB degree adapted to the European Higher Education Area (Bologna Process), replacing the Graduat. In 2009, it had 100 enrolled students. 60% of the teaching staff belonged to the UAB; 100% of the doctoral staff were from the UAB. The degree allows students to continue into 16 official UAB Master’s programmes.
Official Master’s programmes
Màster Oficial en Prevenció i Gestió de Riscos a la Comunitat: a joint degree from UAB and Universitat Ramon Llull, 120 credits (two years), following the Bologna model. It trained professionals able to assess community risks and work within organisations to prevent or manage conflicts and social exclusion.
Màster en Riscos Tecnològics: with 92% UAB teaching staff (96% among doctoral staff).
Continuing Education
EPSI offered more than 50 courses including postgraduate master’s, postgraduate diplomas and university certificates. In 2009 it had 880 enrolled students and 7,674 continuing education graduates. Programmes were also delivered in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Valencia, Galicia and Santiago de Chile.
Recognition and quality
- Special honorary mention from the Ministry of the Interior for academic achievement.
- ADSI Prize (Asociación Española de Directivos de Seguridad Integral) for teaching excellence.
- Positive ANECA assessment (2004) for official recognition of the own degree.
- Implementation of the AUDIT internal quality assurance system (ANECA/AQU/ACSUG).
International reach
- Mc Kenzie University (Brazil)
- Universidad Alberto Hurtado (Chile)
- Université Paris Nanterre
- London School of Economics
- New York University
- Generalitat de Catalunya
- Government of the Balearic Islands
- Government of the Canary Islands
- Government of Chile
Professionalisation programme
EPSI ran a professionalisation programme comprising scholarships, an annual workshop funded by the UAB Social Council at which students presented their final-year projects, and a work placement scheme. More than 80 companies collaborated with EPSI in external placements, workshops, job placement and technology transfer.
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