The Department for Security Studies at the University for Continuing Education Krems has become the first university institution in Austria in the fields of intelligence and counterterrorism to receive international accreditation. The Institute for European Intelligence & Security (IEIS), based in Brussels, has officially awarded the department the status of an “Accredited Intelligence School.”
The distinction confirms the high quality standards of the continuing education program “Counter-Terrorism, Prevention of Violent Extremism and Intelligence” and its contribution to the professionalization of European security and intelligence services. The official recognition followed a multi-year evaluation process and was formally communicated to the University for Continuing Education Krems on May 5, 2026.
Initiated and funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior, the continuing education program has been training experts for the practice of domestic intelligence and constitutional protection since fall 2023. As the first publicly accessible intelligence degree program in the German-speaking world, it has quickly developed into a flagship project within the DACH region.
International standards for security research
The accreditation is based on international training and quality standards in the field of intelligence services, including frameworks established by the European Union, NATO, United Nations, and ISO standards. Among the criteria assessed were academic quality, ethical standards, international cooperation, and the practice-oriented design of the program.
“The accreditation confirms our ambition to combine academic excellence with practice-oriented education and international standards,” emphasizes Walter Seböck, Head of the Department for Security Studies at the University for Continuing Education Krems.
The study program focuses on current challenges facing modern security architectures, counterterrorism, and the prevention of extremist developments. At the same time, the recognition strengthens the department’s international visibility and opens up new opportunities for European cooperation in research and continuing education.
About the IEIS and the accreditation
The Institute for European Intelligence & Security was founded in Brussels in 2015 as an independent European regulatory and professional organization for intelligence services. In addition to developing professional standards, the institute is active in the areas of training, research, and policy consulting. The accreditation ensures that educational programs meet high standards with regard to quality, legality, cooperation, ethics, and accountability.
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