Customs Capacity Building Through Partnership in Customs Academic Research and Development (PICARD): Achievements and Future Directions

This paper discusses how the World Customs Organization (WCO) has been cooperating with the academic community in the context of the WCO Partnership in Customs Academic Research and Development (PICARD) program, in order to enhance the capabilities and professionalism of customs administrations and customs experts through higher education and to better inform strategic customs decisionmaking through applied academic research. It discusses key PICARD initiatives and achievements and seeks to determine whether the PICARD program has met its objectives and fulfilled stakeholders’ expectations. It also addresses the program’s future directions and considers how it can continue to keep pace with the rapid changes affecting Customs, and how it can be further developed and enhanced for the benefit of all stakeholders.