Security & Awareness Practices for International Trade Professionals - IIEI-145

Course Description: This six-week course examines issues related to homeland security from the perspective of the import-export professional. Special focus is placed on building an understanding of proactive and sensible measures that can be taken to reduce the risks associated with moving goods and services across national boundaries. Particular emphasis is placed on the movement of physical goods, movement of financial resources, patterns of movement of these items and the individuals supporting them that might indicate a threat to homeland security. An overview of government laws and regulations serve as a foundation for this course. Scenarios are used to demonstrate concepts and to facilitate learning. Who should be interested in this course? Anyone interested in or responsible for maintaining an organization's security against acts that threaten national security, especially terrorist acts, as it relates to international trade.

Prerequisite: None

Course Credit: 3 Credit Hours

Major Course Topics & Course Outcomes

As a result of the group and individual activities included in this course, the student will acquire the following knowledge and skills that can be applied to the workplace:

Homeland Security Issues

• To gain an appreciation and understanding of the scope of security issues as they relate to protecting the U.S. from terrorism..

Department of Homeland Security

• To have an understanding of what the Department of Homeland Security's proposed purpose is as it relates to importing and exporting practices and concerns.

Government Agencies involved in Homeland Security.

• To possess a working knowledge of the various government agencies roles.

Relationship of Homeland Security's focus to EAR, ITAR, Customs Regulations, other laws and  regulations impacting international commerce.

• To possess a basic understanding of the body of laws and regulations for importing and exporting that relate to security.

Financial Instruments & Money Movement Concerns

• To learn how money moves illegally across international borders.

Physical Movement of Goods Concerns

• To be aware of the concerns and regulations effecting the movement of goods between countries.
• To appreciate the issues related to receiving shipments/ inspections.
• To gain an appreciation for the problems related with Biological contaminates in in-bound shipments.

Sensible Homeland Security Measures for Companies

• To learn and make use of a range of sensible security measures available to a company.

Pattern Management

• To be able to recognize possible problems within the context of daily business.

Employee Sensitivity Issues

• To possess methods for sensitizing employees to the risk and responsibility security issues represent.

Risk Assessment Practices and Methods

• To be able to judge the risk value of incidents within the business environment.

Building a Corporate Policy regarding Import Export Security

• To be able to develop a policy for dealing with homeland security within a firm.

Travel Warnings

• To be aware of travel warnings and how to find  the current advisory postings.

Homeland Security related Web Sites

• To have access through the Web to a broad range of security related topics
• To know the main locations for international trade professionals to turn to for information on security measures.

Course Texts:

There is no textbook for this course.

Selected Readings Online.

Read about the creation of Department of Homeland Security. Read Course Press Release.

Read what the White House says about Homeland Security.