IALG Seminars

The Future of Law Enforcement

The IALG programme facilitates the strategic, professional and personal development of 20 selected senior officials of law enforcement organisations from around the world. During the course of nine months the IALG participants gather three times in different places in the world to work on their assignment. They use future-oriented, innovative thinking to explore an emerging strategic issue relevant to the future of policing. The programme concludes when the IALG presents its findings to the Pearls participants at the start of the Pearls conference in June. The IALG programme has a few key components:

1. The IALG assignment

The starting point of the IALG is an assignment provided by the participants of the previous Pearls in Policing conference. This assignment is always based on a complex, practical and strategic issue of concern to the future of policing. The exercise is designed to encourage big-picture and future-oriented thinking and the IALG participants are asked to present ideas, strategies, concrete approaches and practices that police leaders can use in their own organisations, individually or collectively, to help them overcome these challenges. 

2. Format

The IALG programme has a unique design where the participants meet three times over the course of nine months in different locations around the world to work on their collective assignment. During these three one-week seminars they meet with a variety of subject matter experts and they engage in discussions, debates, networking opportunities, field visits and group work relevant to the topic of their assignment. In between seminars the IALG group continues their work on a virtual platform and/or via teleconferences. 

3. Essentials of Action Learning

With the IALG programme participants work together as reflective practitioners on an assignment of strategic importance in a worldwide law enforcement setting. This process involves research, learning, international collaboration and creativity. With this method the participants develop a behaviour of asking questions and taking action and reflecting upon the results, to solve complex problems and to develop their own leadership qualities.

4. Personal development and international collaboration

During the IALG programme participants are given the opportunity to focus on their personal development while experiencing the challenges of working in an international environment. This setting improves their competence to work across (policing) cultures and different organisational structures and supports the importance of international law enforcement cooperation. 

5. Subject matter experts

IALG participants are supported and guided by a team of experts and professionals throughout their journey. The IALG Programme Management Team (consisting of a representative of each hosting organisation) focus mainly on the personal development of the participants, where educational specialists, academics and a wide range of national and international experts provide valuable input and guidance on the content of the assignment. 

6. Focus on the future

During their programme the IALG participants are introduced to futures methodology and techniques that help them systematically explore, create and test both possible and desirable futures. This process allows the participants to discuss and debate possible futures and become actively involved in creating their preferred future, rather than being subjected to the current approaches and concepts that shape the present and future of law enforcement.   

The four components of the IALG programme

The IALG Participants

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1

The IALG assignment

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2

Essentials of Action Learning

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3

Focus on Personal Development

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4

By participating in this programme, IALG participants will:

  • Develop a greater knowledge of the threats and challenges facing global law enforcement;
  • Be better equipped as professionals in working effectively in international and cross-cultural settings;
  • Gain a better understanding of the global, political, economic, social and technological factors that impact the world of law enforcement around the world;
  • Become acquainted with futures methodology and techniques;
  • Become part of a strong network of international law enforcement leaders;
  • Focus on their personal development and leadership skills.

Previous IALG Seminars

The IALG is the learning link between Pearls in Policing conferences. The programme facilitates the strategic, professional and personal develop of 20 hand-picked senior law enforcement officials from around the world. Three times a year the participants gather in different locations around the world to work on an emerging strategic issue relevant to the future of policing. The programme concludes when the IALG presents its findings to the Pearls delegates at the start of the Pearls in Policing conference in June. 

  •
    2022 - 2023
    The Hague, Singapore, Sydney
    The first seminar of the 16th IALG group took place in The Hague, Netherlands, and was hosted by The Netherlands Police in December 2022. The second …
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  •
    2021 - 2022
    Virtual, The Hague, Bern
    Due to the ongoing global measurements and travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15th IALG group started their work during a …
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  •
    2019 - 2020/21
    Sydney, New York, Virtually
    The 14th IALG group started their work in November 2019 in Sydney, Australia. After the second seminar in New York City, USA, preparations for the …
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  •
    2018-2019
    Ottawa, Oslo, New York City
    The 13th IALG group came together three times over the course of nine months to work on their assignment related to Policing within the Context of a …
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  •
    2017-2018
    Brussels, New York City, Bogotá
    The 12th IALG group came together three times over the course of nine months to work on their assignment related to Policing Fractured Communities. …
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  •
    2016-2017
    Brussels, Hong Kong, Toronto
    The 11th IALG group came together three times over the course of nine months to work on their assignment related to Creating the Shock-Resistant …
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Website
Contact
Address
  • Pearls in Policing Secretariat
  • P.O. Box 17107
  • 2502 CC THE HAGUE
  • The Netherlands

Focus on Personal Development

During the programme the participants are offered the opportunity to focus on their personal development by experiencing the challenges of working in an international environment. This will enhance their compentence to work across policing cultures. On top of that the participants will become acquainted with futures methodology and techniques, international networking opportunities and best practices from around the world. Supported by the members from the Programme Management Team the participants work on their individual leadership skills and effectiveness

Essentials of Action Learning

The work on the IALG assignment is based on action-learning methodology: collectively doing research, learning from each other and subject matter experts, collaboration across cultures and different organisational settings and continued questioning and reflecting on a complex problem. This method has proven to be very effective in developing individual leadership and team problem-solving skills and simplifying collaborative solutions.

The IALG assignment

The starting point of the IALG is an assignment provided by the delegates of the previous Pearls in Policing conference. This assignment is always based on a complex, practical and strategic issue of concern to global law enforcement. Throughout the course of nine months the IALG participants meet in person three times to meet with a variety of experts and engage in discussions, debates, networking opportunities and field visits to support their work on this assignment. In between seminars the IALG participants are expected to continue their work on a virtual platform and/or via teleconferences.

The IALG Participants

The IALG consists of a maximum of 20 senior law enforcement officials from Pearls in Policing participating law enforcement agencies and organisations. Delegates of the Pearls in Policing conference can nominate one participant for the next cycle, and after confirmation by the Pearls Curatorium in the Netherlands their participation in the IALG programme is official. The following criteria apply to prospective IALG participants:

  • Hold a senior position in policing/law enforcement;
  • Have a sound working knowledge of the English language as all seminars are held in English without the use of interpreter services;
  • Be open to new ways of learning;
  • Be willing to explore different and diverse cultural values in order to work effectively in an international community;
  • Be willing to make a significant contribution to international law enforcement cooperation and networking;
  • Be committed and available to complete assignments throughout the duration of the programme;
  • Be available to attend the full programme and all three seminars.