Tasks for the article

Ex.1. READING: Read and translate the article.

Ex.2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the text and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.

• Ask your partner / group your questions.

Ex.3. VOCABULARY: Circle the words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

Ex.4. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations with each word.

Ex.5. CHAT: Discuss with your classmates the key ideas of the text.

Ex.6. ARTICLE ANALYSIS: Analize the veracity of this article information. Are there any mistakes? Correct them if any.

Ex.7. SUMMARY: Write a Summary of the article.

Ex.8. INTERNET SEARCH: Find in the Internet the additional information on the NACEN. Share your findings with your classmates.

Ex.9. PUBLIC POLICY: You are the Head of the RCA International department. Create a list of initiatives directed to the improvement of NACEN and RCA of International Co-operation activities.

Ex.10. ARTICLE RENDERING: Render this article.

Unit XIII

Topics: 1. International Network of Customs Universities (INCU)

2. International Activities of the Russian Customs Academy

Grammar revision: Reported speech

Text1.

International Network of Customs Universities (incu)

The International Network of Customs Universities (INCU) has been established to provide the World Customs Organization (WCO) and other organizations with a single point of contact with universities and research institutes that are active in the field of customs research, education and training. The INCU is also designed to provide a global resource for governments and the private sector, and an educational source for students wishing to further their knowledge in the field of customs management and administration, and international trade and logistics management.

While there is a substantial and diverse knowledge base on customs and international trade amongst tertiary institutions, international organizations, government and the private sector, this knowledge base is often difficult to integrate in an efficient and meaningful way. That remains the case notwithstanding the increased demands for information in these areas, particularly in the context of the trade facilitation agenda which represents a key element in the current WTO Doha Round of negotiations, and the reform and modernization push by many customs administrations.

In order to address this demand in a way that is both accessible and relevant to individual countries, the INCU provides a mechanism for progressively establishing a knowledge base on these important aspects of international trade and allow a free exchange of ideas and best practice that will not only assist countries undertaking reform processes, but will also serve to build closer links between government and the private sector in facilitating legitimate international trade and assisting to secure the international supply chain.

In addition, the greater visibility of customs and international trade that can be achieved by such a network is likely to attract talented people to the industry and assist the sustainability of best practice in customs law and administration and international trade. In this regard the INCU is likely to prove to be a valuable tool for publicizing the importance of conventions such as the WCO Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (the Revised Kyoto Convention) and encouraging accession to it.

The INCU produces the World Customs Journal (WCJ), which is its flagship publication. The first edition of the WCJ was successfully launched at the WCO PICARD Conference in March 2007, initially as an e-journal, but with the option of also releasing it as a paper journal at a later date. The Journal includes contributions from both academics and other interested parties.