Learning and training

Building practical skills to fight corruption and financial crime

Corruption and financial crime are complex and constantly evolving. Investigators, prosecutors, analysts, regulators, journalists and compliance professionals need practical skills and up-to-date knowledge to respond effectively.

The Basel Institute on Governance designs and delivers instructor-led training, education and online learning programmes that strengthen the ability of individuals and institutions to prevent, detect and investigate corruption and financial crime.

Our programmes support practitioners around the world across government, business and civil society. Participants learn practical techniques they can apply immediately, from tracing illicit funds and analysing financial data to strengthening corruption prevention systems.

How we foster learning and training

Training goes beyond transferring knowledge. It means developing practical skills, learning new behaviour and applying them to real-world situations.

Our programmes use hands-on exercises, simulated investigations and group work to mirror the challenges practitioners face in their daily work.

Participants practise tasks such as tracing illicit financial flows, analysing financial records and building evidence for corruption and money laundering cases.

Many of our trainers are former investigators, prosecutors and financial crime specialists, ensuring that the training is grounded in real cases and operational experience.

Asset recovery training for institutions

The Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) delivers customised training programmes for government agencies investigating corruption and financial crime. Our flagship courses are tailored to the legal frameworks, institutions and operational needs of partner countries.

Participants work through realistic case scenarios and simulated investigations to develop practical skills in financial investigations, international cooperation and asset recovery.

Over the past 18 years, more than 5,800 practitioners from over 138 countries have participated in ICAR training workshops.

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"ICAR’s training methodology made an instant impression on me. The use of realistic case studies and practical exercises was a highly effective way to deliver training."

Academic certificate programmes

Through Basel STUDY, we offer postgraduate programmes that combine academic research with practical anti-corruption expertise. The six-month courses lead to a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) awarded by the University of Basel.

Participants learn from experts from the Basel Institute, the University of Basel and our global network. Interactive online classes, peer exchange and a personal study project help participants apply new knowledge to real corruption and governance challenges.

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"I hope I’ll learn to see corruption issues with a sharper, more professional lens… instead of falling back on surface-level ideas."

Self-paced eLearning

Our online platform Basel LEARN provides free self-paced courses for professionals working to combat corruption and financial crime. The interactive modules allow participants to practise key skills through realistic tasks and simulated investigations.

More than 80,500 learners from 203 countries have used Basel LEARN to strengthen their skills in areas such as financial analysis, operational intelligence and international cooperation.

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Short courses

We also offer instructor-led short courses open to individual participants from a wide range of sectors. Delivered online in small groups, these highly interactive courses combine expert instruction, realistic case work and practical exercises to build skills that participants can apply immediately in their professional roles.

Current courses include:

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Workshops and practitioner communities

Alongside structured programmes, we organise targeted workshops on emerging corruption and financial crime challenges. These events provide practical insights and space for discussion among practitioners facing similar issues. See our events and courses calendar for upcoming opportunities.

We also foster peer learning through practitioner networks and communities of practice, such as the:

Impact stories

How our work leads to tangible progress

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Building Zambia’s capacity to investigate financial crime and recover illicit assets

How the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery used an embedded expert model to support Zambian authorities in complex financial crime investigations and asset recovery. It is leading to tangible increases in frozen and recovered assets and in successful international cooperation.

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