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.