Education
The International Police Association not only promotes social interchange between its members, but there are excellent opportunities for career advancement through seminars and conferences.
IBZ - Castle Gimborn, near Cologne, Germany is a conference centre owned and operated by the International Police Association through its own separarte association. Most of our 63 member nations are subscribing members to IBZ-Gimborn.
Every year around 2500 participants, mostly police officers, take advantage of the facilities and conferences offered by Gimborn. Most conferences are IPA seminars, organised in close co-operation with the international and national bodies of IPA, lasting about a week.
The annual programme comprises regularly of about 15 seminars in non-German languages with or without simultaneous translation. About 35% of participants at IPA seminars come from countries other than Germany.
Scholarships
The Arthur Troop Scholarship
Ten Arthur Troop Scholarships are awarded annually, two for each continent in which we have member Sections - Africa, America, Australasia, Asia and Europe.
Each Scholarship consists of a bursary of not more than 3,000 Swiss Francs that is to be used for a seminar at the International Conference Centre IBZ Schloss Gimborn or a comparable institution. Applicants must have been a member of IPA for at least one year before applying and the scholarship must be taken between 1st January and 31st December following the grant of the scholarship (extensions not granted).
The study Scholarship may be awarded to IPA members in police service, but predominantly targeted at the younger member. The member must submit an application setting out their reasons to support their selection.
Applications must be processed through their National Sections, to the International Secretary General (IAC) and must be supported by a written statement from their Section.
Mike Hunter Arthur Troop Winner 2010.'My trip to Germany, to some up in one word, awesome! I have not travelled a lot in my life and career and this was the opportunity of a life time. This was such an amazing experience both educationally and personally I am still digesting everything.
I have never learned so much about policing, geography, cultures, customs, language, and UN policing in just one week before. It was amazing to see 30 officer bond so quickly within the class. By the second day everyone knew each other’s name and where they were from. The whole experience was very unique. I would encourage more officers from Canada to get involved in the IPA and attend these types of courses. I will be singing the praises of my experience for years to come. I already have plans to attend Gimborn training center again in the future.'
Applications are now being accepted for the 2013 Arthur Troop Scholarship.
Further information is available here: 
The Gimborn Scholarship
Each year the Ontario Regions in partnership with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police offer one scholarship to an Ontario serving police officer. The scholarship includeds the return flight from Toronto to Cologne, Germany, the cost of the seminar, accommodations and meals at Gimborn. To qualify for this scholarship the applicant must be an IPA member and the application is forwarded to the OACP through their own chief of police.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2012 Gimborn Scholarship which will be valid for 2013 courses at IBZ Gimborn.
Check out the report on the Gimborn experience by the 2010 Gimborn Scholarship winner, Detective James Wingate, Peel Regional Police Service.
2010 Gimborn Report: