The distance learning programme for security people developed by the Security Institute with the Leicester-based trainers Perpetuity Training aims to provide:
· An opportunity to learn security management skills and knowledge that is rooted in academic theory
· Flexible learning
· Academic certification
· Membership of a professional security body (SyI)
The two Security Management courses currently on offer are a BTEC Level 3 Advanced Certificate and a BTEC Level 5 Professional Diploma. These courses can provide routes to Security Institute membership.
All coursework is marked by assessors holding master-level qualifications.
Historically, the courses have been delivered via CD-ROM supported by hard-copy text books allowing security people from around the world to join the courses. Access to course materials is now easier with the launch of a new online learning platform โ www.syilearning.com. Learning is further enhanced by social networking media (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn).
The diploma which had an average of over 30 learners joining each intake in the last 12 months (three intakes per year). Since 2008, 66 students have completed the Certificate with a further 27 working towards their qualification. 61 students have successfully completed the Diploma, with a further 103 currently studying.
Recognition
As for recognition, the University of Portsmouth Institute of Criminal Justice Studies has accepted completion of the Diploma course as being worth a minimum of 80 credits towards their BSc (Hons) in Security and Risk Management. At least three Diploma students have already taken advantage of this.
Blackburn College and the Institute have agreed a to embed the Institute Diploma into Blackburn’s new Security Management Foundation Degree (FdA) which launches later this year. This is the first time an academic body and a professional body have worked together to offer a specialist security course which leads to an academic qualification and a professional body award. Students will be eligible for student membership while they study, and when graduating from the foundation degree will gain their degree and the Security Institute Diploma, as well as automatic eligibility to apply for full membership of the SyI.
Roshani Swift, the Associate Dean of the University Centre at Blackburn College says: โOver the last year University Centre at Blackburn College has been working closely with the Security Institute to develop a Level 5 Foundation Degree validated by Lancaster University. This initiative has been made possible by Perpetuity who have championed the requirement for an academic qualification that also embeds the professional qualification of the Security Instituteโs Diploma. We share the view that embedding professional qualifications into academic programmes enhances employability. The course offers potential students working in the industry access to an academic qualification. The Foundation Degree will enable students to progress to a top up year BA (Hons) Degree. We are very excited about this new and innovative qualification which will see recruitment start later this year.โ
The next intake of the Instituteโs Certificate and Diploma courses is September 2011. The deadline for registration and payment is September 16. Submissions will also be accepted for places on the January 2012 intake of the courses. For more information about the courses and to download registration forms:
http://www.perpetuitytraining.com/securityinstitutesyi.html or http://www.security-institute.org/96/Qualifications.html
