Police recruits can, for the first time, study for a Foundation Degree in Policing Studies, thanks to a link-up between the Isle of Man College and Isle of Man Constabulary.
Over the last three years, the Isle of Man Constabulary has successfully trained its own police officers.
Eight new recruits have just commenced two-year initial police officer training and this year, opportunities for them have been further strengthened by the introduction of a Foundation Degree in Policing Studies.
The Foundation Degree offers the opportunity for all the study and training undertaken by student police officers to result in a universally recognised qualification.
Later in their careers, officers will have the opportunity to take their studies to a further level and be awarded a full honours degree.
The Foundation Degree is validated by the University of Chester within its WBIS (Work Based and Integrative Studies) higher education framework.
The Isle of Man College is an Associate College of the University of Chester and is able to offer WBIS degree programmes to individual or groups, in addition to a range of other degree programmes.
The WBIS framework accommodates work-related experiences alongside academic study, making it suited to people who regularly encounter new projects and challenges in their workplace; it therefore fits perfectly with the Isle of Man Constabulary’s initial training programme.
Helen King, Initial Training Programme Leader with the Isle of Man Constabulary Staff Development Centre, said, "The Isle of Man is a small but diverse community and its police force plays a number of roles. If we are to truly engage in community policing, we need to ensure that our values and our behaviours are sufficient to provide a professional service to the community.
"Initial training has always been police-based but the Foundation Degree challenges student police officers to consider the broader implication of policing, both at systemic and individual level. We believe this will raise the professionalism of our police officers further."
Chief Constable Mike Langdon said, "The local training of student officers is something that we relished, because it gives us the opportunity to develop local people to a very high level. The Foundation Degree reinforces this, as it helps enhance the already high levels of professionalism that exist within the Constabulary.
"I see this development as just the start of what will be a positive and enriching working partnership with our colleagues in higher education."
Gail Corrin, WBIS Programme Leader at the Isle of Man College, is delighted to be working in partnership with the Isle of Man Constabulary. She said, "The Staff Development Centre has been very clear in its vision for the training and ongoing professional development of its officers and the Foundation Degree is evidence of this.
"The WBIS framework makes higher education available to those who are working full-time and are willing to learn from their work in combination with focused, relevant study. In the case of the police, their initial training programme is of a high standard and much of it has been accredited through WBIS.
"Students will need to complete additional assignments in order to gain the Foundation Degree. These successful police recruits have undergone a rigorous assessment over the last six months to gain their place on the programme and we look forward to working with them over the next two years."
