Leadership and management
In addition to our award winning foundation degree in collaboration with the NECC, we have launched another two foundation degrees, one with PD Ports and the other with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.
The first programme, the Foundation Degree in Leadership and Management (Ports) is offered over two years on a part-time basis and is specifically for those working within the ports industry.
The degree is delivered using a masterclass approach which has been developed by the University on similar successful programmes. The masterclass is delivered at the University by a lecturer with a senior PD Ports employee offering practical examples of how this can be applied in practice at the port. This method ensures the practical application of theory and delivers added value to the delegates and their workplace through improved performance.
David Robinson, PD Ports’ Group Chief Executive Officer, said: 'The programme is open to employees throughout PD Ports who have responsibility for or aspirations to manage people, irrespective of the department in which they work. The introduction of this foundation degree is a unique personal development opportunity to develop and enhance our employees’ current skills, allowing them to more effectively lead and manage people within the organisation.'
PD Ports has had significant input into the content of the programme ensuring its relevance to the ports industry. Ports Skills Safety, the port sector training organisation is viewing this as a pilot and will then look to offer this programme to other ports within the United Kingdom.
In the second partnership with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, the University provides accreditation for the service’s existing training in the form of an foundation degree in fire investigation.
The first cohort of ten officers has enrolled. The two-year course is tailored towards very senior experienced officers who have specialised in fire scene investigation, and who wish to achieve a qualification to support their career development. The curriculum covers all aspects of skills required for fire investigation, including evidence gathering and excavation, methodology of fire scene examination, electrical fires, court room skills and court room presentations.
Lee Aspery, fire investigation manager with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'This foundation degree is a positive move forward. We are required to work in partnership with the police and forensic partners. This course will help in training up our fire scene investigators to work more formally with a higher degree of confidence alongside the police’s forensic providers.
'Nationally the law changed three years ago, giving fire investigators as many if not more powers than police forensic investigators. The foundation degree formalises this change. Major incidents such as the King's Head Hotel fire in Darlington last year, which are beyond just fire damage, require high quality skills, appropriate knowledge and authority to investigate the causes. That’s where this degree comes in.'
