Life experience ba degree

Pubic service agencies, including the Fire Service, will soon be able to recruit graduate entrants as Anglia Polytechnic University (APU) in Cambridge is running the Public Service Degree. The degree is aimed at people who wish to join any of the uniformed public services including the police, prison, customs and excise, fire and ambulance services, and the military.

Government policy on increasing the academic capital of those working in the public services is supported in all modules of the new degree, as is the commitment to increasing equality and cultural diversity. It is also suitable for people already working in the uniformed services and two members of the Fire Service are currently taking the degree part-time.

The main advantage for emergency services such as the Fire Service is that those wishing to improve their academic capital at degree level do not need to take a degree in an unrelated academic field. "Too often in the past prospective public servants and those currently serving have had to look at less related topics", said Dr Dave Baigent, the academic (and ex firefighter) responsible for the running of the degree at APU.

"This degree is especially for potential and existing emergency workers. It also addresses the issue of public service employees thinking that university is not for them. APU is aware that the thought of doing to university can be daunting and so the programme has been purpose built to ease the transition into higher education and to provide the contextual skills that public servants need", he added.

YEAR ONE

Much of the first year is used to provide an overview of public services and develop learning skills. In addition students take modules in Basic Criminalistics, Intercultural Awareness, Paramedic Science and Politics. Students also take part in work placement experience.

YEAR TWO

The second year has more of a management slant covering Multimedia for Work Performance, Principles of Management, Equality and Cultural Diversity, Learning through Work Experience, and Preparing an Action Plan for Future Development.

YEAR THREE

This year has a choice of modules and also a dissertation to be written. Some of the modules to choose from have been specifically drawn up after intensive consultation with the Fire Service. Hazardous Environments, Human Resource Management, Contemporary Work and Organisations, and People and Work are just some of those available.

TEACHING

The teaching programme has been based on providing students with an academic overview of how public services are organised. To ensure the delivery remains close to the work environment guest speakers from all the public services, politicians and representative bodies contribute to the course on a weekly basis.

From the contributions by those practicing in the field, the students have been encouraged to discuss how academic processes can be linked to front line delivery. As the students develop their knowledge they are finding that their academic abilities are developing in a truly hands-on way that will be of considerable use to them when they apply to join the public service of their choice.

This is not to say that the degree provides an automatic passport to public service. Rather the suggestion is that given the input from public services both in the development of the degree and in its delivery, the Public Service graduates should be prime candidates when they offer themselves for selection.

Adding to the skills students achieve from lectures are workplace experiential skills. In the first year, the students work at a local homeless hostel. The hope is that by working with members of society who may be seen as disadvantaged, the students will gain the type of empathy public servants require when doing their job at the sharp end.

At first this was not a popular choice with students, but experience of the work has allowed them to recognise how useful this opportunity is and will be in the future: students have grown through this experience. Importantly students' views have changed and developed to a point where they have actually enjoyed this opportunity to serve.

This work has also introduced the student to shift working patterns. In the second year, students will take work placements in a public service where it is hoped that they can watch, learn and contribute in the work environment.

Collaboration with the emergency services has played a major part in the development of the Public Service Degree. By holding seminars and working closely with those leading the Fire Service (in particular by developing a strategic partnership with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service), APU has achieved a mix of practical and management skills suitable for those wishing to enter the service.

For those already working in the Fire Service, there are options for part-time study. These can prove very useful for those wishing to stay in employment while taking a degree and raising their academic capital. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has given day release to two students who have been able to map a pathway through the degree course with minimum disruption to their working life.

RESEARCH BASED SUPPORT FOR THE DEGREE

Supporting the teaching on the degree is the Fire Service Research and Training Unit, which is currently carrying out research into culture, initial training and e-commerce, as well as generating locally based education packages for the Fire Service. This research unit assists in providing real first-hand and up to date contextual information to the students and can be contacted at: www.apu.ac.uk/fire

The development of the degree has met Government guidelines for the new Foundation Degree, which forms the first two years of APU's Public Service Degree. Successful students can then undertake a further one-year of study to finish with a BA in Public Service.

WHITE PAPER

The Secretary of State wrote in the White Paper on Higher Education: 'New two-year foundation degrees are developing well as employer-focussed higher education qualifications. One of their key features is that employers play a role in designing courses, so both they and the students can be certain that they will be gaining the skills that are really needed in work."

APU's Public Service Degree has proved to be extremely popular and has increased its intake of students this year over last. The success of the degree lies in the ability of potential public service employees to undertake higher education before starting work, or while already working in the service. The environment for learning is extremely good, all the lecturers having experience of working in the public service sector. Another advantage for students is that they are studying in a strong peer group with very similar ambitions and experience.

To find out more about the Public Service Degree email: answers@apu.ac.uk or d.baigent@apu.ac.uk