jeff

The Foundation Degree in Protective Security Management is offered through Bucks New University and modules include:Year 1 Threat and Risk Assessment for Protective Services, The Legal Framework of Protective Security, Personal and Professional Development Planning, Management 1, Operational Planning, Protective Security Management, Year 2 Corporate Protection, Celebrity Protection, Overseas Protection and Operations, Management 2, Protective Security Project.What do you guys think of this? Would there be much scope for someone in the CP sector who has this qualification? Or is it not worth bothering with. Thanks for the advice.

Rich H

This course is not worth the paper it is printed on. Many companies jump on the band wagon to dream up new ideas of revenue. This course is one of those ideas and the certificate does not mean anything. CP cannot be taught in the classroom which effectively is what this course is trying to achieve.

A degree in Security & Risk Management is far more sought after in the corporate world and is one I would advise pursuing if this is what you're after.

Rich H

Marian

I have it on my "long term" list of selfdevelopment courses

jeff

Thanks for the advice, I am aware of the degree in Security & Risk Management, but what type of occupation or role could you work in with this qualification?

Rich H

The degree has nothing to do whatsoever with CP. What it does, however, is broaden your knowledge and outlook on security as a whole as an industry. This degree will put you in good stead for the future for positions that may interest you. If you are nearing your 50's and have had a solid progressive career in the security field then such a degree will open doors that otherwise would have remained closed. This degree combined with the ASIS CPP will make your CV leap above others and will give you knowledge that as a CPTL will be very useful to your work and your reputation.

littlewoman

This course is NOT a degree. Numerous colleges are bringing in these 'Foundation Degrees', its what other colleges call an Access Course. They are designed to give you the study skills and foundation in the subject to go on to a degree course. Its a way of getting on to a degree course without doing GCSEs and A-levels. The qualification you get is at A-level standard.
Colleges are using the term 'degree' to make you think you are getting a degree. You are not.

80085

I have done an access course and its definitely not 2 years of distance learning.... It is a higher level than A S level standard, which is equivalent a Btec level 3 qualification, A foundation degree is exactly what it says.

"Foundation degrees are degree level qualifications designed with employers and combine academic study with workplace learning to equip people with the relevant knowledge, understanding and skills to improve performance and productivity."

"Foundation degrees are awarded by universities and require equivalent standards of academic attainment as the second year of an honours degree."

More information about foundation degrees can be found in the link below.

Regards
Lildev666

Foundation Degrees Forward

__________________
.

mickworldwide

Agree with Lil Dev,

I have recently had a meeting with BNU across at our facilities in Serbia and it was one of the questions I asked about in relation to their further education.

It does not as Rich suggests attempt to teach CP in a classroom environment.... it is based on a learning system to go hand in hand with work. I personally think it is a good thing as it is a possible way of gaining a national qualification relevant to your industry....

The ASIS CPP ??? Now that is interesting.. why don't you add a Certified Anti Terrorist Specialist to that for 100 quid too. The ASIS CPP is a 200 dollar , 200 question multiple choice qualification. (oh and of course the 100 dollar re quals from time to time) there is no vocational learning, it is not a degree or similar and is not accredited by any institute of learning. I know some persons who hold this and the PSP and to be honest I wouldnt leave them in charge of a toilet block.

ASIS is an organisation..... you join and thats that....I know a former 'Chapter' leader (what is it a motorcycle gang??) who is one of the biggest muppets on the earth, and as a result I have lost all faith in that qualification, organisation etc.... he basically goes around approaching all and sundry and asking them to join , as he is on a commission for new members.

I always cringe when I see anyone who has a 'purchased' qualification on their CV.... CPP,CAS, PSP, CPI etc.... personally I would stick with the Bucks Uni Qual or do a full on security management course still cant beat a proper Uk Uni degree (foundation or otherwise)

Rich H

Oh dear, 'Mickworldwide' has just left himself open to attack!

The ASIS CPP designation is probably one of the most sought after qualifications employers have in prospective applicants. You only have to look on specialist security recruitment websites to understand how much regard the certification is placed. We are not talking about muppet organisations here but the major oil and gas industries with positions such as 'Head of Global Security', 'Chief Security Officer', (CSO), 'International Security Manager', etc etc. Your comments would produce much humour in the Board Room! These positions in the worlds leading companies, for some reason, prefer candidates to have a CPP designation. It is not a $200 'purchase certificate scheme' but a very thorough examination over 4 hours that requires extensive studying. It has been going since 1977, (unlike the degree in 'Protective Security since last year?), the full history can be read here: ASIS International: History of the CPPâ„¢ Designation

Not everyone can attend the ASIS CPP, certain eligibility aspects must be proven;

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements to be accepted as a CPP™ candidate:

Education: An earned bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education and work Experience: Seven (7) years of security experience, including at least three (3) years in responsible charge of a security function

OR

Work Experience: Nine (9) years of security experience, including at least three (3) years in responsible charge of a security function.

Eligibility requirements also include no prior conviction of any criminal offense that would reflect negatively on the security profession or on ASIS International and its certification programs.

A purchased qualification? I don't think so Mick. As far as accreditation is concerned, Ruth Henig is in the process of doing just that.

The degree in Protective Security Management, however, to me, is comical to say the least. It has been dreamed up by a certain security provider as a revenue of business. It has become a 'degree' as it has ticked all the right boxes for the QCA and I will now back up my remarks;

To produce a degree on CP is a bit like producing a degree on Advanced Driving. Both subject matters are a physical entity. That being, the knowledge gained is applied in a physical aspect. The contents of this 'degree' is as follows;

Module Title Credits

LEVEL 1
Certificate in Close Protective Security 20
Threat and Risk Assessment 20
Legal Framework 20
Personal and Professional Dev (Academic skills, reflection, action planning, career dev, verbal and non-verbal comms, interpersonal skills) 20
Close Protection Studies 20
Operations Planning 20

LEVEL 2
Corporate Close Protection Studies 20
Celebrity Close Protection Studies 20
Overseas Close Protection Studies 20
Management Issues 20
Close Protection Project 40
Personal and Professional Dev (Academic skills, reflection, action planning, career dev, verbal and non-verbal comms, interpersonal skills)

Call me old fashioned but all the above are the basis of a CP course (or thereabouts). It is therefore attempting to teach CP in a classroom, something that slightly agitates me. Mickworldwide claims".. it is based on a learning system to go hand in hand with work." That maybe so and knowledge is good. However, what's the point? If you have attended a proper CP course such as Rmp CP there is no need to attend such a so called 'degree' - you just wouldn't learn anything and the 'qualification' is a pointless exercise. If you are a Police Advanced Driver, what's the point in attending a degree on learning how to drive? The course would probably be recommended for those individuals who are breaking out into the industry or for those that need to enhance their knowledge on protective security issues, even then...what's the point? The bottom line to this is don't waste your money on a qualification that means nothing in the corporate world. If you are considering such a qual then go for Leicester or Loughborough and do a proper degree course in Security & Risk Management (a Foundation degree is one of them).

Oh Mick, BTW please read below;

Definition of Chapter

Noun
1. a division of a book
2. a period in a life or history: the latest chapter in the long and complex tale of British brewing
3. a sequence of events: a chapter of accidents
4. a branch of some societies or clubs
5. a group of the canons of a cathedral
6. chapter and verse exact authority for an action or statement [Latin caput head]

Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006


I would suggest that anyone considering to attend the 'Foundation Degree in Protective Security' to work in Serbia. It's obviously held in high regard over there.