Celebration for first cohort of student officers to complete a new graduate diploma in policing

Fifty-four student officers who have completed the Graduate Diploma in Professional Police Practice have taken part in an online ceremony hosted by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) today (March 25).

UWTSD was one of the first universities in Wales to work with police forces to deliver the two new programmes under the new Police Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF): The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and a Graduate Diploma in Professional Police Practice. Working in collaboration with South Wales and Gwent Police, the University is delivering these programmes to approximately 300 student officers through the Blue Light Academy, a centre for excellence to deliver a new professional framework for the training of emergency officers and staff.

Training for the South Wales Police and Gwent Police recruits is split between core police officer training by Gwent and South Wales Staff at a joint training location in Bridgend, in partnership with the University to develop, assess and accredit the qualifications element of their studies.

Bronwen Williams, Academic Director at the University’s Institute of Management and Health said: “I am so proud to congratulate the first cohort to go through the new PEQF route. It has been a real challenge to merge the two worlds of academia and frontline policing and training, but I think this has been achieved by the excellent team working and collaboration that makes up the partnership between South Wales Police, Gwent Police and UWTSD.  

“This first cohort has been instrumental in that development and their feedback has been invaluable. We wish them all the best in this new phase of their careers and look forward to seeing them succeed and go far.”

Professor Medwin Hughes, DL, Vice-Chancellor of UWTSD said: “Meaningful collaboration with public and private organisations is central to the University’s mission to deliver genuinely transformative educational experiences for our students. Such partnerships which integrate academic study and critical reflection with professional practice is key to the future delivery of higher education, particularly post COVID. The University welcomes the opportunity to develop the apprenticeship framework with the South Wales and Gwent Police as part of our Blue Light Academy. The current Coronavirus context has clearly demonstrated the value of frontline staff to the wellbeing of our society.  We will continue to develop innovative programmes to ensure that they receive the skills and training required for their professional careers.”

Jeremy Vaughan, Chief Constable of South Wales Police said: “It’s a privilege to be able to congratulate our first cohort to join us through the new Degree Holder Entry Programme, as they receive their diploma in policing practice. The journey to this point was always going to be a challenge, but particularly so for this cohort who have also needed to adjust to restrictions brought by the pandemic. Members of this cohort should be extremely proud of what they have achieved in such difficult circumstances. I wish them the very best in their future careers with us – keeping our communities safe.”

Amanda Blakeman, Gwent Police’s Deputy Chief Constable, said: “Welcoming new faces in the police service, each with a variety of skillsets and talents, is a rewarding moment; not only for Gwent Police as an organisation, but for policing as a profession, for these officers individually and for their family and friends.

“The commitment shown by this cohort of new officers, the first group of its kind to complete the qualification as part of the degree holder entry programme, cannot be underestimated.

“We’re committing to providing protection and reassurance to the public and these new officers will be part of our goal to deliver the best possible service to our communities.”

PC Jordan Meale of Gwent Police said: “It’s been a very interesting and rewarding two years. I have learnt a lot through my attachments as part of the degree holder entry programme gaining knowledge of specialist departments. I am so grateful to my colleagues, supervisors and university lecturers for supporting me in such a positive way. I now look forward to continuing to develop my career with Gwent Police.”

PC Madison Ramsden of South Wales Police said: “Being a part of the new police training programme is definitely exciting. It’s been a privilege to be part of the first training cohort. The training course has shown me that furthering my education is something I want to carry on with and explore further as I progress my career with South Wales Police.”

The Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) forms part of the PEQF and is a two-year graduate diploma. The PEQF aims to ensure consistent practice in terms of the implementation, assessment and accreditation of initial police training across the 43 forces in England and Wales.

The Graduate diploma covers the core policing practice that officers will need in order to achieve  independent patrol status within their first year of employment and consist of work-based learning modules that are supported by off-the-job learning to achieve full occupational competency at the end of the second year.

The collaboration between UWTSD and the two police forces, in direct response to new guidelines issued by the College of Policing, was created 3 years ago to co-deliver a Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and a Graduate Diploma in Professional Police Practice. The University is also delivering the new pre-join degree in Professional Policing, designed to raise the standards and professionalise policing.

UWTSD has a collaborative internal team from the Institute of Management and Health, comprising the Public Services Portfolio, Wales Academy of Professional Practice and Applied Research and Apprenticeship Development teams working in partnership with South Wales and Gwent Police forces to deliver the Apprenticeship degree and postgraduate diploma in Professional Police Practice.