Hi
I am Head of the Department that runs this programme. Carmdale is correct in some ways but wrong about FDs. They are degrees, designed to be work-related and validate your experience and capability. The subject areas in the FD are designed to provide knowledge and understanding of management and some of the soft elements in the context of the roles that our learners undertake. Also, the programme can be used to access the BA top up (ie year 3) of our BA Security Consultancy.
The course is run by a current CP practitioner alongside her academic role - I have two such senior lecturers on my team; therefore the programme takes an academic approach with an applied focus. As Carmdale says, you could do the CSC or SyI Diploma. The CSC is set at 90 credits at level 5; the Diploma can be used for module exemption at some Unis, including ours, against the FD. As a guide, Portsmouth offer 90 credits off one of their courses. Both the CSC and Diploma offer less in scope, level and academic rigour than the FD.
Progression: several of our FD grads are moving on to BA studies, most are employed now in role and some have secured country manager roles at least. Several of our FD grads are also now MSc holders.
The course is relevant to your area and I directed a full rewrite for the last academic year. You will find nothing more relevant to your role from any UK University. In general, if you want to study Business Management orientated security - Loughborough. If you want a criminology and risk management security degree, Leicester/Portsmouth. If you want to do crisis/emergency management there are a few of those.
If you wanted to discuss this then please let me know by PM - I know our programmes and my team, I also know other programmes and courses and I am more than happy to point you at them if that's what you need. But no hard sell from me - we work with the SIA, SyI and run the CSC, all elements and offerings have value - perhaps I can help you to decide. I could also put you in contact with some of our current and graduated FD students so that you can get an idea of their considerable levels of achievement.
This is an extract from one of our assignment briefs to give an idea of the level of questions that need to be answered and discussed:
'Corporate Protection offers many challenges and poses various risks from a range of vulnerabilities. The Protective Security Manager needs to fully understand these, plan and implement an effective strategy for mitigation and align this strategy with corporate objectives.
In order to demonstrate an understanding of effective Corporate Protection within the Protective Security environment you are required to provide a 2000 word document as follows:
"Textar Oil and Gas Ltd” is a multinational corporate organisation which sources and exploits oil and gas reserves globally. It has a total of 20,000 employees who operate in all the areas where the company works. In addition to its routine exploration, transport, refinement, storage and sale of oil and gas products, Textar is also committed to growing its business activities through exploration and business development.
The majority of the emerging markets in oil and gas are in difficult and dangerous locations. However the company remains resolute that it must take risks in order to maximise profit in what is a very competitive market. The company aims as much as possible to use local labour for lower grade work activity in its operating areas. As part of its expansion, Textar is planning to push extensively into the Caucasus region of the former Soviet Union.
As part of a fact-finding mission, the company plans to send its CEO and Chief Financial Officer to the region. In addition, it is planning to deploy an expatriate team of 25 workers for six months to the region to become familiar with drilling and engineering techniques commonly in use in that area.
This task requires you to write a 2000 word account of the threats facing Textar employees who are travelling to the region and to propose a business orientated protective security solution which will not only maximise protection for the employees but will also ensure their freedom to conduct operations in the region.
Completion of this task will enable you to:
• Understand the planning requirements to control and manage a corporate protection activity
• Explain the specific protection requirements of corporate organizations and their employees
• Understand the requirement to communicate effectively
• Demonstrate the requirement to gain specialist subject matter advice
• Identify the potential incidents & dilemmas involved
You should ensure that you pay full attention not only to analysing the problems but also to describing your solutions and ensuring that you explain your reasons and rationales for choosing a particular course of action.
Should you wish to complete this task in the context of your current employing organisation, please contact the tutor'
Regards
Archie