Queens and PSNI begin academic link

Queen’s University Belfast today teamed up with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to launch a landmark partnership in academic learning for probationary officers.

Under the partnership the university will offer a new Police Skills version of its Certificate in Work-Based Learning.

Reflective learning logs, kept by officers throughout their probationary period, will be assessed by Queen’s which will act as the accrediting body for the qualification to be issued by the university’s Institute of Lifelong Learning.

Speaking at the official signing of the agreement between the PSNI and Queen’s, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton said the initiative would make a significant contribution to the way in which the PSNI could serve the community.

“This is a historic partnership that will have a positive and long-lasting impact on how we conduct training throughout the Service,” he said.

Head of training, education and development at the Police College of Northern Ireland, Dr James Drennan, said the new programme provided yet another step in improving the professional and academic standing of PSNI officers.

“The public’s confidence in our police service depends entirely on our police competence, and this agreement today affords us with the ability to make accredited academic learning a reality.”