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COLLEGE OF THE SEA
| The Marine Society & Sea
Cadets and The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) has teamed up with The Open University to offer a Foundation Degree in Working With Young People aimed at adults who work with the Sea Cadet Corps (SCC). The qualification is validated by the National Youth Agency on behalf of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) and is recognised as a professional qualification for those engaged in or wishing to be employed in youth work. It is also sector endorsed by the DfES as meeting the Statement of Requirement for Sector-Endorsed Foundation Degrees in Working with Young People and Young People’s Services. No formal qualifications are required to enrol and all volunteers would be eligible on account of their work with the SCC. Delivery is by means of distance learning but attendance at optional face-to-face tutorials is highly recommended. As well as offering a fulfilling and enriching experience for the learner, their colleagues and charges, it’s expected the programme will assist in the recruitment and retention of SCC adult volunteers. There are plans to build the offering into the SCC training schedule. There are five courses to complete. They are:
Grand total = £2475. Most students take one course each year, though the more ambitious may wish to accelerate the process by taking more than one course at a time. The Foundation Degree will be awarded on successful completion of the five courses (240 points). The learner may then elect to study a further 120 points at Level 3 to secure a full degree with honours. First intake of the OU/MSSC offering to be October 2007 (course will last nine months). Registration for this will close mid-September. WHAT IS A FOUNDATION DEGREE? The Foundation Degree is a vocational qualification introduced by the government in 2001. It sits between the Higher National Diploma & Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts level of education. Foundation degrees are intended to give a foundation in a subject, hence the name, that enables the holder to go on to employment in that field. They have been designed in partnership with employers and the education sector. One of a number of important differences between the Foundation Degree and the Higher National Diploma (HND) is that it stands as a degree, and as such has a common value of 240 Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) points in the UK higher education system. By contrast, the HND could be recognised for entry to a degree course at as little as no credits, and as much as 240 credits, depending on the receiving institution. A further important difference is that Foundation Degrees give students with industry experience the opportunity to frame what they know against appropriate academic perspectives, and so they are accessible by students 'in work'.
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FUNDING The MSSC has agreed to financially underpin the study of individuals who wish to pursue the degree by offering a scholarship. The scholarship is to be called the Admiral Tippet Memorial Scholarship in memory of Vice Admiral Sir Anthony Tippet, a former Trustee of the Sea Cadet Corps, who died late last year. All staff and volunteers who work with the SCC may be eligible, subject to availability of funds. Whenever possible prospective learners should explore other avenues for funding before making application for an Admiral Tippet Memorial Scholarship. For example, employers should be approached as they may be willing to offer sponsorship. And ex-Royal Navy/Marines personnel should be mindful that they remain eligible to claim under the Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme for ten years after they leave naval service. HOW TO FIND OUT MORE For more informtion, visit www.ms-sc.org/oufd For more information on the course content visit www.openuniversity.co.uk/yp If you have any queries about the course content/structure please refer to: Julia Platt If you wish to enquire about MSSC sponsorship refer to Wendy Francis, MSSC Education Manager on 020 7654 7050 HOW TO APPLY Contact the MSSC in the first instance: scholarship funding cannot be applied retrospectively. Your application is made directly to The Open University. Make it clear you are enrolling for the OU/MSSC offering. It is important you do this irrespective of whether you apply to MSSC for a scholarship as the MSSC has access to a mentoring infrastructure which will be useful to you during your study programme. Keep the MSSC informed of your application’s progress. * The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the nation’s biggest maritime charity, founded in 2004 from a merger of The Marine Society and the Sea Cadet Association. § |
