Flexible learning at the University of Hertfordshire to enhance paramedic's clinical practice

This University of Hertfordshire is pleased to provide information about its latest professional development opportunity for registered paramedics with or without previous higher-education experience.

The programme, BSc (Hons) Applied Paramedic Science has been designed with a flexible structure allowing students to gain appropriate professional qualification, with the choice of a Diploma, BSc or BSc (Hons) in Applied Paramedic Science.

Students undertake learning on a part-time, flexible on and off campus learning approach. This mixes campus attendance with structured distance learning activities in a virtual learning environment. Attendance at the University is required for eight days in year one, nine days in year two and six days in year three. The programme has three years of study with two entry routes; year two for paramedics with a Paramedic Science/Practice higher education qualification and year one with an Accreditation of Prior Experience Learning (APEL) process for those without. Each academic year is delivered over nine months (October to June); students can leave with a qualification after each year.

This enables students to enter year one and obtain a BSc following a minimum 120 credits of study (or maximum 180 including those from the APEL process), the programme is competitive with Foundation degrees which are typically comprised of 240 Level 5 credits. There is no variation in fees between academic levels of study -remaining at £3700 per year; this reflects changes in government funding with part-time students eligible for a tuition fee loan to support their studies.

The design of the programme, by paramedics, reflects the changing environment faced by paramedics in the urgent and emergency out of hospital care environment. It provides development through an investment to equip students with enhanced attributes of advanced patient assessment, examination, decision making abilities to select appropriate management strategies and clinical leadership. These are designed to equip paramedics with the various attributes contemporary paramedic practice demands. Underpinning programme development is the requirement, identified by previous students and Ambulance Trust representatives, that paramedics require educational opportunities to provide effective, high quality care in innovate ways. Our development ensures graduates possess enhanced knowledge and skills to respond to contemporary and future out of hospital care provision.

Modules, and method of delivery, have been specifically designed to meet paramedics' specific learning requirements around their clinical practice commitments. Module content is carefully structured, allowing acquisition of advanced practice abilities by students. Students' control their academic studies through innovative, flexible blended learning approaches for education delivery; combing off campus e-learning opportunities, with on campus attendance. Campus attendance is used to consolidate, support and develop the academic and clinical attributes of students through expert tutor's guidance and support. Learning on campus will use our dedicated state of the art paramedics skills, patient assessment and simulation laboratories. Teaching is delivered by specialists from the Division of Paramedic Sciences; predominantly members of the paramedic profession, supported by other expert allied health professionals.

Participation on this programme will provide paramedics with advanced clinical practice attributes, enhancing their professional knowledge and abilities demanded by contemporary practice. These characteristics have been designed by expert paramedics for paramedics, allowing transfer to students practice and disseminated to their colleagues.

For further information please see the programme website:

www.go.herts.ac.uk/aps

or contact Matthew Catterall, Programme Tutor

email:m.catterall@herts.ac.uk

Telephone 01707 28618