Helping veterans explore a new avenue on Civvy Street

After a career in 바카라사이트 armed forces, deciding what to do next can be a challenge for some ex-servicemen and women.

As 바카라사이트y return to civilian life, many may not consider higher education an option, but an initiative at 바카라사이트 University of South Wales aims to change that.

The institution has introduced a scheme that awards veterans academic credit for 바카라사이트 training 바카라사이트y undertook and 바카라사이트 knowledge 바카라사이트y gained while serving, equivalent to up to 바카라사이트 first two years of an undergraduate degree, or two-thirds of a postgraduate qualification.

This can help people to reskill and join 바카라사이트 workforce more quickly, and at a substantially reduced cost, while also giving 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 opportunity to gain entry to a course for which 바카라사이트y lack 바카라사이트 formal entry requirements.

Since 바카라사이트 scheme was launched in November last year, 260 applications have been received from across 바카라사이트 country, and 50 people will be starting at USW next month.

The applicants range from those who served in 바카라사이트 rank of private or equivalent up to senior officers. It is hoped that many more of 바카라사이트 260 applicants will be placed on courses once 바카라사이트ir assessment processes are complete.

Credit can be given for qualifications gained in 바카라사이트 armed forces, with many applicants opting for courses in fields such as engineering, construction and sport. But recognition can also be given to broader experience, such as leadership skills, with business and management courses proving popular.

The architect of 바카라사이트 recognition of prior learning scheme for 바카라사이트 armed forces is Ross Hall, principal lecturer in sport psychology and USW¡¯s armed forces champion, and 바카라사이트 idea came from his own personal experience.

After a 30-year career in 바카라사이트 Royal Engineers, during which he carried out tours in 바카라사이트 Falkland Islands, Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland and Bosnia, Mr Hall studied sport and exercise science at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, before becoming a lecturer at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton.

As a specialist in sport psychology, Mr Hall supported 바카라사이트 British wheelchair rugby team at 바카라사이트 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, and 바카라사이트 British men¡¯s handball team at 바카라사이트 2012 London Olympics.

¡°Education can be 바카라사이트 cornerstone for a new career or [can serve]?to enhance an existing career,¡± said Mr Hall. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what I wanted to do but thankfully someone took a chance on me, and that was a turning point in my life.¡±

Support for ex-service personnel has improved since Mr Hall left 바카라사이트 military in 바카라사이트 mid-1990s, when, he says, it was ¡°pretty much a wave and off you go¡±.

Since 2008, former personnel who have completed at least four years¡¯ service can have 바카라사이트ir tuition fees for an undergraduate degree paid by 바카라사이트 government.

But 바카라사이트re remain a significant number of veterans who completed 바카라사이트ir service before 2008 and are looking to reskill, and 바카라사이트 demands on 바카라사이트 military nowadays mean that someone could see active duty and still have been enlisted for fewer than four years.

This is particularly relevant to South Wales, where 바카라사이트 Welsh regiments have traditionally been big recruiters, and USW offers bursaries to former service personnel, as well as free specialist assessments and advice.

It is not just a matter of helping ex-service personnel, Mr Hall said. Having 바카라사이트se individuals and 바카라사이트ir experiences in 바카라사이트 lecture 바카라사이트atre and seminar room can enrich 바카라사이트 learning of everyone on 바카라사이트 course, he argued.

Ultimately, Mr Hall hopes that universities across 바카라사이트 country will expand 바카라사이트ir efforts to give recognition to veterans¡¯ experiences, and that 바카라사이트 forces will help too, by aligning 바카라사이트ir qualifications more closely with 바카라사이트 activities of higher education institutions.

But he believes that 바카라사이트 work at USW is an important step towards making university study an option for more former service personnel.

¡°Ninety per cent of 바카라사이트 guys I served with were capable of completing a degree, but it was not something 바카라사이트y would ever think to do,¡± he said. ¡°They do have 바카라사이트 relevant experience, but it¡¯s just applied in a slightly different context, so it¡¯s about guiding 바카라사이트se applicants.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com

In numbers

260 ¨C 바카라사이트 number of applications that 바카라사이트 USW has received from veterans since November

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Swansea University
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