Vocational and professional courses

The University offers a wide range of vocational and sector endorsed programmes.

For those of you already in work we recognise the importance of professional development throughout your career. Increasingly career progression is dependent upon obtaining higher qualifications and continuing professional development provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on your practice and share your ideas with colleagues. Many of our professional development courses are part-time and work based, and promote action research and reflective practice.

We maintain close contact with industry and employers to ensure you will be prepared for your future world of work. We involve employers in the design and review of all our Foundation degrees and Higher National diplomas, with strong employer representation for all of our professional courses such as those within Health and Education. Many other courses have developed panels of employers to act as consultants during course revalidations to ensure that we are equipping graduates with the skills required for the future.

Many of our programmes are sector endorsed or lead to professional registration. The University’s excellent reputation in teacher training has been recently validated by our recent outstanding Ofsted report, which particularly commended the employability of our students. Our Foundation degree in Early Childhood Studies is sector endorsed, and we are proud to be providers of the EYPS (Early Years Professional Status).

A number of our business related courses are recognised by their professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Chartered Management Institute.

We offer a wide range of National Governing Body Coaching Awards through the Coach Education Programme and our sports scholarships allow students to gain a number of coaching qualifications free in return for a placement period with a one of the region’s top sports teams and clubs. Our Sports department has excellent links with local and national employers, and we provide a base for a number of regional offices including rowing, English Federation of Disability Sport, national centre for BAALPE and the County Sports Partnership.