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More than half of Trainee Probation Officers in England and Wales will receive their professional education from the �������, after the Ministry of Justice awarded it a new three-year contract. 

The School of Criminology, and Criminal Justice at the ������� has been tasked with providing the academic course for the teaching of the Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP). Since 2016 it has been a statutory requirement that probation officers have a PQiP.

More than 2,000 Trainee Probation Officers in the East & West Midlands, London, Southern Central, South West and Wales regions are expected to participate in the remote learning programme during the contract. 

The University has been working closely with the Ministry of Justice since the start of this century and has been delivering education for probation officers for the last 20 years. It is one of four providers chosen to deliver PQiP from next year, securing the majority of the important work.

Dr Paul Norman, Head of the School of Criminology, and Criminal Justice at the �������, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the University, further extending the scale of our decades long presence in Probation Officer education for the Ministry of Justice. Key to this success was the School's strategic commitment to a highly innovative online programme, drawing on the best of the School's subject expertise in community justice, penology, risk management and rehabilitation of offenders.”

The students will spend four days a week in the workplace and one day a week on their studies. All learning for the PQiP has now been moved online. The digital approach is designed to give more flexibility and make more efficient use of time. 

Explaining the move to remote learning, Dr Norman added: “Drawing on our advances in eLearning platforms, and associate learning technologies including VR and AR, has provided a very cost-efficient and flexible programme for busy probation officers, with an enhanced student experience coupled with scenario-based learning to develop their professional practice.”

Julian Parker-McLeod, Director of Professional Education Programmes in the School of Criminology, and Criminal Justice at the �������, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to further develop the longstanding relationship we have with the Ministry of Justice. We are delighted to continue our delivery of early career education and continued professional development to future Probation Officers across England and Wales.”

The PQiP course will be delivered in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice.  Expert lecturers at the ������� will supply the academic knowledge that sits alongside the professional competencies provided by the Ministry of Justice. The new contract starts in March 2023 and meets new standards required for Trainee Probation Officers.