Their Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (BUCSIS) has been running academic programmes in all aspects of security and intelligence, from undergraduate to PhD, since 2008 and a particular focus throughout this period has been designing and delivering courses not just for standard students, but also for professionals keen to develop their deeper strategic awareness, and their skills in areas such as research, analysis, critical thinking and communications.
Numerous security professionals over the years have highlighted to me the tremendous practical skills developed through our courses and has made a real difference to their career enhancement.”
Professor Julian Richards, BUCSIS
Headed by a former practitioner of many years in UK intelligence, Professor Julian Richards, BUCSIS is uniquely positioned to make the connections between the academic and the professional.
Julian says: “Numerous security professionals over the years have highlighted to me the tremendous practical skills developed through our courses and has made a real difference to their career enhancement.” He added: “Our Buckingham campus enables students to study at the heart of our tranquil, river-side campus and capitalise on our uniquely small-group teaching. Our teaching method is centred around our tutorial-discussion approach and has proved to be extremely stimulating and beneficial for a great number of students who have studied with BUCSIS over the last ten years, from all walks of life.”
In security parlance, the essence of Buckingham’s approach can be described as the difference between strategic and tactical thinking. Julian understands that in the workplace, the pace of operations and pressure of quick decision-making can mean that the bigger and deeper pictures can sometimes be lost.
“Participating in an academic programme like the one we have developed at Buckingham can provide that crucial space for deeper reflection. More importantly, the sorts of strategic policy decisions that rising managers need to make, are the very skills and capabilities that can be developed and honed on our programmes”.
In addition to their two law enforcement-oriented programmes: the PG Cert/MA in Transnational Organised Crime and PG Cert in Law Enforcement Security and Intelligence (by distance learning), Buckingham offers two, one-year taught MA degrees in Security and Intelligence Studies; and Security, Intelligence and Diplomacy. All of which can feed into advanced research options at Masters and PhD levels.
For all enquiries about how these programmes and The University of Buckingham’s unique approach can help you develop your strategic skills, please contact the BUCSIS Director, Prof. Julian Richards at: [email protected].
Further details of all our Security and Intelligence programmes can be seen on our website at: Security and Intelligence degree | University of Buckingham
