Employees in the police, security and other disciplinary forces may strengthen their professional knowledge and qualifications by taking one of a brand new series of programmes custom-designed by the OUHK for presentation in April next year. The new set of programmes, 'Police and Security Management', is the first of its kind ever developed in Hong Kong specially for target groups engaged in relevant services. The series includes Diploma, Higher Diploma, Bachelor of Social Sciences and Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) programmes.

Primarily, the police force, with an establishment of more than 28,000, and the 180,000 registered security guards are to benefit from this training opportunity. Officers from the Correctional Services, Customs and Excise, Immigration and Fire Services Departments may also find the programmes relevant and practical.

Prof. Kao Mayching, Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences, said these courses aim to offer learners a broad-based tertiary-level education, which introduces them to perspectives, debates and issues in the world of police and security management. The programmes also aim to enhance students' evaluative, analytical and problem-solving skills as independent learners and knowledgeable professionals.

Featuring multi-entry and multi-exit points, the study programmes are structured in such a way that a student may opt for a Diploma in Police and Security Management on completion of 60 credits. He/she may then continue for another 30 credits to gain a Higher Diploma.

The multi-entry points are represented by exemptions of up to 80 credits and 60 credits made available to junior police officers and police inspectors respectively in the Honours programme (160 credits). To qualify for the exemption of 80 credits, junior police officers must have successfully completed the Diploma programme plus two subsequent years of working experience in the police force. The condition for the 60-credit exemption for police inspectors is that they must have passed Standard I and II Examinations plus two subsequent years of working experience in the inspectorate.

The programme structure consists of both general courses and specialized courses. General courses include Practice in Contemporary Language (Chinese), Business Computing, Business Management Fundamentals and Introduction to Economics.

Some specialized courses include Hong Kong Criminal Justice System, Police and Society, Psychology for Police, Security Practice and Management, Crime, Order and Social Control, and Core Issues in Policing.