EDULINK

Developing Education, Skills and Capacity in Forensic Awareness and Forensic Science in the Southern African Development Community and Caribbean

This 3 year project is the result of a partnership between Staffordshire University, the University of Technology, Jamaica and the University of Mauritius.  It has been funded through the EDULINK ACP-EU Academic Co-operation in Higher Education programme with a project budget of 566,815 euros.  Staffordshire University has strong links with both of its partners, having worked closely with the University of Mauritius in the recent past, and Lord Morris of Handsworth being Chancellor of both Staffordshire University and the University of Technology, Jamaica.

Both Jamaica and Mauritius have experienced increasing levels of crime in recent years, with Jamaica having one of the highest crime rates in the world, with only a population of 2.7 million and a reported 1340 murders in 2006 alone. It is hoped that by increasing the level of scientific training and forensic awareness, there will be a positive impact upon crime detection and ultimately, prevention.

The project aims to develop the University of Mauritius and the University of Technology into centres of excellence in forensic education and training in their respective regions, through the development of undergraduate degree programmes in forensic science at each of the institutions.  The courses will be developed through partnership working betweem all partners and will seek input from local stakeholders such as national forensic science laboratories, police forces and other law enforcement agencies, and the local judiciary.

The physical capacity to undertake forensic learning and analysis will be expanded by the purchase of strategically targeted equipment that will provide both a learning and research resource at the partner universities and will potentially be utilised on a regional basis for the evaluation of forensic evidence.

Regional conferences held in Mauritius and Jamaica which will facilitate the sharing of learning between the partners and provide a forum for interaction with other stakeholders in their respective regions. They will have the opportunity to learn from the project partners and to contribute to discussions.

Staff from the Forensic departments at the University of Mauritius and the University of Technology in Jamaica, will upgrade and enhance their forensic science qualifications by studying the Staffordshire University MSc in Forensic Science, a blended learning programme incorporating online learning with annual skills development workshops in the UK.

The project will have a key impact on the enhancement of links between the universities and the public sector and will result in universities becoming centres of expertise providing consultancy and other services to ensure that, in both regions, forensic science develops in a coherent and holistic manner and that quality is ensured across the sector.

Enhanced degrees and training in forensic science will provide well trained and appropriately skilled forensic science professionals. National and regional police and law enforcement agencies in the Caribbean and South African Development Community (SADC), forensic science laboratories and other providers of forensic services, and legal professionals will become more conversant with forensic issues and have greater confidence in the analyses and procedures.

More significantly, law enforcement personnel involved in the detection, conviction and prevention of criminal behaviour – training in forensic awareness (such as the identification and management of crime scenes and evidence) will facilitate a greater detection and conviction of crime due to the availability of good quality evidence to the forensic examiners.

Ultimately, an increase in crime detection and a reduction in the occurrence of criminal activity will provide a safer and better environment for all communities of the Caribbean and SADC regions.

Commencement Summit Meeting, Staffordshire University, UK

17-20 November 2008

During November delegations from all three partner universities met in the UK for 4 days to discuss forensic education and issues in each of their home countries and to develop plans for the delivery of the project outcomes; these focussed upon designing and delivering degree modules and short courses in forensic science and forensic awareness. 

Faculty Director Dr John Wheeler, and David Flatman-Fairs, EDULINK Project Manager and Senior Lecturer, hosted the Project Summit at the University, welcoming colleagues from both international universities to Staffordshire.

Deputy Vice Chancellor Paul Richards officially opened the meeting by speaking about the importance of the project to Staffordshire University.  He said: “Welcome to the city of Stoke-on-Trent, we hope you enjoy your stay here in Stoke as we are delighted to have you here at the University and delighted that you are here to work on this project. It’s really very exciting as it focuses on an area that is very important to us here, as our colleagues have pioneered techniques in this field and we are very proud of their expertise. For all sorts of reasons this is a very exciting day and the start of a successful, three way relationship.  These are exciting times!”

Professor Christine King CBE, Vice Chancellor of Staffordshire University, hosted a dinner in honour of the visitors.

Partner Knowledge Development Workshop - University of Mauritius

20 - 24 April 2009

Three members of Staffordshire University Forensic Science academic staff travelled to Mauritius to deliver practical skills based workshops, attend meetings and help with finalising curriculum development over a period of 1 week.  The activities undertaken included:

• Discussions with teaching staff and project management

• Discussions on course and curriculum development

• Commission purchased specialist forensic equipment  - Video Spectral Comparator (VSC4 Plus with Document Imaging Software)

• Practical demonstrations and workshops

• Discussions about Stakeholders conference to be held at the University of Mauritius

On completion of the workshops there was a draft degree programme structure in place along with outline module content and practical elements that will be further developed ready for course validation by the University of Mauritius over the next few months.

Partner Knowledge Development Workshop - University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica

8 - 12 June 2009

Three members of Staffordshire University Forensic Science academic staff travelled to Mauritius to deliver practical skills based workshops, attend meetings and help with finalising curriculum development over a period of 1 week.  The activities undertaken included:

• Opening ceremony attended by Prof Hon. Errol Morrison OJ, President UTech

• Tour of the UTech and Government Forensic Laboratory facilities

• Discussions relating to Forensic Chemistry course, an MSc and MPhil/PhD opportunities

• Discussions about Stakeholders conference in 2011

• Practical demonstrations and workshops (attendees included 30 members of UTech staff and 4 personnel from Government Forensic Laboratory)

• UTech Professional Updating Short Course: 
  A professional updating seminar on Digital Evidence that was attended by members of the local police force and the judiciary (Acting Commissioner of Police was in attendance)

On completion of the workshops there was a draft degree programme structure in place along with outline module content and practical elements that will be further developed ready for course validation by the University of Technology over the next few months along with a draft short course outline in DNA profiling.

International Conference on Forensic Science, University of Mauritius

25 - 26 November 2009

A varied and full programme of lectures and workshops was undertaken, including inputs from organisations including:

• University of Mauritius

• Staffordshire University

• University of Technology (Jamaica)

• Forensic Science Laboratory (Mauritius)

• Forensic Science Laboratory (Jamaica)

• Crime Record Bureau (Seychelles)

• Applied Biosystems (South Africa)

A full copy of the programme is available here (PDF, file size: 364.67KB) .

The event was very successful with in excess of 50 participants over the two days from a range of backgrounds including; University students; Police Officers; Fire Officers; State Law Office; Forensic Scientists, Technical and academic staff, private barristers, police medical officers.

In addition to colleagues from Jamaica and the UK, six international participants attended from four SADC countries (Seychelles, Botswana, Tanzania, and Mozambique) hence extending the scope of the project and developing its sustainability on a regional basis.  The workshops were all well attended and the event received national press coverage.  There was also a display of forensic science and chemical equipment from chemical suppliers. All feedback received commented that the conference was a complete success.

International Forensic Science Conference, University of Technology, Jamaica

10 - 13 January 2011

The conference was opened by the Minister for National Security, Honourable Dwight Nelson which was followed by a varied and full programme of lectures over two days.  Following the lecture programme, two days of specialist workshops were undertaken by a selection of delegates covering; Biological Evidence, Techniques in Human Identification, Recovery of Latent Fingermarks from Fire Scenes and Ballistics.  A full copy of the programme and proceedings is available here (PDF, file size: 1.62MB) .

The event was very successful and well received with in excess of 250 participants over the four days. Participants ranged from University students, Police Officers, members of the army, Fire Officers, Judiciary, Forensic Scientists, Technical and Academic staff.  International participants from Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Bermuda, USA, UK (UK participants included members of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency currently on secondment to Jamaica on behalf of the UK Government) and Mauritius attended the conference.  Local stakeholders present included the Chief Justice for Jamaica, Director of Public Prosecutions, Chief of Defence staff, Permanent Secretary-Ministry of National Security, Permanent Secretary -Ministry of Justice,  a number of High Court Judges, the Commissioner of Police and several of his officers of all ranks and Government forensic laboratory scientists. Several participants attended from the CARICOM region (Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago) as well as Bermuda and the USA helping to develop the projects sustainability on a regional basis.

UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

The University of Mauritius has now fully validated its undergraduate degree programmes in:

• BSc (Hons) Chemistry (Minor: Forensic Science)

• BSc (Hons) Biology (Minor: Forensic Science)

More information is available here: University of Mauritius Courses.

Both courses have started recruiting for the academic year 2010/11.  The programmes have received a lot of interest from prospective students on open days.

The following modules will be offered:

• Introduction to Forensic Science and Crime Scene Investigation

• Chemical Principles for Forensic Science I

• Methods of Crime Detection I

• Methods of Crime Detection II

• Explosions, Fires and Forensic Science in Court

• Forensic Biology and DNA Profiling

• Drugs of Abuse and Forensic Toxicology

The first two of these modules were available to study from August 2010 - with 73 students studying the first and 23 students opting for the second module.

UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA

A Forensic Chemistry option has been developed for delivery under the existing Bachelor of Science in Applied Science Degree.

More information is available here: UTECH Courses.

Students will enroll in the general Bachelor of Science Degree comprising of 2 common years (Years 1 and 2) and 2 years of specialization (years 3 and 4). As such students will be expected to articulate to their respective area of specialization in year 3 (Specialisations includes: Environmental Science, Analytical Chemistry and Forensic Chemistry).

The BSc Forensic Chemistry Course of study/specialization was approved by the University’s Board of Undergraduate Studies in August 2010.  The first cohort is expected to commence the first module, Introduction to Forensic Science, in January 2011 which will act as a qualifying module for students wishing to pursue the BSc Forensic Chemistry Option.  Students who are successful will then register for the course of study scheduled for delivery in August 2011. To date over 25 students have expressed interest in registering for the qualifying module (Registration/Module selection will commence in December 2010).

Other Modules to be delivered in the course of study include:

• Introduction to Forensic Chemistry

• Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry

• Legal Ethics for Forensic Scientists

• Introduction to Forensic Computing

• Fibre Analysis

• Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation

• Substances of Abuse

• Chemical Identification Techniques

• Research Methodology

• DNA Profiling

• Fire and Explosion Investigation

• Criminalistics

• Analytical Chemistry II

• Document Analysis

• Ballistics and Tool Marks

• Drugs and Toxicology

• Chemical and Toxicological Analysis

• Summer Externship

• Final Year Project

MAURITIUS

Workshops for new Police Recruits, 31 May - 11 June 2010

Five workshops for new police recruits organised in collaboration with staff from the Forensic Science Laboratory were held in Mauritius at different Police Training Schools. Five hundred officers attended the workshops which included the following themes:

• Crime Scene Management

• Role and Responsibilities of ‘First Officer Attending’

• Importance of Physical Evidence

• Health and Safety at Scene of Crime

• DNA as evidence in criminal cases

• Interpretation of DNA evidence, and

• Preparation of Mock Crime Scenes

Workshops for Police Officers, 22 - 26 June 2010

A workshop was also organised in Rodrigues on the same themes as above to 200 police officers based there.

DNA Evidence in the Courtroom, 7 August 2010

A half-day workshop on DNA Evidence in the Courtroom was delivered at the University of Mauritius in collaboration with the Forensic Science Laboratory with Judge A Tompkins, District Court Judge in New Zealand and Honorary Member of Interpol’s DNA Monitoring Expert Group as the resource person. A total of 90 people from the judiciary attended including the Chief Justice and two Judges.

International Year of Chemistry, 2011

A Forensic Science Awareness Workshop targeted towards university and secondary school students is scheduled in the first semester of 2011 at the University of Mauritius to commemorate the International Year of Chemistry 2011.

JAMAICA

Introduction to DNA Profiling, 20 February 2010

A short course on ‘Introduction to DNA Profiling’ was delivered with professionals from the Judiciary, Magistracy (Ministry of Justice), Police Force and Academia participating in the short course.  The course will be repeated in November 2010.

Forensic Awareness, November 2010

A public Lecture on Forensic Awareness will be hosted in November 2010.

Forensic Odontology, February 2011

A short course in Forensic Odontology is being developed for delivery in February 2011.

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union.  The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of Staffordshire University and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.