The first graduates from the Master’s of Science programme in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Management graduated with distinction on the 10th of September.  Rob Murray (ex-Army, now working at NATO HQ) and Dave Womack (RAF) are the first of a large number of graduates from the RAF’s QWI ISR course to complete the MSc programme.  The programme is a two-year part time course delivered by the University of Lincoln in partnership with 54(R) Squadron at RAF Waddington.

Students examine and professionally evaluate operational and technical aspects of ISR management through reflection and the preparation of essays, presentations and research projects.  Analytical skills are developed by critically evaluating actions and structural factors in the area of ISR, including underlying assumptions, and identifying implications for wider systems that extend the area of practice.  The development of practical skills is progressive and is supported with mentor guidance and realistic scenarios.

 On Monday 8 Sep, we were joined by our latest group of NATO students from the JAPCC. Martin Menzel, Carlos Presa, Giuseppe Canfora, Josh Chambers and Andre Haider were with us for the first week of their nine week ‘Enhancing Research Skills’ short course. They have now returned to Germany and will continue their studies, via distance learning supported by Blackboard and Skype, for the next eight weeks.

 

The inaugural course for NATO’s Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC) started on 12th May 14.  

Four subject matter experts from the JAPCC travelled to Lincoln from their base in Germany for the start of a nine week course.  Lieutenant Colonel Ed Wijninga from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Gremez from the Belgian Air Force, Major Selcuk Kazan of the Turkish Air Force and Major Dariusz Madrzejewski of the Polish Armed Forces spent the week at the University of Lincoln with staff from the Military Education Group.

The course members and staff were given a VIP visit to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) at RAF Coningsby where they got to see a display given by the Mk IIa Spitfire.  This Spitfire is the oldest airworthy Spitfire in the world and the only Spitfire still flying to have actually fought in the Battle of Britain.

The Officer Commanding BBMF, Squadron Leader Duncan Mason and Flight Lieutenant ‘Parky’ Parkinson, the only two full time pilots on the Memorial Flight, took time out from their busy day to speak to the course and to show them around the cockpit of the Spitfire.

The Enhancing Research Skills short course includes a one week residential phase at Lincoln, followed by an eight week distance learning phase.  With dedicated academic support from MEG staff, course members will write paper on a defence related subject.  Once complete, the papers will be published in the JAPCC Journal.

 

 

Air Commodore Tom De Bok, Assistant Director Transformation, and Colonel Luke Grossman, Chief of Staff, from NATO’s Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC) visited Lincoln in December to discuss ways in which the University and the JAPCC might work together.  The 2-day visit included a fascinating roof walk in the Cathedral and a UAV flying demonstration by Dr John Murray from the School of Computer Science.

Hosted by Bruce Hargrave, the visit aimed to explain the strong links that the City and University have with the military, and to explain some of the courses which UK military personnel are already studying at the University.

NATO’s Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC) held their 9th Annual Conference 8-10 October 2013.  Bruce Hargrave and Kevin Jacques from the University of Lincoln’s Military Education Group (MEG) were invited to attend.  Panel 4 of the Conference was entitled ‘Education and Training post Afghanistan: The Dawn of real Joint Efforts?’.  Kevin Jacques was one of the four panel members and explained how the MEG works closely with the UK military, particularly the Royal Air Force.

 

The conference hosted representatives from the military, industry and academia.  Over the two days, significant interest was generated in the military degree programmes offered by the School of Computer Science at the University of Lincoln.  These include the MSc in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Management offered to students on the RAF QWI(ISR) course at 54(R) Squadron, RAF Waddington.

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin was interviewed by BFBS – the British Forces Broadcasting Service.  You can watch his interview at  http://www.bfbs.com/news/shaping-future-nato-air-ops-64704.html.