Bomb disposal courses achieve formal recognition

A global landmine charity has had four of its bomb disposal courses recognised as formal learning, thanks to Glasgow Caledonian University.

The HALO Trust takes people from all walks of life and trains them to clear landmines and bombs to save civilian lives in some of the world’s most conflict-affected countries.

Every year new field officers are trained from scratch in Cambodia before being deployed to countries such as Afghanistan, Syria and Angola.

Glasgow Caledonian University has completed a credit-rating process of HALO’s courses to allow them to be placed on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework for the first time.

HALO’s world-leading field officer course, the only one of its kind in the world, has been awarded 120 points at Level 9 - broadly comparable to an ordinary Bachelor's degree in Scotland and a Bachelor's degree without Honours in England.

Costas Choromides, Senior Lecturer at GCU London, said: “We are delighted to support such an esteemed charity and the outstanding humanitarian work they do across the world.

“The credit rating of HALO Trust’s bomb disposal training courses represents a major advancement in the professionalisation of humanitarian mine action.”

Tim Porter, HALO Training Officer, said: “We are incredibly proud that HALO Trust’s professional courses have earned this recognition.

“We are unique among humanitarian mine clearance organisations in running a long-form training course for those who aspire to work as operations officers on its minefields all over the world.”