Forty-nine police officers with ranks ranging from Police Constable to Station Sergeant are studying a bridging course at the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK), which would lead to the award of a Certificate in Law Enforcement and Security Management by the OUHK.

The officers are studying "Psychology in Policing" and "Social Studies in Policing", just like Recruit Police Constables (RPC) have been studying since the Police College incorporated these two modules into their Foundation Training Course in January 2006.

As RPCs having completed their Foundation Training Course will be awarded the Certificate in Law Enforcement and Security Management, the OUHK has designed the bridging course for officers who had completed the old RPC Foundation Course to obtain the same certificate. Armed with the certificate, they may continue to acquire higher academic qualifications.

OffBeat has talked to two bridging course participants, Sergeant Li Tip-sing from Traffic New Territories South and Police Constable Chu Siu-pong from Marine East Division, about their views of the course and the progress of their studies.

The officers started their course in March, beginning with the six-month module of Psychology in Policing, to be followed by the Social Studies in Policing module, which will also last for six months. They have had two tests so far and will sit for the final examination in respect of the first module on August 15.

Besides studying at home the many notes given by the OUHK, they attend on campus a lecture class every Wednesday and a tutorial class every two weeks. They also make good use of the facilities of the library at the OUHK for their studies. Their studies were pretty "hectic" but they could still manage every assignment given by their lecturers.

They said that although they are spending less time with family because of their studies, their families support their self-enhancement efforts.

Useful to police work

Usefulness to their job was what had prompted the two officers to take the bridging course. They said what they had learned about psychology so far proved they had made a right choice. They pointed out that the course had been tailor-made to meet officers' needs at work, offering "a big help" to their job. Another benefit for them is "understanding better myself and my family".

"I now know more about the psychology of the people we, as police officers, often come across, such as crime suspects and victims, as well as members of the public in general. This helps us crack crime and provide quality services to the public," said SGT Li.

Echoing SGT Li's views, PC Chu said: "Officers often rely on their own experience, but the course provides some very useful basic academic knowledge for their job."

Of what they have learned from the bridging course, both officers singled out learning the psychology of the victims of domestic violence as most useful in handling such case. SGT Li also finds the psychology of children interesting and useful.

Both officers recommend the bridging course to fellow officers. "The culture and the ways of doing things within the Force keep changing and so is society. We need updated knowledge to cope with rapid changes," PC Chu noted.

"Besides providing useful skills and knowledge, the bridging course will offer 30 credits, which will be a big help to officers considering studying for a diploma, high diploma or a bachelor's degree," said SGT Li.

The fee for the bridging course is $16,000, but the OUHK Chan Tak Education Fund will subsidise an officer up to a maximum of $4,000. Details are available on OUHK's webpage (www.ouhk.edu.hk). Officers may also apply for subsidies from relevant schemes in the Force and the Government, such as the Police Welfare Fund, Reimbursement for Short Local Courses Scheme and Course Fees Reimbursement under CSR 1010.

Interested officers may contact the OUHK at 2768-6601 or Learning Development Support Centre at 2860-5831.

SGT Li (left) and PC Chu have recommended the bridging course to fellow officers