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Introduction |
| With the Bachelor of Criminal Justice Namibia’s University of Technology introduced a new bachelor programme with the aim of eventually covering the training needs of a wide range of sub-systems of the Namibian Criminal Justice System. Initially addressing the training needs of the Police, the programme will, in due course, offer other specialisations like “Prisons and Corrections” and “Juvenile Justice”. |
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| The development of this programme of studies at university level originated from a careful analysis of the national and regional training needs. This analysis revealed that the precursor of the new programme, the ND. Police Science, did not address the need to develop the sophisticated generic skills and competencies required at middle and top management within the remit of the Namibian Criminal Justice System, and in particular the Namibian Police. |
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| Since the inception of the ND. Police Science in the early 1980’s, its content, structure and delivery became more and more informed by actual training needs of lower cadres, and largely ignored the ever increasing need for higher order intellectual and cognitive skills in line with the demands of emerging knowledge societies globally. In this respect the programme was no more than an extension of the basic training programme at the Police Training College, which did not match the new quality descriptors of tertiary education in Namibia. |
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| A fundamental overhaul of the existing programme was thus required, and the opportunity was taken to develop a study programme that reaches beyond the Namibian Police; catering for the education and training needs not only of the wider Namibian Criminal Justice System but also for Criminal Justice Systems of other SADC member states. |
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| Aims of the programme |
| The Bachelor of Criminal Justice curriculum is designed to cover a wide range of the national occupational standards for Policing. It intends to provide and equip learners with essential theoretical knowledge as well as analytical and practical skills of police administration and management in the criminal justice system with an emphasis on the Namibian context. |
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| Through participation in the programme students will have the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of the role of policing as a sub-system of the Criminal Justice System in a modern society, as well as that of other law enforcement agencies such as Prisons and Corrections, the Municipal Police, Immigration Services, Namibian Defence Force, Security Institutions and the Bank / Insurance Industries (Forensic Investigators). |
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| As a developing country, and against the backdrop of increasing crime rates, Namibia needs to produce highly qualified Criminal Justice professionals, who can not only manage offenders through the system but also advise Government on policy issues. Imbalanced or inadequately planned development contributes to criminality and thereby constitutes a threat to quality of life, security, democracy, good governance, the rule of law and the free exercise of human rights. |
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The programme intends to provide a diverse range of skills and competencies which are both discipline specific and job related, as well as to facilitate the development of highly generic cognitive and intellectual skills, enabling a graduate to adapt in a continuously changing professional environment throughout the Criminal Justice System. The programme also fosters an understanding of how learned academic knowledge and skills interact and inform the development of professional police and law enforcement practice across communities and criminal justice sectors, taking into consideration international best practices and standards. |
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| The programme is fully commensurate with the African Common Position presented at the 11th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Bangkok. |
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Download |
| » Syllabi | » Curriculum |
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| Career opportunities |
| Police, Prison & Corrections, Defence Force, Security Industry, Immigration Services, Bank/ |
| Insurance Industry (Forensic Investigator), Youth Programmes |
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| Mode of study |
| The Bachelor of Criminal Justice programme will be offered on part-time only. |
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| Teaching and assessment strategies |
The requirements of the NQF underline the acquisition of cognitive skills and competencies exceeding the understanding of pre-determined knowledge items. Thus, the programme focuses on generic skills, including learning skills, which need be developed through engagement of students in an interactive learning process. |
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| This learning process will be facilitated both in and outside the classroom; requiring specific tasks do be carried out by the student. The progress of learning, which is embedded in such tasks, will be monitored, recorded and assessed by lecturer. |
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| Assessment by means of tests and/or examinations will be restricted to such knowledge areas, in order to reduce the use of “validating” end of term assessments. This method is intended to give clarity to the learner as to what is examinable, hereby freeing learners’ intellectual capacity for cognitive development other than memory capacity. Therefore continuous and diversified assessment will be applied wherever this assessment method is more conducive than assessment by means of end of term examination. |
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| Although core subjects of the curricula require only two contact hours per week, these classroom hours will be complemented by common sessions. These common sessions are conceived as sessions open to all students of a particular year without consideration of a particular subject. During such sessions, students will have the opportunity to present their tasks to other students, engage into discussions and receive guidance from the faculty responsible for the particular session. |
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| Admission requirements |
| Bachelor of Criminal Justice (Policing) |
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Students wishing to enrol for a Bachelor of Criminal Justice must write an English |
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proficiency test and test into Communication Skills. In addition, they must write an |
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aptitude test in which they should demonstrate their interest in, and motivation to |
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acquire knowledge and skills of the operations of the criminal justice system in |
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Namibia and that of the SADC region at a professional level. |
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Students who have obtained the ND. Police Science from the Polytechnic of Namibia |
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during the past 4 years (i.e. since 2005) with an average of at least 55% may apply |
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for “admission with advanced standing”. These students will qualify for the |
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conferment of the degree Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies (Policing) after |
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successful completion of the following courses: |
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Criminal Justice Studies 1A & 1B |
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Policing 3A & 3B |
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Research Methodology |
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Research Project |
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Alternative Dispute Resolution |
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| Programme learning outcomes |
| After successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies (Policing) and Bachelor (Honours) in Criminal Justice Studies programme students are expected to be able to: |
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Demonstrate a wide range of scholastic and technical skills in policing; |
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Explain and discuss the Criminal Justice System, including its sub-systems Police, Prosecution, Courts, Corrections (Prisons) and Youth in theory and practice; |
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Outline and discuss the Namibian Criminal Justice System in both regional and global contexts; |
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Display a deep and broad understanding of the operational interfaces of the various sub-systems of the Namibian Criminal Justice system; |
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Make and justify autonomous decisions on crime prevention and crime investigation; |
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Plan, formulate and implement community policing strategies against the objective of maintaining relationships of trust between members of society and the police; |
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Analyse and direct police crime prevention and investigation activities; |
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Plan operations and manage the affairs of a police unit, station or Police regional and national headquarters independently; |
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Evaluate Criminal Justice policies and advance viable solutions to problems in their practical applications; |
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Identify and analyse Criminal Justice problems and critically put forward workable solutions; |
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Identify and analyse Criminal Justice problems and critically put forward workable solutions; |
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Demonstrate a thorough understanding of Human Rights and Juvenile Justice in terms of the administration of Criminal Justice. |
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