Above: Three of the first MSc Intelligence Systems graduates outside Lincoln Cathedral with Dr David Cobham, Kevin Jacques and John Lewak of the University of Lincoln.
 
The MSc Intelligence Systems is an innovative concept designed to provide a key enabler and achieve international academic recognition for electronic warfare (EW) and intelligence practitioners from military backgrounds.  There is no comparable post-graduate course of study available on the market today which provides the same value for money to this target audience.

 
The 13 students to date are all either currently serving or ex-UK and international armed forces personnel.  In order to be fast tracked into the MSc programme they had to meet the exacting standards required via MASS’s Accreditation of Prior Learning and Experience.  The majority of these students are still serving in the armed forces and have undertaken their studies whilst engaged in other commitments (deployment overseas for example), which makes this achievement even more exceptional.
 
A graduation ceremony was held on the morning of 23rd January at Lincoln Cathedral, where senior representatives from MASS attended to congratulate the students and join in the celebrations.
 
John Lewak, programme leader of the MSc at Lincoln University School of Computer Science said: “The students arrive as experts in their own right; they have many years of operational experience.  The partnership teaching team helps students frame their expertise in an academic context and inculcates them in the necessary critical and analytical skills. This three way partnership between student, MASS and the University of Lincoln has worked well and evidences the benefits which can be realised from partnerships of this kind. On behalf of the University I would like to congratulate those students who have passed this impressive award”.
 
Dr David Cobham, head of school of computer science within the College of Science at the University of Lincoln, said: “We are enormously proud of the first cohort of graduating students from this novel and prestigious study programme. The students have successfully combined their work-based learning experiences with research and project work at masters level. This is an excellent example of acknowledging and recognising the learning that takes place in military service and provides a springboard for future career enhancement either within or beyond a military career."
 
Ashley Lane, managing director at MASS said: “MASS is extremely proud of these inaugural graduates, in particular the high grades they have achieved.  We run EW and Intelligence training for UK and overseas students in a leading EW training facility here in Lincoln.  We are now looking forward to the next cohort, who are expected to graduate later this year.”
 
Since its launch, the MSc Intelligence Systems programme has been offered worldwide with interest from the USA, Canada, the Middle East and Australia. Recently it was the subject of discussion with the Association of Old Crows (AOC) at their EW Asia exhibition in Malaysia.