Professor Julie Mennell

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Professor Julie Mennell Chair, UKFSEG Dean,
School of Applied Sciences, Northumbria
University
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• Scene setting
• Media Influence
• High Profile Cases
• Forensic courses
• 450 - 50 five universities
• Course titles
• Clive Wolfendale .
• Prof Robert Forrest
• Top-up fees 2006

Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman Fibres showed
significant contact
Savage waste of young peoples time and parents
money
Art with Forensic Investigation (W1F4)Biosciences
with Forensic Investigation (C7FK) Business
Studies with Forensic Investigation
(N1F4)Computing and Forensic Investigation
(G4F4)Digital Culture, Arts Media w Forensic
Investigation (G4FK)Early Childhood Studies with
Forensic Investigation (X3F4)English with
Forensic Investigation (Q3F4)Forensic
Investigation and American Studies (FT47)Forensic
Investigation and Art (FW41)Forensic
Investigation and Biosciences (FQ43)Forensic
Investigation and French
universities strategic decision making process
of combining relatively unpopular subjects such a
chemistry with superficially attractive forensic
modules to entice applicants to take the hook.
Sarah Payne fibres evidence convicts a child
killer - After 17 months of painstaking forensic
work, Roy Whiting was found guilty of the murder
and kidnapping of Sarah Payne following evidence
of fibres and a single hair.
Tony Blair has scraped home by just five votes in
a crunch House of Commons test of his
controversial plans to introduce university
top-up fees.
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• Forensic Science on Trial
• SEMTA 2004 Report Recommendations -
• Quality assurance, Employer consultation,
  Training Courses, HE funding arrangements
• Highlighted 7 areas -
• Employability, Supply and demand, Course content,
  Quality of provision, Expectations,
  Inclusiveness, Government
• Parliamentary View
• Science Technology Committee - June 2005
• Evidence heard from CRFP, ACPO, Forensic Science
  Society etc.
• teaching of forensic science should be combined
  with the teaching of pure science through the
  offering of joint honours degrees in, for
  example, Forensic Science Chemistry and that
  these courses should be developed in consultation
  with employers.

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• Aims and objectives
• The group aims to provide a forum for higher
  education and forensic science stakeholders to
• establish FS Employer HE requirements for new
  and existing staff
• influence the design, content delivery of
  courses
• identify key priority areas
• promote FS Research and small scale applied
  research projects
• review standards QAA subject benchmarks
• develop information and guidance for prospective
  students via web site
• share knowledge and good practice amongst HE
  staff
• promote a framework for HE cpd for forensic
  practitioners

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Current Steering Group Membership
Employers/Professional Organisations Skills
for Justice, Centrex NTC (NPIA), Metropolitan
Police Forensic Services, Strathclyde Police,
Cleveland Police, Derbyshire Police, Forensic
Science Service, ACPO Forensic Science Sector
Training Strategy Group, LGC Forensics, N I
Forensic Science Service, Scottish Forensic
Science Service, Forensic Science Society, HEA
Physical Sciences Centre Universities Anglia
Ruskin, Central Lancashire, Glamorgan, Kings
College London, Lincoln, Abertay, Bradford,
Northumbria , Staffordshire, Strathclyde,
Teesside
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Current Activities Web Site Development HEA
Physical Sciences Centre Project Grant Advice
and Guidance to students re courses and
careers Standards, Accreditation and
Skills Shaping the Future of Forensic Science,
June 2007 Higher Education Physical Sciences
Centre Special Interest Group Practical
Projects in Forensic Science Practical Skills in
Crime Scene Investigation Current Issues in
Forensic Science
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Future Activities Priorities Strengthening and
formalising links with National Policing
Improvement Agency Forensic Science Advisory
Council Skills for Justice HE Forensic Conference
November/December 2007 Developing Forensic
Courses UK BSc Forensic courses / High
demand Opportunities for employers to influence /
select and collaborative approach Focus on
professional forensic science courses Strong
scientific base in the context of and linked to
forensic practice Specific entry
requirements Specialist techniques and
applications Collaborative projects/Professional
placements Employer group recognition / FSSoc
scheme Ensuring courses meet needs of new and
emerging roles
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• Prof Julie Mennell
• E-mail julie.mennell_at_unn.ac.uk