Bomb disposal for beginners: HALO courses recognised

Dumfries-based global landmine charity The HALO Trust is proud to announce that four of its bomb disposal courses have been recognised as formal learning.

HALO is unique in taking people from all walks of life and training 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 – the scene of a visit by Prince Harry in July.

Glasgow Caledonian University has carried out a credit rating 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 a Bachelor's degree (ordinary) in Scotland and a Bachelor's degree (without honours) in England. The course offers graduates, among others, access to one of the world's only NGO-managed fast-track trainee schemes.

Expertly evaluated by the international standards body, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), one of the HALO courses incorporates training to dispose of improvised explosives devices (IEDs), which are found in vast quantities in many war-affected regions where HALO operates from the former frontlines in Syria and Yemen to the liberated towns and villages of Eastern Ukraine.

"We are incredibly proud that HALO Trust's professional courses have earned the recognition from Glasgow Caledonian University on the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework, and GICHD. 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. No prior demining experience is required so competition is fierce for the 12 places awarded each year," says Tim Porter, HALO Training Officer.

"Just one SCQF credit point represents an average of ten hours of learning time, which shows just how much intensive academic training our Field Officers have to complete before they are deployed to work in some of the most dangerous, fragile places in the world," adds Edward Lajoie, Head of Training and Standards at The HALO Trust.

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 The HALO Trust's bomb disposal training courses represents a major advancement in the professionalisation of humanitarian mine action. HALO's distinctive model – training individuals from diverse backgrounds for deployment in post-conflict regions – is now formally recognised and endorsed by the GICHD, which underscores the academic credibility and operational excellence of their field officer training programme."

SCQF credit rating awards

• Field Officer – SCQF Level 9, 120 credits

• Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Level 1 – SCQF Level 9, 10 credits

• Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Level 3 – SCQF Level 9, 20 credits

• Humanitarian Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (HIEDD) – SCQF Level 9, 15 credits

About The HALO Trust

• The HALO Trust is the world's largest humanitarian landmine clearance organisation.

• HALO works in 30+ countries including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Colombia, Angola and Sri Lanka.

• We deploy groundbreaking technology in conflict and post-conflict settings to help people rebuild their homes, restore their livelihoods and keep their children safe.

• HALO also runs programmes in weapons and ammunition management and safety training. During emergencies, we also provide humanitarian aid and logistical support.

• HALO was founded in 1988 in Afghanistan.

• We employ over 8,000 staff worldwide and recruit 95% of them locally.