one | Accreditation
The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS) has been accrediting Forensic Science programmes at undergraduate BSc and taught Masters (MSc) run by Higher Education Institutions since 2006. The Society’s standards (Component Standards v2016-1 and Component Standards v2017-1) provide a benchmark for quality and are mapped to the relevant National Occupational Standards. They cover:
Subject specific standards are added as they are developed. Currently three standards exist:
two | Quality Standards
The CSFS educational accreditation provides:
- A quality endorsement of programme content;
- A mark of the forensic value of programmes outside the traditional forensic arena, e.g. digital forensics;
- A quality mark valued as an independent guarantee of programme merit by UK and overseas institutions;
- A quality mark used by students to identify quality programmes;
- Continual improvement opportunities and on-going quality assurance from surveillance during the 6-year accreditation cycle;
- The technical Component Standard covers the foundation for the QAA benchmark.
three | University Educational Accreditation Package
A number of benefits accrue from CSFS Educational Accreditation in addition to quality standards.
three.1 | Education & Industry Liaison Forum
Universities with educational accredited programmes automatically receive membership of the Education and Industry Liaison Forum. This is a formal opportunity for institutions, forensic suppliers, providers and other stakeholders to meet and discuss current developments within the forensic arena. Discussions feed into research and development in forensic science and into the development of the Society’s standards, educational provision and course content. The Education and Industry Liaison Forum informs Government consultations and may bring issues of concern to the attention of policy makers.
three.2 | Online Resources
| Each Educational Accredited University is given access to the following material free of charge |
Available to student members on non-accredited courses |
Free to educational accredited institutions and students on accredited courses |
|
Presentations from Conferences and events including:
- Technical presentations (e.g. document analysis, footwear analysis)
- Case studies from conferences
- Developments in the forensic profession
- CPD developments
- Interpretation, analysis and reporting of evidence
- Lawyers' perspectives
- Court communications
|
Available for a fee
|
✔ |
| Material relevant to the forensic arena and Higher Education provision (reports, articles, comments, good practice showcase) |
- |
✔ |
| Links to relevant sites (e.g. Quality Assurance Agency benchmark statement for Forensic Science) |
- |
✔ |
| Material from Education and Industry Liaison Forum |
- |
✔ |
three.3|Website Marketing Opportunities
The CSFS Website includes:
-
A list of
institutions offering educational accredited programmes. This provides valuable information for prospective students seeking good quality courses in Forensic Science and Crime Scene Investigation.
- A page for each institutions to advertise forensic courses and other relevant material (such as testimonials from ex-students, information on graduate employment, specific research projects being undertaken, links to publications and other developments related to their institutions).
three.4 | Link Persons
Each institution with educational accredited courses is given the opportunity to nominate a Link Person to:
- Maintain contact with the Society
- Maintain contact with students and Student Forensic Societies
- Alert the University to any Society developments of specific interest.
three.5 | Good Practice Guide
Following an educational accreditation related visit, commendations are made by the Assessment Panel highlighting key features of good practice and identifying continual improvements.
four | Student Benefits
| Benefits available |
Student members from non-accredited courses |
Student members from accredited courses |
| A bi-monthly copy of Science & Justice and a quarterly copy of Interfaces |
✔ |
✔ |
| Representation of members to the Forensic Science Regulator, Government and other professional bodies |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Access to publications at a reduced rate:
- 20% discount on Wiley Books
- 30% discount on Forensic/Legal Medicine books published by Elsevier
- 50% discount on New Scientist publication
- Reduced rates for online access of 5 Forensic Journals published by Elsevier
|
✔ |
✔ |
| Online access to Science & Justice (back to volume 35, produced in 1995) |
✔ |
✔ |
| Affiliation with the California Association of Criminalists (CAC) |
✔ |
✔ |
| Student Event |
✔ |
✔ |
| Automatic upgrade to Associate Membership after graduation upon production of their degree certificate (post-nominal ACSFS with direct career progression route). |
✖ |
✔ |
| Access to online resources |
✖ |
✔ |
|
Educational Accredited Course Award Universities with educational accredited courses may nominate a student member for an award of their own title and criteria
|
✖ |
✔ |
|
Most Meritorious Student Awards. In order to recognise best overall performance the Society makes an award to a student on:
An Educational Accredited undergraduate programme
A forensic MSc degree.
|
✖
✔
|
✔
✔
|
five.1 | Quality Assured Assessors
All Assessors have been appointed on their academic or practitioner expertise. All have a good understanding of forensic science as an academic subject and industry requirements.
five.2 |
All assessors are trained and sign a confidentiality agreement so the information remains confidential.
five.3 |
All assessors are dedicated to the continual improvement of the educational accrediation, recognition and endorsement schemes.
The Society reserves the right to make amendments to the requirements of the Educational Accreditation Scheme and associated benefits package to fit with future developments in the field.