New Approaches: Immigration Law, Professional Practice, and Employability Carol Howells, Liz Moody, and Edwin Parks, The Open University
This paper explores the approaches undertaken in developing online immigration law modules. These modules work together to create a rounded approach to the study of immigration law and practice.
Seeking to provide students with legal knowledge the modules also provide an opportunity for students to prepare for qualification as an Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner (OISC) advisor.
The modules place emphasis on the range of skills relevant to successful study, to successful client care, and ethical professional practice. The emphasis on skills reflects the fast-paced nature of immigration work, the challenges faced by applicants and practitioners and the resilience required to work in changing and potentially distressing situations. Designed to be interactive with opportunities to reflect on module learning outcomes, to match a student’s learning to the OISC syllabus and provide opportunities for reflection the modules provide a structured and guided approach drawing upon the expertise both partners bring to the project. Throughout scenarios and interactive visual materials are used to develop and consolidate both knowledge and skills. This integration has been unique amongst the wide variety of courses seeking to provide support for students aiming to take the OISC examinations. A series of incremental modules has been developed and designed to produce a staged approach and enable flexible study at a student’s own pace. Students can register at any point in the year and choose their pace of study. The development of the modules was based on an analysis of the market, existing courses and feedback from practitioners and users of immigration services.
The paper concludes with reflections on developing modules in partnership, the opportunities created, the ambitions set out by each partner at the beginning of the project and the challenges faced along the way.
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