This page details the history of the course from conception to the most recent events.
2019 (April) Virginia von Malachowski (Chair since 1995) and Gerard Swan (Course Director) retire from the project
2018 (October) Deafblind UK rejoin the consortium
2018 (October) Tranche 9 complete their second year of studies
2017 (December) Tranche 8 complete their second year of studies, the final Board of Examiners meeting takes place and the relationship with the Open University comes to an end
2017 (October) Tranche 9 continue into year two of their studies.
2017 (October) Tranche 9 complete their first year of studies.
2016 (October) Tranche 9 begin their studies.
2016 (July) Tranche 8 (a and b combined) continue into year two of their studies.
2016 (April) The Board of Partners begin to work with the new credit rating partner FutureQuals.
2016 (March) Tranche 7 complete their second year of studies
2015 (August) A second ‘live’ delivery of the Deafblind Studies programme (Tranche 8b) due to high demand following the May cohort commencing their studies
2015 (May) An online pilot of the Diploma Year (Tranche 7a and 7b combined) is launched
2015 (May) The first ‘live’ delivery of the Deafblind Studies programme (Tranche 8a) begins marking the arrival of a range of learning opportunities without the constraints imposed by the face to face delivery
2015 (March) Tranches 7a and 7b complete their first year
2014 (May) An online pilot (Tranche 7b) of the Certificate Year is launched
2014 (May) Tranche 7a begin their studies – a Certificate only year delivered in Glasgow with a range of assessed and non-assessed buy-in options
2014 (January) Award ceremony in London for Tranche six students
2013 (September) Tranche 6 complete their studies
2011 (September) Tranche 6 students begin their studies
2011 (September) Tranche 5 complete their studies
2010 (October) Award ceremonies in Glasgow and Birmingham for Tranche Four students
2010 (July) Trial delivery of DSI1 and Communication 1 modular taught content in Perth, Australia in partnership with Senses Foundation
2009 (September) Tranche 5 students begin their studies
2009 (June) Achieve credit rating with the Open University
2009 (April and May) Award ceremonies in Glasgow and Peterborough for Tranche 3 students
2009 (March) The Woodford Foundation funds two bursary places for Tranche 5
2007 (September) 30 Tranche 4 students begin their studies
2007 (July and August) Award ceremonies in Glasgow and Peterborough for Tranche 2 students
2007 (May) SSSC recognise qualifications on phase one and two registers for social care sector workers in Scotland
2007 (May) First Board of Examiners meets and makes recommendations to the University of Birmingham
2007 (March) The Woodford Foundation awards development grant to make course more widely available
2007 (March) The Woodford Foundation funds two bursary places for Tranche 4
2006 (July) SQA credit rate and level the course giving it academic values in Scotland
2006 (June) Board of Partners signs three year collaborative partnership agreement with the University of Birmingham
2006 (April) The first live delivery (Tranche 3) of the course begins at two centres – one in Scotland and one in England
2006 (March) Tranche 2 complete their studies
2004 (December) Tranche 1 Award Ceremonies in Glasgow and Peterborough
2004 (August) Tranche 1 complete their studies
2004 (April) Second Pilot Phase – Tranche 2 students begin their studies
2004 (April) The University of Birmingham validate the ‘Certificate’ and the ‘Diploma’ in Deafblind Studies
2003 (April) Department of Health Funding Secured – developments gain momentum and reach critical mass
2002 (September) First Pilot Phase – Tranche 1 students begin their studies
2002 (January) Partners meet to make ‘Deafblind Studies’ a reality
2002 (January) Project Coordinator (later the Course Director) – Gerard Swan – appointed
1995 (approx) The project is born