Salford policing students invited to Paris for final of US Embassy competition

‘Invent2Protect: Countering Hate & Intolerance’, is a programme designed to counter extremism, hate and violence. The University of Salford’s team, ‘The Student Blue Line’, have developed a micro learning product which will focus specifically on the experiences of women at university who are targeted by racial extremists. 

The students will now travel to the US Embassy’s office in Paris to present their work to a panel of senior executives and guests. 

On behalf of the team, Professional Policing student Eve Adams said: “As a group we are so proud of what we have created and beyond grateful that we have been chosen to be in the top two and to have the opportunity to present in Paris. We were very surprised when we heard the news and very excited to see what comes of this. It's a very important topic to us and we are thankful that we can present to a wider audience so our message can be further spread. 

“We would like to thank our tutor Vic, who has supported us throughout the whole process as well as Mary who has given us additional support from the start.”

Programme Leader for Professional Policing at the university, Victoria Gregson (a former Coordinator for Counter Extremism) said: “Our BSc Professional Policing Degree was launched last September, and it is fantastic to mark the end of our first year with the achievement of making it to the final two of this prestigious competition. This is also the first time the US Embassy has run the programme with UK universities so it's extra special for us to be involved.

“The students have worked tirelessly (as well as balancing their course commitments) on this project and as programme leader, I am incredibly proud of them all. We look forward to sharing the 'Our Salford' product with the US Embassy Paris Office in September.”

Mary Scherer, Project Manager for EdVenture Partners, who work with the Embassy to deliver the programme, said: “Congratulations to the University of Salford on becoming a finalist in the Invent2Protect program. It’s been my pleasure and honour to watch the Salford team’s project grow over the last few months. I’m so impressed by what they have accomplished in such a short period of time. I wish them the best of luck at the final presentation event!”