Learner Agreement

Introduction

Thank you for choosing to enrol with CAPSLOCK!

This learner agreement sets out our expectations of you as a learner, as well as what you can expect from us through our Code of Ethics.

Please take the time to read each section carefully and sign where required.

Your enrolment

You are enrolling onto CAPSLOCK’s Certified Cyber Security Practitioner (Ce-CSP) course.

You will be enrolled onto the course once you have signed this learner agreement and had your enrolment confirmation email. Once enrolled, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to transfer to another cohort.

The details of your enrolment, such as your start date and cohort, will be included in an addendum at the end of this document.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

By signing this Learner Agreement, you are agreeing to CAPSLOCK’s Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should have previously been made aware of these and already agreed to them.

Our Terms and Conditions of Enrolment outline your Tuition Fee responsibility and more. You can find a copy of the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment on our website.

Entry requirements

At CAPSLOCK, we know that your academic past or current situation is not an indicator of your potential and doesn’t dictate your future success. Our entry requirements only include the essential criteria to ensure you have the best possible opportunity to successfully complete the course. No matter your background, if you meet the eligibility criteria below you can apply to enrol at CAPSLOCK.

We ask that you:

• Can communicate effectively in English
  
  • You need to be able to communicate with your tutors, classmates, and mentors using spoken and written English throughout the course, so must be able to speak and understand English to a conversational level.
• Can attend and participate in at least 90% of the course
  
  • You must be able to attend and fully participate in at least 90% of the scheduled sessions to successfully complete the course.
• Are open to working with others
  
  • You will work closely with your peers in small groups. Understanding the importance of teamwork, and openly contributing and collaborating with your team is a key part of the course.
• Are willing to learn and participate
  
  • We ask that you have a desire to learn new skills, develop your existing transferable skills, and are willing to consistently participate in the course.
• Hold basic IT literacy skills
  
  • You need to be comfortable with basic computer skills to participate in the course and navigate our digital campus.
• Have your own laptop or PC
  
  • To fully participate with the course, you will need a working laptop or desktop computer, and a stable internet connection.
• Have a webcam and microphone
  
  • All learners need to have a working webcam and microphone or headset and agree to always be on camera during class.
• Have access to a suitable home-learning environment
  
  • The course is interactive with lots of discussion and team-based learning, so you’ll need a suitable, quiet place to learn where you can focus and engage.
• Are not working elsewhere during class hours
  
  • We need to have your full attention during class hours so that you can participate. This means that you can’t be working whilst you’re in sessions.
• Are over the age of 18
  
  • We reskill adults into cyber security professions, so you need to be over the age of 18 to enrol.

Learner expectations

Attendance & hours of study

You are required to attend live, remote classes in line with your course schedule. You must attend at least 90% of the classes and cannot be working during class times. You may request a list of all scheduled classes at any time by emailing admissions@capslock.ac.

It is essential that you arrive on time to all scheduled sessions. Arriving late, leaving the sessions early or any planned absences must be communicated to the tutor team in advance, where possible.

Outside of the live classes, you will have approximately 2 hours of guided self-study each week. This can be undertaken around your own schedule.

Your course schedule will align with our Full Time of Part Time schedule below. Sessions will not take place on Bank Holidays in England and Wales.

Full Time schedule

Monday – Friday, 9.30 am – 2.30 pm

16 weeks

Part Time schedule

Monday – Thursday, 6 pm – 9 pm

28 weeks

Your learning

Whilst enrolled on the course, you will participate in a combination of team-based learning (TBL) and problem-based learning (PBL) activities. You will work in a small team (of 4-6 people) to complete these activities.

TBL is one of the most effective ways to learn, retain, and apply new knowledge. To complete the CAPSLOCK course, you will need to actively participate with your team and commit to working with others daily. This includes presenting work, participating in group discussions, and sharing ideas. This activity is designed to build learner self-confidence and plays an important role on the course. All learners will be expected to participate equally within their groups.

It is your responsibility to take an active role in your learning and education. This might mean that you may decide to undertake additional study hours beyond scheduled class time or guided self-study.

Professional working environment

CAPSLOCK strives to maintain a professional, supportive, and positive learning environment by simulating the workplace as much as possible. As such, you are expected to behave in a professional manner during class times.

CAPSLOCK has zero-tolerance for any kind of harassment, discriminatory, inappropriate, or unprofessional conduct. Any behaviour of this kind may result in withdrawal from the course.

Virtual classroom etiquette

During your participation in the live online sessions, we ask that you adhere to the following etiquette. This will help maintain a consistent course delivery, enhance engagement, and maintain a respectful environment for all.

• Cameras
  
  • During live classes, you are expected to have your camera on and have your face visible on screen. Any technical faults with webcams should be raised with the tutors as soon as possible.
• Microphone
  
  • You should mute your microphone when others are presenting. This is to avoid disruption and background noise.
• Food and drink
  
  • Eating should be kept to a minimum while on camera and should not distract or disrupt others.
• Alcohol and drugs
  
  • Alcohol and drugs are not to be consumed before or during scheduled learning hours. You must be sober during taught hours.
• Smoking
  
  • Smoking and vaping of any kind is not permitted while on camera.
• Clothing
  
  • You must be fully clothed while on camera.
• Background
  
  • We recommend using a virtual background whilst on video calls. Anything visible to others on screen (e.g., in your background, foreground, or whilst sharing your screen) should be appropriate for a professional workplace environment and not contain and offensive, illegal, or rude material.
• Recording and Screenshots
  
  • To respect the privacy of everyone in the virtual classroom and protect the intellectual property of CAPSLOCK, you must not screenshot, photograph, or record anything whilst on video calls.

Academic integrity & plagiarism

The approach we take to learning is developed to enhance your problem solving, critical thinking knowledge and skills. Discussion and research are a critical part of this, however, engaging in actions such as extensively copying information is inappropriate and directly conflicts with the aims of the learning. Any instances of this may result in failing assessments and ultimately if continued, removal from the course. Guidance on what constitutes plagiarism will be available from the tutor team.

Feedback & complaints

There will be numerous opportunities for you to give feedback throughout the course. Should you have any further feedback or complaints regarding your experience, you should raise these by emailing feedback@capslock.ac for them to be reviewed. We strongly discourage expressing complaints outside of this process.

Career outcomes

CAPSLOCK offers an outcome focussed service and as such, once you are enrolled on the course you are committing to actively searching, applying and securing a job in the cyber security sector. We do not guarantee employment or level of income but as part of a careers curriculum we will provide careers support, coaching and guidance, and work closely with you to support you to fulfil your career aspirations.

The overall success of securing a role will come down to your input and effort. We have a tried and tested method to help you achieve your goals. You will be set realistic and attainable targets for you to work towards, these will relate to your job applications and building your network. You will meet regularly with your assigned careers advisor for a job search review.

You will be required to attend and engage with all career’s sessions, taking place within scheduled learning hours. A percentage of the overall assessment will include participation of the careers curriculum. There will also be the opportunity to attend workshop sessions outside of the learning hours.

Certifications

Certified Cyber Security Practitioner (Ce-CSP)

Ce-CSP is the sole certification in which you are currently enrolled, and it serves as the foundation for the learning aims and objectives. To achieve this certification, you must meet the requirements listed below. Full assessment criteria will be made available to you in your induction.

1. Your overall attendance must be over 90%
2. Your final aggregate grade must be over 70%

Additional certifications

You will also have the opportunity to gain up to 3 additional external certifications. The following is an indicative list of those available, which is subject to change.

1. Security+ by CompTIA
2. ISO27001 Requirements by the British Standards Institute
3. Certificate in Information Security Management Principles (CISMP) by British Computer Society

All certifications are governed by their own awarding bodies and have their own rules and regulations. Assessment criteria for external certifications are not controlled by CAPSLOCK.

We will purchase vouchers for you to complete the required exams. Any external exams will be arranged after the midpoint of the CAPSLOCK course. Study and preparation for the exams will be predominantly guided self-study with resources and support provided. In some cases, the CAPSLOCK curriculum naturally covers a significant amount of the external certification material.

If you already hold one of the external certifications included in the course, you will not be eligible for a refund or replacement. Additional exam vouchers for resits are considered on an individual basis, should this be necessary.

CAPSLOCK’s Code of Ethics

We are committed to our Code of Ethics and strive to always uphold them.

Accessibility and Equity

We commit to providing equal access to educational resources and opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, or circumstances.

We will actively identify and address barriers to access, striving to create an inclusive learning environment that promotes equity and diversity.

Respect and Dignity

We will treat all learners and staff members with respect and dignity, fostering a safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard.

We will not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, or offensive behaviour based on factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or socio-economic status.

Cultural Sensitivity

We recognise the diverse backgrounds of our learners and strive to create a curriculum and learning environment that respects and celebrates different cultures, beliefs, and perspectives.

We will actively seek to avoid cultural bias in our content and interactions, and we will encourage open discussions that promote cross-cultural understanding.

Data Privacy and Security

We will prioritise the privacy and security of learners' personal information, ensuring that all data collection and processing practices adhere to relevant laws and regulations.

Learners' data will be handled responsibly, and we will transparently communicate our data usage practices.

Collaborative Learning

We will encourage collaborative and cooperative learning experiences among learners, fostering an environment where knowledge is shared, and diverse viewpoints are respected.

Tutors and learners will engage in constructive discussions that promote critical thinking and the exchange of ideas.

Transparent Communication

We commit to providing clear and accurate information to learners about course content, objectives, expectations, and any potential costs.

We will promptly address questions, concerns, and feedback from learners and tutors in a transparent and respectful manner.

Continuous Improvement

We will continuously evaluate and enhance our educational offerings based on learner feedback, emerging best practices, and advancements in technology.

Our commitment to improvement extends to both the quality of education and the inclusivity of our platforms and services.

Professionalism

Our tutors and staff members will uphold the highest standards of professionalism in their interactions with learners and colleagues, fostering a positive and supportive learning community.

Integrity and Honesty

We will maintain the highest level of integrity and honesty in all aspects of our operations, including content creation, assessments, and communication.

Plagiarism, cheating, and any form of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.

Social Responsibility

Social responsibility, a cornerstone of our code of ethics, underscores our commitment to the broader community and the world at large. We recognise that our actions extend beyond our immediate sphere of influence, and we strive to contribute positively to societal well-being. Upholding social responsibility entails a dedication to ethical practices that consider the impact of our decisions on diverse stakeholders, including marginalised groups, the environment, and future generations. By integrating principles of fairness, sustainability, inclusivity and empathy into our operations, we aim to make a meaningful difference and inspire others to do the same. This commitment to social responsibility aligns with our vision for a more just and inclusive world, fostering an environment where ethical conduct and societal betterment go hand in hand.

By adhering to this Code of Ethics, we, as an inclusive online education provider, commit to creating an environment that empowers and supports all learners on their educational journey.

Proof of ID

To enrol on the CAPSLOCK course, we require you to provide a form of photo ID to be used to prove your identity. Please upload a clear scan of photo of one of the following:

• Passport (photo page)
• Photocard driving licence from the UK, EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
• A PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
• a Blue Badge
• a biometric residence permit (BRP)
• a Defence Identity Card (MOD form 90)
• a national identity card issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

The image should clearly show your photo, first name, last name, and date of birth.

Declaration

I have read, understood, and agree to the CAPSLOCK Learner Agreement

Signed by the learner: