Public Services students excel in major incident simulation

Level 3 Year 2 Public Services students from North Devon College demonstrated impressive professionalism during a recent visit to the University of South Wales, where they took part in a realistic major incident exercise in the Hydra Simulation Suite.

The session placed students at the centre of a live, unfolding emergency scenario, challenging them to respond to changing information, work collaboratively and communicate clearly under pressure. Designed to reflect real-world emergency planning, the exercise formed part of their Unit 7 assessment: Planning for and Responding to Emergency Incidents.

Students were required to make strategic decisions, manage competing priorities and demonstrate effective partnership working, mirroring the demands of careers across the emergency and wider public services sector. The standard of performance was exceptionally high, with all 12 students achieving a distinction for this element of the unit.

Alongside the simulation, the group spent time exploring the university campus, gaining valuable insight into higher education and potential progression routes. The visit offered a clear picture of what the next stage of study could look like, and what will be expected of them as they progress.

When tested in a demanding, realistic environment, the cohort showed they can think clearly, work together and perform at a level well beyond the classroom.