PGDCSL Awarding and Assessment Policy

1. Purpose and scope

The Postgraduate Executive Diploma in Converged Security Leadership (PGDCSL) is a new Global Converged Security Board (GCSB) programme planned for January 2027. GCSB independently assesses and awards the qualification. The Converged Security Institute (CSI) delivers training for the preceding CSCE, CSP, CSL and CCSO pathway. This Policy defines PGDCSL assessment, award requirements and candidate protections. PGDCSL is an assessed professional qualification, not an Individual Trustmark Award, fellowship or membership grade.

GCSB assesses integrated application of its standards; it does not deliver training, implement a candidate's organisational security arrangements or provide commercial audits. A portfolio assessment is an educational assessment, not an Organisational Trustmark award or evidence that the candidate's organisation is certified.

2. Full award requirements

PGDCSL requires verified achievement of all four components - CSCE, CSP, CSL and CCSO - and a successfully assessed Executive Integration Portfolio. The portfolio is mandatory and non-exemptible. Holding CCSO alone, submitting a portfolio, completing training or paying a fee does not confer PGDCSL.

The component allocation and overall assessment weighting are:

Credits are not assessment percentages. Under GCSB-STD-004, the overall classifications remain Distinction (90-100), Merit (80-89), Pass (70-79) and Not awarded (below 70). Candidates must also satisfy the applicable component, entry, integrity, good-standing and fee requirements. This Policy creates no new fee, component pass mark, reassessment entitlement or recognition cap.

Any recognition of prior learning or executive-entry route requires an authorised, evidence-based mapping against the relevant outcomes and recorded independent approval. It cannot omit a required component, fabricate a certification or waive the portfolio. Unreleased manual provisions are not made operative by this Policy; unresolved recognition, missing-mark or classification cases must be resolved under the authorised programme rules before an award is made.

The PGDCSL Recognition of Prior Learning Policy (GCSB-POL-010) sets out free eligibility screening, the approved £195 formal RPL assessment fee, evidence requirements, independent decisions and appeals. The RPL assessment fee is separate from portfolio assessment unless an approved written package quote explicitly itemises both. Payment follows an approved written offer and candidate acceptance in the portal; each service is verified separately against the candidate's offer.

3. Independent assessment and conferment

GCSB verifies component credentials and their supporting assessment records, or expressly authorised component-recognition decisions, assesses the portfolio against the authorised rubric and checks that the complete programme requirements are met. The portfolio must demonstrate the candidate's own analysis, leadership judgement and integrated application of converged security standards. Candidates must receive the applicable submission requirements, assessment criteria, feedback, reasonable-adjustment arrangements and reassessment rules before assessment.

Independent assessment and moderation must be documented. A trainer may supply evidence but must not be the sole assessor or decide the award for their own candidate. Provider relationships, ownership, course fees and commercial interests must not influence the outcome. Relevant interests and recusals are recorded under GCSB-POL-003 and GCSB-POL-007.

The Assessment Board confirms assessment outcomes within its authorised remit. Formal PGDCSL conferment follows GCSB-STD-004 through the Academic Board, with eligible, unconflicted decision-makers and the applicable quorum. Administrative staff and certificate signatories record and issue the approved outcome; a signature is not a substitute for independent conferment. If independent capacity or authorised rules are insufficient, the decision is deferred, with the reason recorded and communicated to the candidate.

4. Candidate protection and appeals

Candidates receive a reasoned outcome and access to the independent appeals route. No assessor, instructor or decision-maker involved in the original outcome may hear the appeal. GCSB assessment and award appeals follow GCSB-STD-005 and applicable governance safeguards; CSI learning-service complaints remain separate from GCSB award decisions.

Under GCSB-STD-005, appeals are normally submitted within 30 calendar days of notification, on the permitted grounds and with supporting evidence. Academic Board review may be requested within 14 calendar days of the appeal panel outcome. Published exceptional-circumstance provisions remain applicable. No new appeal deadline or personal override power is created by this Policy.

5. Award documentation and public verification

After recorded independent approval and formal conferment, GCSB authorises the PGDCSL award documentation required by GCSB-STD-004. The diploma is issued through Certifier and sent separately to the student, not generated internally in the enrolment portal. The issued credential is then synced into the public register through the existing Certifier process. Award documentation identifies GCSB as the awarding body, United Kingdom as the issuing country, the award date, classification and unique verification identifier. Academic transcript and certificate supplement requirements remain unchanged. CSI is credited separately for the preceding training delivery. Component certificates are verified against their recorded issuer. Public-register status remains subject to GCSB Board decisions and applicable CPD rules, not Certifier status alone.

GCSB documents carry the authorised signature of Prof. Dr. Vladimir Bunic, President & Chair. The public register and verification service confirm the recorded award and current status; they do not publish private portfolios, marks, contact details or assessment deliberations. Existing CPD requirements, including 25 hours annually for PGDCSL and the applicable highest-credential rule, remain unchanged. Qualification and appeal records are retained for at least seven years under the governing regulations and privacy requirements.

6. Credit and recognition claims

The award carries 90 GCSB Academic Credits. These are GCSB's programme credits; the awarding arrangement does not establish regulated qualification status, university credit, degree-awarding powers or external framework equivalence. Any external recognition or articulation claim requires documented evidence and authorisation from the relevant accepting authority. UKRLP registration does not establish such recognition.

7. Programme commencement and assessment fees

Enrolment requests are open for RPL assessment and the founding cohort. Requests do not authorise paid assessment or guarantee admission or an award. Candidate terms, tax checks and independent assessor arrangements were confirmed on 6 November 2026. Live payment links are used only following the applicable written offer and recorded candidate acceptance; independent assessment and Board decisions remain separate recorded requirements. Diploma issue is planned from January 2027 only after successful completion of all requirements and independent formal Academic Board conferment. GCSB is not VAT registered; no UK VAT is added to its fees. This does not establish a worldwide tax exemption.

Before issuing an award under the arrangement, GCSB must record the applicable programme version, candidate terms, provider responsibilities, independently authorised assessment and conferment capacity, and any required agreements. Candidates must be informed of the awarding body and outstanding requirements before assessment or fee collection.

The Executive Integration Portfolio assessment will be purchased through GCSB in GBP. This is portfolio assessment only, not an additional online exam. The approved fee, its scope, candidate terms and assessment delivery arrangements must be published before purchase becomes available. Payment must be verified for the candidate and the applicable assessment entitlement before paid submission. Portfolios and payment records remain private. Payment never creates an award, certificate or public register entry.

Verified CSCE, CSP, CSL and CCSO achievements are considered as component evidence under the applicable programme rules; they do not automatically confer PGDCSL or waive the portfolio.

8. Document control and precedence

• Reference: GCSB-POL-009.
• Version: 1.0.
• Issue date: 6 November 2026.
• Policy oversight: Governing Council; qualification oversight and formal conferment: Academic Board under GCSB-STD-004.
• Operational commencement: subject to the implementation controls in section 7 and applicable programme release authority.
• Review: no later than 6 November 2027, or earlier when the governing regulations or provider arrangements change.
• Precedence: read with GCSB-POL-001, GCSB-POL-003, GCSB-POL-007 and GCSB-STD-003, GCSB-STD-004 and GCSB-STD-005. This Policy defines the approved separation of awarding responsibilities; it does not silently amend published standards, bring the private Version 2.0 manual into force or override a governing regulation. Any conflict requires formal reconciliation before an affected award proceeds; the stricter independence safeguard applies.

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