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Biosciences at UWE

Biosciences at UWE. Tbilisi, Jan 2008 Dr David Lush. Topics…. Undergraduate Science Degrees Variety of Bioscience Degrees at UWE Features of our Bioscience Degrees Biomedical Science Degree ‘Modular’ nature of UWE Bioscience Degrees Module Delivery/Management

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Biosciences at UWE

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  1. Biosciences at UWE Tbilisi, Jan 2008 Dr David Lush

  2. Topics… • Undergraduate Science Degrees • Variety of Bioscience Degrees at UWE • Features of our Bioscience Degrees • Biomedical Science Degree • ‘Modular’ nature of UWE Bioscience Degrees • Module Delivery/Management • Importance of Laboratory work • Sandwich Placements • ‘e-support’

  3. Undergraduate Degrees… • We offer Bachelor of Science (Honours) • Typical UWE Bioscience entrant… • 18 years old • Two, post-16 science qualifications (A-levels) • Biology or Chemistry plus one other science • 3 years study (Full-Time) • Two 12-week teaching semesters per year • 4 years study (Sandwich) • 2 Years at UWE, 1 year working in ‘industry’, final year back at UWE

  4. Variety of Bio Degrees at UWE… • Bachelor of Science (Honours) degrees in… • Applied Biological Sciences • Applied Physiology & Pharmacology • Applied Biochemistry & Molecular Biology • Applied Genetics • Applied Microbiology • Human Biology • Sports Biology • Biotechnology • Biomedical Sciences

  5. Our Bio Degrees: Features • Around 130 students join per year • All offered with optional ‘sandwich’ year • See later • Degrees ‘integrated’ with each other • Students can join one degree and graduate with another with zero/minimal additional study • Degrees ‘support’ each other • Prevents degrees with small numbers becoming uneconomic • eg Applied Microbiology – 6 students

  6. Our Biomedical Science Degree • The most popular (around 50 students/year) • To follow a career as a Biomedical Scientist, you need to become registered • Just like Doctors, Nurses, Radiographers, etc • Registration requires… • An Honours degree in Biomedical Science (BMS) from an approved University • A successful period of training in a hospital lab • Overseen by the Institute of Biomedical Scientists (IBMS) and the Health Professions Council (HPC) • Our BMS degree is an ‘integrated’ degree • We are responsible for delivery, management and assessment of the academic and training components

  7. UWE Bio Degrees are Modular • To gain a UWE degree, students collect ‘credits’; typically, • 120 in Year 1 (Level 1) • 120 in Year 2 (Level 2) • 120 in Final Year (Level 3) • Credits are gained by passing modules in particular subjects… • Eg ‘Genome Analysis’ (20 credits; Level 3) • Modules are self-contained units of assessed study that award credit

  8. UWE Bio Degrees are Modular • Each module is assessed independently • Typically by exams and coursework • Eg, 1 exam, 2 essays/lab reports • Passing the module  all credits for the module • Marks  differential classification of degree • Module marks  class of degree • Level 1: credit counts, marks do not • Level 2: credit counts, marks contribute 25% • Level 3: credit counts, marks contribute 75%

  9. UWE Bio Degrees are Modular • Modules permit the integration, flexibility and efficiency of Bioscience degrees • Each degree is defined in terms of a ‘pattern’ of different types of modules • Types of module… • Compulsory – required for that particular degree • Core – a set of modules from which a minimum number must be taken • Optional – other named modules that can contribute

  10. UWE Bio Degrees are Modular • Year 1 : mainly compulsory; broad range, levelling, awareness-raising • Semester 1 : 6 x 10-credit modules • Semester 2 : 6 x 10-credit modules • Year 2 : more specialised modules; increased choice • 6 x 20-credit modules (from total of 16) • Placement choices • Placement Year : optional, about 50% take-up • Support via Profile web-site/visits • 1 x 20-credit (Level 3) Professional Practice Module • Final Year : greatest choice • 4 x 20-credit taught modules (from 26) • 1 x 40-credit project module

  11. UWE Bio Degrees are Modular • Increasing choice of modules from Year 1  Final Year • Underpins the flexible integration of Bioscience degrees • Students’ module choices not restricted to their degree title • We timetable around student module choices • Modules ‘shared’ between different degrees • Maybe only 5 students graduate with Applied Microbiology • But many students on other degrees would have taken Microbiology modules • Since Micro modules are ‘healthy’, so is the Micro degree • Modules cost money to run, not degrees

  12. Module Delivery/Management • Each module has a module leader plus a module team – those members of staff who teach on it • Almost always > 1 • Ultimately responsible for specifying*, delivering and assessing the module • *the module specification must be approved by a Field Planning Committee (FPC) • *incorporation of a module into a degree structure is approved by the Programmes and Modular Management Committee (PMMC) • A 20-credit module typically has 60 hours timetabled contact • Equates to 15 hours per week for a typical student

  13. Laboratory Sessions • Year 1 : • Each module has a 3 hour practical session every other week • Year 2 : • Most modules have a 3 hour practical session every other week • Final Year : • Taught modules have no practicals • Double Project module is mainly laboratory work • Overall, around 40% of timetabled time is practical work • Plus the Sandwich Year! • Laboratory training essential to produce employable graduate Bioscientists

  14. Sandwich Placements • About half the students elect to take the placement year • About 1/3rd of those work abroad • About 20 BMS students/year undertake laboratory training towards becoming Biomedical Scientists • Placements managed by Faculty Placement Tutor plus 1.5 administrative posts • ‘Remote’ management of placements via our Profile web-site • We have published a study to show that placement students perform 4% better in their Final Year • Improved employability

  15. ‘e-support’ • Increasing support for modules through UWE’s Virtual Learning Environment, Blackboard • Web-site to assist students in making their module choices • Placement Learning supported through the Profile web-site • Students can take the 20-credit, Level 3 Professional Practice Module while on placement • Training aspects of the Integrated BMS degree managed via an e-portfolio • Use of audio and video pod-casts to support students in practicals and private study

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