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Peer 2 Peer – Mentoring for sandwich year chemists

Peer 2 Peer – Mentoring for sandwich year chemists. Dr Dylan P Williams & Dr Sandeep Handa Department of Chemistry University of Leicester. Background.

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Peer 2 Peer – Mentoring for sandwich year chemists

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  1. Peer 2 Peer – Mentoring for sandwich year chemists Dr Dylan P Williams & Dr Sandeep Handa Department of Chemistry University of Leicester

  2. Background • Previous studies have shown that students who participate in industrial placements enjoy greater rates of employment after graduation1 and are more likely to graduate with 1st or 2.1 degrees2 • The University of Leicester offers MChem students the opportunity to spend a ‘sandwich’ year on an industrial placement during their third year of study • Leicester placement students study some modules by distance learning

  3. Background • The Department of Chemistry has over 20 years experience in running industrial placements with a dedicated placement tutor in charge of coordinating the programme • An existing system of online resources (e.g. discussion boards and multimedia resources to support distance learning courses) is available to placement students

  4. What do they do? • Medicinal Chemistry (GSK, Novartis) • Analytical (Quotient Bioscience, AstraZeneca, STFC) • Materials (AkzoNobel, Delarue) • Speciality Chemicals (Lubrizol, Croda)

  5. The Problem • Although it has been recognised that it is important to allow as many students as possible are given the opportunity of taking an industrial placement, uptake remains low • Participation rates for the scheme are typically 25% of the MChem cohort • Some students do not appreciate the relevance of placements to their degree and employability • Some students want to do placements but fail during the recruitment process

  6. The Proposed Solution • A student mentoring scheme has been established • Students who are currently on placement and those who have returned from a placement provide guidance and support for level 1 and 2 student interested in applying for placements • Year 1 students are given support in deciding whether a placement is right for them • Year 2 students are given practical advice on finding the right placement

  7. How it Works • Students currently on placement write blog entries which are targeted at year 1 students • Year 4 students (i.e. those who have returned from placements) will mentor year 2 students during the application and selection processes • Year 3 students will e-mentor year 1 students from (2014/15) • e-conference (summer 2014)

  8. Content • 3 x Blog posts: • Student Background • Initial challenges • Reflective post towards end of placement • Poster – company history & structures, their roles within it, etc.

  9. Evaluation • We will measure the following: • Impact on participation rates • Levels of engagement with the peer support network • Student attitudes towards industrial placement and the industrial placement network • Insight on why students choose not to go placements

  10. AcknowledgementsReferences • University of Leicester Student Experience Enhancement Group • 2013/14 Placement students and employers • UoL Careers Development Service • Bowes, L., and Harvey, L., The Impact of Sandwich Education on the Activities of Graduates Six Months Post-Graduation, Centre for Research into Quality, Birmingham, 1999 and The National Centre for Work Experience, London, 2002. Accessed 27/09/13: http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk/downloads/documents/Work%20experience/The%20impact%20of%20sandwich%20education.pdf • Wallace R.G., A sandwich year can seriously damage your chances of obtaining a poor degree. Presented at ASET European Conference, Cambridge, 2002. Accessed 27/09/13: http://asetonline.org/PDFs/A%20Sandwich%20Year%20Paper.pdf

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