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Employability Discussion Forum

Gomersal Park Hotel, 19th and 20th May 2003

Thanks to funding from the LTSN Generic Centre 20 delegates were able to meet over two days at the impressive Gomersal Park Hotel, in the heart of West Yorkshire. They included teaching, careers and skills development staff from universities and HE colleges, both senior and junior graduate staff from employers, and others with an interest in the employability of graduates. Their different perspectives on the employability agenda generated a lively and informative exchange of ideas and information. The agenda was ambitious and wide-ranging and included topics some of which could be the focus of a discussion forum in their own right in the future.

The stated aims and outcomes of the meeting were:

Aims

  • to exchange experience about the issue of employability within a bioscience context;
  • to gather and compare information/data regarding how different departments are responding to the employability agenda;
  • to compare current practice within bioscience units;
  • to devise strategies for raising awareness in the biosciences of issues surrounding employability;

Outcomes

  • a better understanding of the current position across departments by participants;
  • the harvesting of what works and what does not within a bioscience context;
  • some guidelines for developing methods and policies for bioscience units/teachers;
  • an account of the meeting which will provide a guide for LTSN in supporting bioscience departments in their employability.

Representatives brought with them a diversity of experience and a range of ideas about how to deal with employability issues. Individual speakers presented information about selected topics and a number of fruitful discussions, in groups and plenary, took place. The material covered and the discussion outcomes can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate links.

Programme, 19th May

16.30 Coffee and Registration
17.00 Welcome and Introductions
Centre for Bioscience
17.10 Setting the scene – why the focus on employability?
17.20 Define employability in the context of teaching bioscience
(small group discussion and plenary).
17.40 Demonstration of Employability Card Sort
Professor Ian Hughes, LTSN Bioscience
17.55 To what extent is employability being integrated into the curriculum?
(small group and plenary discussion based on the Employability Audit), Professor Ian Hughes, LTSN Bioscience
Discussion outcomes
18.40 Delegate presentations:

• Biologists – who employs them?
Dr Chris Newton, Careers Adviser, University of Leeds

• Employment in a large science based organisation
Dr Martin Todd, Portfolio Manager, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals

• Work Experience outside the laboratory and research field
Dr Geoff Whiteley, Senior Lecturer and Year in Industry Co-ordinator, Department of Biology, University of Leeds.
19.45 Drinks and dinner
 

Programme, 19th May

8.30 Delegate presentations:
• Prebio: the developmental years
Dr Andrew Ramsay, Senior Lecturer, Biological and Chemical Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Bell College

• Contribution of Profile, an FDTL Phase-4 project, to student employability
Dr Stephen Gomez, Faculty Placements Tutor, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England
9.15 Employability – bioscience problems
Professor Ian Hughes, LTSN Bioscience
9.55 Delegate presentations:
• The relevance of Medical Biochemistry (BSc Hons) and Master of Research (MRes) to working as a research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry
Kathryn Owen, Research Bioscientist, AstraZeneca Research and Development Genetics

• Biology doesn't pay
John Horlock, Project Officer, LTSN Bioscience
10.25 How can a bioscience department best steer the student experience to enhance employability?
small group discussion and plenary
11.45 Ways in which LTSN Bioscience can support departments
Professor Ed Wood, LTSN Bioscience
11.55 Next steps for the Discussion Forum
small group discussion and plenary
12.25 Closing remarks and thanks
 
Summary of the Day

 

Other resources

Centre for Bioscience Employability pages