Professional Development Programme

Enhancing the Employability of Bioscience Students

Tuesday 7th December, 2004

Heriot-Watt University

Twenty delegates gathered at Heriot-Watt University to meet and discuss various aspects of employability. The event was in line with the Scottish Quality Enhancement Themes for 2004/2005 and focused on Employability. The first speaker was Dr Alastair Robertson (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, Scottish Office) who introduced the Enhancement Themes in general, and Employability in particular. The day then moved on to an industry perspective highlighting what employers want and look for in a bioscience graduate. Following a period for discussion, Debra Macfarlane-Dick completed the morning session by giving an overview of potential strategies to embed employability into the curriculum. The afternoon focused on resources and developments, with feedback from an FDTL project, and presentations to outline the employability tools developed by both the Centre for Bioscience and ESECT. Summaries of the presentations and links to copies of the slides are given below

Programme

10.00	Registration; Tea and Coffee
10.20	Welcome and Introduction to the day
10.30	Introduction to the Employability Theme Alastair Robertson, Member of the Employability Enhancement Theme Steering Group
10.45	What skills do graduates need/employers want? Professor Ian Hughes, Co-Director, Centre for Bioscience and University of Leeds
11.15	The employers perspective Joy Lesslie, Graduate Recruitment Consultant, Standard Life
11.40	Discussion
12.00	Approaches to Embedding Employability - Ideas and Examples Debra Macfarlane-Dick, University of Glasgow This session aims to give an overview of the employability project carried out in the Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences (IBLS) at the University of Glasgow from 2003-4 and the resulting outcomes of the work. In addition, the session will explore other approaches to employability enhancement taken at the University in the Science Faculties and elsewhere, giving suggestions and ideas for adaptation for other contexts. Finally, the session will introduce an audit tool that allows departments to review the teaching provision on their programmes in the light of research carried out on employability within the curriculum.
12.30	Lunch
1.15	Activity: Embedding Employability Joy Lesslie, Led by Professor Ian Hughes, Co-Director, Centre for Bioscience and University of Leeds
2.15	Good practice in supporting and assessing students' progress and acquisition of work related skills in the placement environment Dr Chris Seal, University of Newcastle The session will use the example of students studying Food and Human Nutrition who undertake a 12 month compulsory placement as part of the degree programme. Placements are taken in a diverse range of companies and environments throughout the UK and overseas. Because of this diversity we have found it difficult to undertake a formal assessment of the placement. We have chosen, therefore, to use the Licentiateship of the City and Guilds as a mechanism to assess the acquisition of work-related skills which are independent of the placement environment. Another issue for the students was a loss of 'identity' for the group after 2 years in the university system. In a project funded through the FDTL Phase 4 programme we have developed a web-based system using the University's virtual learning environment, Blackboard, to address these issues. The VLE provides continuity (using a system with which they are already familiar) and community (being recognised as part of a group) while on placement. Materials to guide the students in recognising work-based skills and in compiling their portfolio of evidence for assessment are also included in the VLE module. The students have used discussion boards for contact between each other and with the Placement Tutor, and 'drop boxes' to submit regular reports. Evaluation of the web-based system has been very positive, with large numbers of 'hits' throughout the year, and an improved submission of reports. Feedback from the students indicates their enthusiasm for the system which is now entering its second full year of operation.
2.45	Refreshments
3.00	Employability cardsort and Employer Appraisal materials Dr Steve Maw, Centre for Bioscience
3.30	Employability Resources Rob Ward, ESECT & Centre for Recording Achievement
4.00	Closing discussion (finished 4.30)