The Centre's work in Wales

The Centre for Bioscience supports teaching in higher education to improve student learning throughout the UK. While the majority of the Centre's activities are on a UK-wide basis, the increasing divergence of the 4 home countries means, where appropriate, the Centre adopts a country-specific approach in addition to the general activities. To help us recognise, influence and respond to local priorities we aim to have a Country Consultant for Wales: currently the position is vacant. As a subject centre of the Higher Education Academy the Centre for Bioscience receives funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. View our Welsh language page.

This page provides links to Wales-specific activities and resources, as well as pointers to Centre materials that are particularly relevant to those teaching within the Welsh political framework.

Learning and teaching development grants for colleagues in Wales

We are pleased to announce the availability of grants of up to £4,000 for members of the bioscience community from departments in Wales with bioscience HE provision. This funding is offered to encourage the development, establishment or validation of innovative learning, teaching and assessment materials or methods. See webpage for further details and application form. Deadline Friday 15 October 2010

Centre Events in Wales

Centre-funded Projects in Wales

Aquatic Ecosystem Simulator
Cardiff University - Dr Peter Randerson

Towards sustainable teaching of bioscience
University of Wales, Aberystwyth - Dr Dylan Gwynn-Jones

Developing new teaching and learning methods for enhancing the relevance of bioscience education at universities and in schools within local communities
University of Glamorgan - Dr Denis Murphy

Academy-Wales

Support for the Higher Education Academy's work in Wales is provided by Gabriel Jezierski (Senior Adviser). Additionally thirteen Welsh HEIs will be supported by Academy Senior Advisers, Assistant Directors and Senior Associates, including: Rob Norris, Steve Outram, Brenda Smith, Alan Jenkins, Michael Bradford, and Rob Cuthbert.

Their aims are to:

• consider the issues emerging from our analysis of institutions’ learning and teaching strategies
• reflect on the issues arising out of the Academy Welsh Strategies Conference
• use information arising from our visits to Welsh HEIs under our Institutional Liaison Scheme
• reflect on dialogue with key stakeholder groups such as Higher Education Wales (HEW), HEFCW and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)

With the overall aim of enhancing students' learning experience in Wales HE.

Other Organisations and Additional Information

Higher Education Wales

HEW aims to be the voice of Higher Education in Wales by:

• providing an expert resource on all aspects of Welsh higher education.
• promoting and supporting higher education in Wales.
• representing the interests of its members.
• negotiating on behalf of Welsh higher education.

Higher Education Funding Council Wales

HEFCW - Wales provides an expert resource on all aspects of Welsh higher education, promotes and supports higher education in Wales, represents the interests of its members, and negotiates on behalf of Welsh higher education.

QAA Wales

QAA Wales has been working closely with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, National Union of Students Wales, and the heads of higher education institutions in Wales to ensure that quality and academic standards are maintained throughout higher education in Wales. Several QAA events focus on a variety of HE issues specifically for Wales.

Bologna Process

Bologna Process Development in Wales is on-going.