Widening student participation in the biosciences: a three centre study

Description

This report gathers together the collected experiences of these three institutions, operating, as they do, in widely different catchment areas. It is intended to be of value to other institutions also wishing to raise participation of non-traditional students in the bio-sciences and aims to enable the transfer of good practice by making available the collected expertise.

The report includes examples of successful synergy between two institutions and how programme design and careful curriculum planning has increased both recruitment and retention of non-traditional students. It also provides a model for ensuring successful progression and completion of foundation degrees as a further means of recruiting non-standard entry students.

A further section gives detailed examples of activities and interventions successfully undertaken by academic and technical staff to bring the Bio-sciences to the attention of a wide range of audiences ranging from school visits to working with local ethnic communities. These exemplars are transferable and should provide a rich source of ideas for other institutions. Barriers to success and a list of 'do's and don't' form the final section of the report.

Outcomes and downloads

• Full Report: A Report on the Strategies and Experiences of Three University Departments: Plymouth, London Metropolitan and Oxford
• Project summary: The Widening Participation Agenda
• Checklist: WP Dos and Don'ts
• Related article in Bioscience Bulletin No. 10 Autumn 2003

Links

Of possible further interest:

• Developing new teaching and learning methods for enhancing the relevance of bioscience education at universities and in schools within local communities
• Centre for Bioscience Widening participation webpages and Network Group.