Enhancing the Student Experience of the Application of Scientific Techniques in Practice

Project Leader	Dr Jane McKenzie
Organisation	Queen Margaret University
Contact	jmckenzie@qmu.ac.uk
Grant type	Departmental Teaching Enhancement Scheme
Completed	completed

Description

This project aimed to enhance the experience of undergraduate science students and increase their employability by establishing a range of placement opportunities to engage in the application of scientific techniques in practice. A structured approach was initiially set up for short-term placements in industry, other universities, the NHS and other stakeholders who routinely employ practical scientific techniques. Due to many logistical and weather events the placements were less varied. The placements were incorporated into the curriculum to enhance understanding of theoretical scientific and technical concepts.

Outcomes

Tangible outcomes:

Student needs, aspirations and perceptions from a short-term science placement were established by discussing the concept and obtaining feedback at the start of the academic year.
A VLE (WebCT) page dedicated to final year students in Human Biology and Applied Pharmacology was set up in order to be able to keep students informed about progress with the project (including the arrangements for the induction event, placement opportunities) and also to offer them an online forum to discuss aspects of employability (such a vacation scholarships, volunteering opportunities).
A careers and placement event was held to provide the students with an induction to the placements, the process of reflection in capturing their experience and how best to use this alongside other tools to enhance their employability (job searches, CV development and job applications).
Seven placement opportunities, of 4-5 days each, were established, all within academic research laboratories.
Students attending placement provided a reflective account of their experience used to evaluate the project.
At the Effective Learning in the Biosciences International Conference (Edinburgh, June/July 2011) an overview of the project was presented orally and a poster, indicating the student’s perspective, was also presented.