Careers in Genetics 1 Dr. George Johnson. Background In the 2007-2008 National Student Survey,...
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Careers in Genetics 1 Dr. George Johnson. Background In the 2007-2008 National Student Survey, Swansea genetics graduates felt that they could have had
Background In the 2007-2008 National Student Survey, Swansea
genetics graduates felt that they could have had better careers
advice during their undergraduate studies. The careers office
provides general advice, however more specific information was
required for these students. Following this feedback, I approached
the students at level 2 and 3 of the genetics and medical genetics
BSc degree schemes, who echoed this lack of careers advice. 2
Slide 3
Genetics and Biochemistry BSc employability previously assured
by: Transferable skills modules. Biochemistry Skills and Genetic
Analysis: presentation, abstract writing, assessment of peers,
asking questions to peers, critical assessment of scientific
literature, CV writing. Links with major employers within the
pharmaceutical industry. For example, the College of Medicine has
Ph.D. Case Awards with Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, GSK. Excellent final
year projects are provided within the Institute of Life Science
(ILS) by members of the College of Medicine. 3
Slide 4
Interventions since 2008 1.Annual careers afternoon - 2008
onwards. 2.Careers self directed e-learning tool - 2008 onwards.
3.Started an industrial placement scheme with GlaxoSmithKline
(GSK)- 2009 onwards. 4.Student trips to local companies, such as GE
healthcare Cardiff. 5.Alumni from Industry (e.g. GSK) now lecture
on our courses. 6.Dr. Masood Yousef created links with recruitment
firms, including MatchTech, 2009 onwards. 4
Slide 5
Careers Afternoon 5 TimeWhat?Who? 14:00WelcomeDr George Johnson
14:10Recruitment Companies.Dr. Masood Yousef 14:15Careers
Office.Dr. George Johnson 14:20 Swansea Alumni and Careers
Opportunities in NHS.Dr. George Johnson 14:40 Graduate Entry
Medicine @ SwanseaDr. Kit Lucas and Sian Quarrell
15:00Representative from IndustryProf. David Tweats (GSK &
Consultant) 15:20Coffee Break 15:30Career path to Astra ZenecaDr
Anne Doherty 15:45Career path to Academia,Dr. George Johnson
15:50Biotech IndustryDr. Ed Dudley 16:00Wine, Cheese,
Tea/Coffee/Cakes/FAQ First Wednesday in December.
Slide 6
Feedback for Careers Afternoon Upon using this resource do you
now; No Yes 12345 Have a better understanding of the career
opportunities available upon graduation. 627 Have an increased
array of tools that will you to help decide on which career path to
follow. 1122 Have a greater appreciation of how your degree will
help in preparing you for one of these careers? 1320 Also Overall,
did the resource improve your understanding of the topic? 924 Did
this stimulate your interest into becoming a scientist? 11823 Would
you recommend this session to a fellow student? 1626 Was your
chosen career path included in this session? 1 626 6
Slide 7
Careers e-learning tool
http://scs.swan.ac.uk/genetics_careers/index.html Transferred the
PowerPoints from the careers afternoon into a website with Jess
Griffiths and Martin Goddard (CoM). Update the site regularly and
act on feedback. 7
Slide 8
Feedback: E-learning tool 8 Upon using this resource do you
now; No Yes 12345 Have a better understanding of the career
opportunities available upon graduation. 1524 Have an increased
array of tools that will help you to decide on which career path to
follow. 228 Have a greater appreciation of how your degree will
help in preparing you for one of these careers? 1614 Also; Have you
used this resource more than once? 30 Overall, did the resource
improve your understanding of the topic? 30 Do you think that the
e-learning tool is a better resource than a careers afternoon?
2136
Slide 9
Did it work? Z scores Swansea University Department JACS
Subject Area Swansea 2008/09 DLHE Russell Group 94 GroupAll HEIs
Welsh HEIs Medical School Biological sciences 88.9%1.422.261.803.01
9 There was an increase from 66.7% students, in employment or
further study, before the intervention (2007-2008) compared to 100%
(2008-2009) after the intervention.
Acknowledgements Jess Griffiths, Martin Goddard, Careers
afternoon contributors, Prof. David Skibinski, Phil Brophy, Andrew
Morgan and the tHE Genetics and Biochemistry teaching group,
Institute of Life Science staff for delivery of research projects.
11
Slide 12
For PhD students employability is assured by: 1.Access to
undergraduate and taught masters modules to increase knowledge base
in subject area. 2.Close links between CoM and key
industrial/pharmaceutical sector (GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca,
Roche, NovoNordisk, Unilever) as well as local SMEs. 3.Students
attend compulsory Biomedical/health services research (as
appropriate) seminars on a weekly basis. 4.CoM provides a
compulsory course on statistics for biomedicine ensuring that all
students are adept at data analysis. 5.Access to careers service on
campus and engagement in seminars/workshops run there. 6.Close
monitoring of progress of all PhD students by the CoM, including a
1 st year viva by independent academics to ensure students maximise
their research opportunity. 7.Annual postgraduate research day is
set up like a professional scientific conference with poster
presentations, verbal presentations, visiting researchers, visiting
companies etc. This develops the students presentation and
networking skills, with prizes for the best work and much
feedback/kudos given between students for good presentations. It is
also very social and collaborations often occur as a result of
this. 8.Encouragement to attend careers related course offered by
studentship sponsors such as BBSRC. 12
Slide 13
For the GEM employability (ie the ability and the incentive to
work) is assured by: 1.Selection of candidates. 2.Early exposure to
clinical practice through short Learning Opportunities in the
Clinical Setting (LOCS) during the first two years of the course
3.Exposure to clinical practice in primary care through a course of
community-based learning that begins in the first year 4.A system
of personal tutors that help students deal with issues that might
include their suitability for the profession 5.Clinical
Apprenticeships throughout the 4 yr course where pairs of students
are placed with a senior clinical teacher in a clinical setting in
order to reflect on the practice of medicine 6.Specialty
Attachments in the 3 rd and 4 th year where students experience the
management of patients with specific health needs 7.Matching our
teaching, learning and assessment against the GMC outcomes for
graduates (as expressed in Tomorrows Doctors 2009) 8.Working
closely with the Welsh Postgraduate Deanery in order to develop a
seamless transition from graduation through the first 12 months of
postgraduate Foundation training. 13