Programme Specifications

With Integrated Year in Industry

Biosciences and Veterinary Sciences 2002

September 2017

To produce proficient biological sciences graduates with a firm understanding of current molecular, cellular, physiological and behavioural concepts underlying animal function, health and welfare.

Subject specific skills

To produce graduates competent to apply their theoretical knowledge of biological sciences and the veterinary field through the design, implementation, and analysis of experiments, and the critical appraisal of information from a variety of sources.

Generic and graduate skills

To produce graduates able to critically assess information, form reasoned opinions and generate testable hypotheses. For those graduates to be competent in collecting, analyzing, interpreting and communicating data accurately in a range of situations.

The alternative schemes have specific learning outcomes, and therefore subject knowledge, remain unchanged. However, students will be able to demonstrate additional outcomes as a result of undertaking the year in industry. These additional outcomes provide an enhanced student experience and allow students to develop knowledge of their subject areas in applied contexts and to develop work experience and thus enhance their employability. Specifically, the proposed degree aims to advantage students in the following additional ways:

• To apply approaches, concepts, skills, methods and/or theories in a work-based context relevant to their scheme.

• To develop highly valued transferable and professional skills during a work placement, providing a competitive edge in the graduate job market.

• To enable students to learn about an organization and its area of work, providing an excellent opportunity to evaluate future career paths.

Subject specific skills (with Integrated Year in Industry)

The Subject specific skills of the schemes will not change. Nevertheless, on the completion of their degree, students on these four year versions of the schemes will have gained a valuable insight in to a field of employment relating to their subject area in the biological sciences, developing the associated skills and enhancing their employability / networking / establishing industry links.

Generic and graduate skills (with Integrated Year in Industry)

The generic and graduate skills of the schemes will not change. However, the four year version of the schemes ‘with a year in Industry’ will likely develop the skills listed below, though the nature and emphasis will depend on the exact employment; not all of these will be assessed, though most are likely to form part of the employer’s assessment of the student:

• Working independently

• Working as part of a team

• Respecting the views, beliefs, opinions and values of others

• Listening to, and engaging with, other speakers

• Effective verbal communication in a range of settings, including group discussions and debates and formal presentations

• Effective written communication in a variety of forms

• Use of information technologies to process, store, present and communicate information, including spreadsheets, databases, word processing, e-mail and the world-wide web

• Identifying, retrieving, sorting and handling information from conventional and electronic sources, including libraries, CD-ROMs, on-line computer resources and the world-wide web

• Time management and self-regulation of work regimes

• Research issues and solve problems

• Adapting to change

• Reading comprehension and interpretation of a range of written material

• Observational skills

• Collating, processing, interpreting and presenting numerical data

• Identifying appropriate career pathways and developing the capacity to compete

Overall aim of the scheme

To produce graduates who are able to work in a range of fields relating to veterinary science, who can operate efficiently and safely in field and laboratory, are able to communicate and understand data and concepts, are able to utilise specific applied skills to address diverse biological problems, and are able to direct their own research and learning.

Overall aim of the scheme

The overall aims of the schemes will not change. Additionally, the aim of the four year versions of the schemes will aim to develop graduate level skills, as described in the Generic and Graduate level skills section above.

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

• An understanding of animal and pathogen molecular biology, from the control of gene expression to the techniques used in studying livestock and companion animals.

• An ability to critically assess the various causes, progression, host immune responses and treatment options for infectious and non-infectious veterinary diseases.

• The theory and practical application of the physiology of animal growth, reproduction and behaviour in a range of animals.

• Knowledge of structure, metabolism and function of animal cells and tissues, and the mechanisms by which animal cells signal and interact.

• An understanding of welfare, ethical and legal considerations of animal care including pharmacological treatments and food production.

Learning and Teaching

Lectures; tutorials; student-led seminars; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; laboratory practicals; literature based research; field work; computer-assisted learning; research leading to a dissertation. Specific teaching input by veterinary surgeons will allow students to learn principles involved in veterinary science.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Written examinations and coursework to include: Unseen examination, essays, multiple choice questions and short answer examinations, exercise-based and essay assignments, project work, practical laboratory reports, posters, the dissertation project and seminar presentations.

The scheme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the additional following areas:

• Demonstrate a range of transferable skills including initiative, independence and commercial awareness.

Learning and Teaching (with Integrated Year in Industry)

During their integrated year in industry students will embed themselves within a working environment, allowing for the development of a range of transferable and life skills commensurate with the above. Furthermore, students on this scheme will have the potential to utilise the knowledge and skills associated with other outcomes developed in years 1 and 2. This will be in part dependent on the nature of the organization their position is based with.

Assessment Strategies and Methods (with Integrated Year in Industry)

Students on the integrated industrial year will be required to register for the modules BRS0000, BRS0060, BRS0100, and BRS0160. During the integrated Year in Industry, students will be required to submit an Introductory Report (worth 30% of the Industrial Year mark) on the organization that they are working for, its structure, aims and operation; and a Workplace investigation, to investigate a technical aspect of the work that they are doing (worth 40% of the Industrial Year mark). Finally, there will be an AU staff assessment of the final student self-evaluation and employer’s report. These will be marked in order to assess the student’s achievement of learning outcome 10.1 above as well as the other learning outcomes of their scheme.

10.2.1 Intellectual Skills

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to access and evaluate biological information from a variety of sources and to communicate the principles orally and in writing to peers and non-scientists in a clear and effective way.

• The ability to construct reasoned, evidence-based arguments to support a position or view, including on the ethical and social impacts.

• An understanding of how to design an experiment, investigation, survey or other means to test a hypothesis or proposition.

• That they can plan, execute and present an independent piece of work in which qualities such as time management, problem solving, and independence are evident, as well as interpretation and critical awareness of the quality of the evidence.

• Well developed strategies for updating, critically analysing and enhancing their knowledge of the veterinary field and its interaction with other biological disciplines.

Learning and Teaching

Student development towards these outcomes is primarily promoted through small group tutorials, laboratory practical classes and one-to-one tutoring for the dissertation project and the feedback from assessments. In addition lectures; tutorials; student-led seminars; problem-based learning scenarios; case studies; literature based research and computer-assisted learning also support the teaching and learning of these outcomes. Specific teaching input by veterinary surgeons will allow students to develop an understanding how conceptual ideas are applied in veterinary situations.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Intellectual skills are assessed by a variety of methods throughout the degree scheme. Depending upon the module and the nature of the specific assessment, they are assessed using exercise-based and essay assignments, project work, practical laboratory reports, the dissertation project, seminar presentations, unseen examinations essays and unseen short answer examinations.

10.2.2 Professional practical skills (where applicable)

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

• Experience and competence in a broad range of practical techniques and skills relevant to veterinary biosciences, including data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, and the designing of experiments to test hypotheses.

• An ability to access bioscience databases and use appropriate selection criteria to mine, manipulate, and interpret data/findings.

• An understanding of the different stakeholders within the veterinary sector and an ability to communicate effectively to a range of individuals and organisations from the veterinary sector.

• The ability to conceive, plan and undertake field and/or laboratory investigations in a responsible, ethical and safe manner, paying due attention to risk assessment, legislation concerning experimental animal use, relevant health and safety regulations, other legal requirements and sensitivity to the impact of investigations on the environment and stakeholders.

• The ability to record information or data accurately, and to apply appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative techniques for analysis including basic data manipulation, graphical and statistical analysis.

Learning and Teaching

The teaching and learning of these skills are promoted with laboratory practical classes, one-to-one tutoring for the first year skills modules, research methodologies and dissertation project, feedback from assessments, lectures, tutorials, student-led seminars, problem-based learning scenarios and case studies, literature based research, computer-assisted learning, and work experience. Specific teaching input by veterinary surgeons will allow students to develop an insight into the practical skills required by veterinary practitioners.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Depending upon the module and the nature of the specific assessment, they are assessed using using exercise-based and essay assignments, project work, practical laboratory reports, the dissertation project, seminar presentations, unseen examinations essays and unseen short answer examinations.

10.2.1 Intellectual Skills (with Integrated Year in Industry)

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL LEARNING OUTCOME:

• Demonstrate experience of working in a professional environment

Learning and Teaching

Outcome 10.2.1 will be achieved through completing an extended integrated Year in Industry position at a suitable workplace.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Evidence of outcome 10.2.1 will be secured through the completion of the assessment strategy described in 10.1 above.

10.2.2 Professional practical skills (where applicable) (with Integrated Year in Industry)

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL LEARNING OUTCOME:

• Applying principles, methods, approaches, concepts, skills and/or theories appropriate to the relevant biological sciences scheme in a professional context, as well as understanding the challenges of working in a professional environment.

Learning and Teaching

The professional skills identified in 10.2.2 will be primarily developed through spending a year in industry

Assessment Strategies and Methods

10.2.2 will be evidenced by the completion of the assessment strategy described in 10.1 above, detailing experiences of a year in industry, as well as reports on associated technical information.

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

• The skills necessary for independent lifelong learning, e.g. the ability to work independently, time management, flexibility, target setting etc.

• The ability to analyse data, solve problems and present conclusions by a variety of methods including the use of specialised software.

• That they can communicate about their subject appropriately and clearly to a variety of audiences.

• That they can cite and reference work in the appropriate manner, ensuring academic integrity and the avoidance of plagiarism.

• That they can use the internet and other electronic resources to identify and critically evaluate sources of information.

Learning and Teaching

Elements of these skills are embedded in all modules and are taught/learned through a variety of methods including lectures; tutorials; student-led seminars; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; laboratory practicals; literature based research; field work; computer-assisted learning; research leading to a dissertation.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Transferable/key skills are assessed by a variety of methods throughout the degree scheme. Depending upon the module and the nature of the specific assessment, they are assessed using unseen examination, essays and unseen short answer examinations, exercise-based and essay assignments, project work, practical laboratory reports, the dissertation project and seminar presentations.

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL LEARNING OUTCOME:

• Professionalism and an understanding of commercial pressures

Learning and Teaching

Skill 10.3 will be developed through undertaking the year in industry component. In addition, and dependent upon the nature of the position undertaken, the year in industry has the potential to further enhance the other generic skills detailed in Section 9 above.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

10.3 will be evidenced by the completion of the assessment strategy described in 10.1 above, but primarily through the AU staff assessment of the final student self-evaluation and employer’s report