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Biomedical Funded Projects
Four projects are now funded by the Higher Level Skills Partnership which met
the HLSP Biomedical Sector Panel priorities identified by Bionow, Cogent, Semta
and the LSC. These projects are developing a variety of HE courses from a
Foundation Degree to Post graduate Masters level provision (e.g. flexible CPD
modules). Please find below some information about the individual projects
supported:
Round 1 funded projects
Lancaster University - A flexible modular postgraduate negotiated work-based
learning framework for the Biomedical sector
This project, closely associated with the Round 2 project (see details below),
will develop a validated framework with validated modules determined in
response to employer demand. Teaching resources and materials including
e-learning components for the modules of the scheme will be developed and also
a network of employers for the on-going development, promotion and recruitment
of the scheme. Priority subject areas which may potentially be included are:
Leadership and management; Entrepreneurship, innovation and change; Team
working; Project management; Regulatory, legislative and ethical frameworks;
Laboratory practice; Bioscience and molecular biology;
Biotechnology/biopharmaceuticals; Genomics/proteomics/metabolomics; Synthetic
organic chemistry/medicinal chemistry; mathematics/statsistics. Please see the
current briefing sheet for employers about this new provision.
Download briefing sheet.
University of Chester - Development of employer led Foundation Degree, level
4 CPD and higher level skills learning cassettes for Biomedical Process
Technology and related industries
Biomedical and Pharmaceutical industries have a significant workforce with
apprentice level skills requiring further training to remain engaged and gain
promotion. The University of Chester has significant experience engaging
employers designing bespoke curricular at level 4 and bite-sized CPD (6 hour
learning cassettes). This proposal develops an Foundation Degree, incorporating
NVQ4 and other suitable professional qualifications, aimed at increasing the
skills of the apprentice to reach technician level and beyond. The Foundation
Degree will include skills in numeracy, leadership, project management, safety
and environmental issues. Bespoke modules will be designed with employers and
taught largely in the workplace (e.g. using workplace equipment, clean room
technology). Priority subject areas which may be developed include:
Pharmaceutical sciences; in vivo science; molecular technologies;
chromatography; advanced weighing and measuring technologies and lean
processing.
UCLan - Development of employers’ higher level skills provision in
understanding the nature of how different products can influence the
biomechanics of the human body
This project will determine the needs of the Biomedical sector in particular
those involved with sales and development of products designed to interact with
the body. Currently there are gaps in the understanding of research usage and
how research can be used in marketing which has lead to difficulties in
retention of staff. This project will allow work with employers to develop a
series of workshops to overcome these problems and to increase levels of
understanding of the evidence base and how to best use this evidence to embed
innovation into SMEs as part of NWDA’s Knowledge to Innovate Programme. The
workshops will be reviewed at regular intervals with industry on content &
delivery mechanisms and changes will be made to ensure the workshops meet the
needs of industry, this will also enable the course to remain sustainable as
the material and content will be continually updated.
Round 2 funded projects
Lancaster University - A training programme to support graduates during
their first year of employment in the Biomedical sector
The project proposes a programme of training to address the technical and
generic business skills gaps identified by the Biomedical Sector in graduates
and will be developed alongside Lancaster University’s Round 1 project. A
modular approach will offer modules in scientific skills and generic skills
(such as leadership and management). The training pathway will be defined by
discussions between the learner, their workplace-based mentor and their
academic tutor. This discussion will be supported by a skills audit to clarify
the skills the learner has, the gaps which need to be addressed to meet the
learners’ development needs and the employers’ business needs. The exact
modules/content will be determined during the development phase and are likely
to include: advanced laboratory skills, critical evaluation of research data,
research report writing, mathematics and statistics, leadership and management,
entrepreneurship, innovation and change, team working, project management and
regulatory, legislative and ethical frameworks. Please see the current briefing
sheet for employers about this new provision.
Download briefing sheet.
For further information, please contact Dr Charlie Ellis on
cellis@nwua.ac.uk or 0161 234 8884.
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