Graduate attributes, employability and Personal Development Planning (PDP) are embedded in modules at all levels of the programme. The aim of this structure is to year on year develop attributes appropriate to the level of study and to monitor and record their progress via an ePortfolio. Exercises used for PDP and transferable skills are generally drawn from mainstream modular provision, to ensure that there is a strong link with the curriculum.
In all aspects of PDP, the emphasis will be on students taking personal responsibility for their PDP portfolio, with support from staff as appropriate.
A variety of sources have been used to inform this content; UWS Graduate Attributes “I am UWS”, SCQF Level Descriptors and the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Chemistry (2014).
The UWS framework for graduate attributes is called “I am UWS”, it states that as a graduate from UWS students will be:
Universal - globally relevant with comprehensively applicable abilities, skills and behaviours
Work ready - dynamic and prepared for employment in complex, ever-changing environments which require lifelong learning and resilience
Successful - as a UWS graduate with a solid foundation on which to continue succeeding and realising my potential, across various contexts
And that through studying and graduating from UWS, students will develop attributes across three dimensions:
Academic – knowledge, skills and abilities related to high-level academic study
Personal – qualities and characteristics of well-rounded, developed, responsible individuals
Professional – skills, aptitudes and attitudes required for professional working life in the 21st Century
Opportunities to develop transferable skills and graduate attributes are embedded in modules throughout the Forensic Science programme. Details can be found in individual module descriptors.
Level 7 Term 1 Structure of Chemistry
Term 2 Chemistry and Reactions
Term 2 Scientific Investigation
Level 8 Term 1 Physical Chemistry 2
Term 1 Chemical Lab Techniques
Term 2 Chemical Analysis & Evaluation
Level 9 Term 1 Analytical Chemistry
Term 2 Safety, Health, Env. Protection
Term 2 Designer Drugs
Level 10 Term 1& 2 Science Projec
Students are introduced to the concept of PDP in Level 7 and supported to make use of Mahara to record their ePortfolio during each year of study.
Sandwich placement
The employability skills and attributes which Students will gain experience in developing, applying and reflecting upon during the sandwich placement will be those identified by The Council For Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) (2006) as the key competencies which employers value as defined below
Cognitive skills (attention to detail, analysis and judgment)
- Demonstrate the use of their knowledge, understanding and skills, in both identifying and analysing problems and issues and formulating, evaluating and applying evidence-based solutions and arguments.
- Undertake critical analysis, evaluation and/or synthesis of ideas, concepts information and issues
- Identify and analyse routine professional problems and issues
- Draw on a range of sources in making judgments
Generic competencies (planning & organisation, influencing, written communication, questioning, listening, teamworking, interpersonal sensitivity, organisational sensitivity and lifelong learning and development)
- Well developed skills for the gathering, evaluation, analysis and presentation of information, ideas, concepts and quantitative and/or qualitative data, drawing on a wide range of current sources. This will include the use of ICT as appropriate to the subject(s).
- Communication of the results of their own and other work accurately and reliably in a range of different contexts using the main specialist concepts, constructs and techniques of the subject(s);
- Identifying and addressing their own learning needs including being able to draw on a range of current research, development and professional materials;
- Interpreting, using and evaluating numerical and graphical data to achieve goals targets
- Making formal and informal presentations on standard/mainstream topics in the subject/discipline to a range of audiences
- Work under guidance with qualified practitioners
- Practice in ways which take account of own and others’ roles and responsibilities
- Take some responsibility for the work or others and for a range of resources
Personal capabilities (creativity, decisiveness, initiative, adaptability/flexibility, achievement orientation, tolerance for stress and leadership)
- Application of their subject and transferable skills to contexts where criteria for decisions and the scope of the task may be well defined but where personal responsibility, initiative and decision-making is also required.
- Exercising autonomy and initiative in some activities at a professional level
Technical ability (knowledge of key trends in modern technology and experience of using modern technology)
- Use of a range of IT applications to support and enhance work
Practical and professional elements (professional expertise, process operation and image)
- Show familiarity and competence in the use of routine materials, practices and skills and of a few that are more specialised, advanced and complex.
- Practise in a range of professional level contexts which include a degree of unpredictability;
- Deal with ethical and professional issues in accordance with current professional and/or ethical codes or practices, seeking guidance where appropriate
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