Cynlluniau Astudio

With Integrated Year in Industry

QAA with Biological Sciences with an emphasis on Plant Biology

August 2024

The course aims to provide students with a core and breadth of knowledge in plant biology. Through optional modules, students can gain more specialist knowledge focussing on molecular, agricultural and environmental skills. They also acquire strong research skills developing creativity, scientific rigour and attention to detail. The scheme will equip students to develop further their creativity in the field of plant biology.

Subject specific skills include a practical and theoretical knowledge in Plant Biology from cell processes to physiology to production with implications for agriculture, food / fuel production and biodiversity.

Generic and graduate skills

To develop a critical and analytical approach in all aspects of study and problem solving, including the ability to deal with complex issues both systematically and creativity and be able to communicate their understanding.

To develop effective teamwork and communication skills, particularly via field and laboratory activities.

To engender a confidence to learn by responding positively and proactively to feedback provided.

To develop strong communication skills both orally and in writing.

To show awareness of associated industries, stakeholders needs and impacts.

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

To provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical (field) and transferable skills required for various careers in Plant Biology including agriculture, horticulture, nature conservation, teaching, research and development, and advisory work within the field. Additionally, the four-year version of the scheme will aim to develop graduate level skills, as described in the Generic and Graduate level skills section above.

A1 Describe, discuss and understand the key biological concepts and phenomena relevant to the Plant Biology programme confidently, accurately and in detail, using appropriate terminology.

A2 Be aware of the full breadth of Plant Biology, from molecular to cellular, and from organism to ecosystem.

A3 Engage with literature from the Biosciences to develop insight into the subject.

A4 Appreciate the contribution of Plant Biology to the innovations that characterise the modern world, and the potential of Biosciences graduates from this field to develop sustainable solutions to current and future challenges.

A5 Stay up to date with advances in Plant Biology, including aspects of sustainability, and appreciate the fluid nature of knowledge that evolves as new findings emerge.

Learning and Teaching
Lectures; tutorials; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; field excursions and laboratory practicals; literature-based research; computer-assisted learning; research leading to a dissertation.

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 organisation in which their position is based.

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: survey assessment and report writing, short-answer questions, essay writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of a dissertation.

Students on the integrated industrial year will be required to register for the module BRS0060. 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:

B1 Recognise the relationships and interfaces between Plant Biology and other subjects (both scientific and outside of the sciences), such that they are able to operate effectively in a multidisciplinary environment.

B2 Apply ethical awareness to working in the Biosciences and Plant Biology, appreciate the historical context of the subject and the societal impacts of advances in the Biosciences.

B3 Demonstrate experience of working in a professional environment

Learning and Teaching
Lectures; tutorials; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; field excursions and laboratory practicals; literature-based research; computer-assisted learning; research leading to a dissertation.

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

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: survey assessment and report writing, short-answer questions, essay writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of a dissertation.

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 / Discipline Specific Skills

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

C1 Apply knowledge and understanding of biological systems and methodologies to design experiments and to solve theoretical and practical problems, with awareness of appropriate controls, possible bias, ethics and sustainability.

C2 Describe, document and enact safe working practices in terms of managing biological, chemical, laboratory or field-based risk, through knowledge-based risk assessments and practical activities.

C3 Select and carry out appropriate quantitative and qualitative practical (laboratory, field or computational) techniques to solve problems relevant to the Plant Biology programme, including consideration of the theoretical basis and limitations of various techniques.

C4 Complete independent open-ended investigative work through a project/research-based assignment relevant to the course. This could be a laboratory or field-based project, an evidenced-based review, and/or collecting and evaluating data from a variety of sources.

C5 Collect qualitative and quantitative data from investigations relevant to the course and analyse and interpret this data to allow testing of hypotheses, contextualising of findings, presentation of findings, and suggestions for further lines of investigation.

C6 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
Practical skills are acquired and promoted through practical laboratory classes, field visits, class activities, case studies undertaken in a range of real-life situations and experimental research for the dissertation.

Lectures; tutorials; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; field excursions and laboratory practicals; literature-based research and computer-assisted learning.

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

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: survey assessment and report writing, short-answer questions, essay writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of a dissertation.

Students are expected to demonstrate critical, interpretative and analytical skills in both their course work and written examinations. The dissertation should demonstrate student competence in practical and academic skills.

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:

D1 Acquire skills in research and data analysis.

D2 Deploy mathematical and statistical concepts, processes and tools, such as the manipulation of equations and graphical and statistical analysis, to solve problems or evaluate data.

D3 Develop problem-solving and creative thinking skills.

D4 Develop a thorough grounding in information technology skills and use appropriate databases, computational techniques and tools to aid further understanding of and insight into biological processes.

D5 Demonstrate the ability to work independently.

D6 Demonstrate time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines.

D7 Develop the ability to express ideas and communicate effectively, in both written and oral forms, selecting appropriate content, media and methods for the audience, purpose and subject.

D8 Demonstrate self-motivation and self-reliance.

D9 Collaborate and work successfully and inclusively in a group environment, contributing positively and flexibly to team outputs.

D10 Act professionally, with due regard for legal, ethical and societal responsibilities, modelling good practice that promotes positive, sustainable and inclusive perceptions of the Biosciences and of Bioscientists.

D11 Demonstrate professionalism and an understanding of commercial pressures.

Learning and Teaching
Transferable/key skills are incorporated within modules and related to relevant assessments as appropriate. Students further learn and develop skills through lectures; tutorials / seminars; problem-based learning scenarios and case studies; self-directed learning, oral presentations, field excursions and laboratory practicals; literature-based research; computer-assisted learning; research leading to a dissertation.

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
Transferable / key skills are embedded throughout the various assessments. Generic skills include note taking, researching, problem solving, interview and communication skills. Written examinations and coursework to include: survey assessment and report writing, short-answer questions, essay writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of a dissertation.

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.