Programme Specifications

With Integrated Year in Industry

Biosciences

August 2024

An Animal Science graduate should have a detailed, comprehensive and systematic knowledge and understanding of the following:

The biology of domesticated animals, including the similarities and differences between different species of domesticated animals.

The knowledge and transferable skills required for a career in animal science, e.g. R&D work in industry, teaching, and advisory work.

Detailed knowledge of the student’s academic specialist area, based on the pathway followed.

Holistic view of animal anatomy, physiology and function, and its application to practice.

The nutrition, reproduction, health and welfare of domesticated animals.

The current and potential future research underpinning development of all areas of animal science.

The legal, moral, ethical and social issues associated with the use of animals for work, production, leisure and research.

Development of the skills necessary to present relevant information to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Subject specific skills

An Animal Science graduate should be able to:

Apply the skills needed for academic study and enquiry relevant to the biology of domesticated animals.

Assimilate information from academic, industrial and governmental sources, to gain an understanding of theory and practice of the production of livestock and the well-being and competitiveness of companion animals, including the horse.

Critically evaluate research, evidence and information supplied from a variety of sources and where appropriate propose new hypotheses relevant to the sector.

Apply knowledge and understanding to address familiar and novel problems in the context of Animal Science.

Design an experiment, investigation, survey or other means to test hypotheses or propositions.

Generic and graduate skills

The following transferable skills will be developed and assessed in the proposed BSc Animal Science degree:

Problem solving

Research skills

Communication and interpersonal skills

Improving own learning and performance

Team work

Information technology

Application of numerical skills

Personal development and career planning

Time management and task prioritisation

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 studentsto 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

The course aims to provide students with a broad in-depth knowledge of some of the common aspects across the various components of animal science and who are able to meet or exceed the QAA Benchmark for an Animal Science graduate. To produce graduates who are able to work in a range of fields relating to life science, who can operate efficiently and safely in field, farm and laboratory, are able to communicate and understand data and concepts, are able to utilise specific applied skills to address diverse problems, and are able to direct their own research and learning. 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.

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

An understanding of the anatomical, physiological, molecular and functional biology of domesticated animals and be able to demonstrate the role and application of these in a practical environment.

Knowledge and interpretation of the theoretical and practical application of biology to animal management, care and production.

An understanding of the factors affecting animal performance, health, welfare, growth and development and how these can be applied to relevant scenarios.

An understand and the ability to calculate the nutritional requirements for animals; how this varies between species, and how it varies at different stages of an animal’s life.

An understanding of reproductive management, breeding, genetics and the application of reproductive technology to practical examples

Learning and Teaching
Elements of these skills will be taught and developed throughout a range of modules. This will include: lectures; tutorials; student-led seminars; problem-based learning examples and case studies; field excursions and laboratory practicals; literature based research; computer-assisted learning; research leading to a dissertation; feedback from

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, essay writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of a dissertation; data analysis.

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 oftheir scheme.

10.2.1 Intellectual Skills

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

Demonstrate the skills needed for academic study and demonstrate their use in applied situations.

Assimilate information from a number of sources, including current research and governmental reports, in order to gain an understanding of theory and practice.

Critically evaluate research, evidence and information supplied from a variety of sources and where appropriate propose new hypotheses.

Apply strategies for appropriate selection of relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge.

Apply knowledge and understanding to address familiar and novel problems.

Design an experiment, investigation, survey or other means to test a hypothesis, concept or proposition.

Learning and Teaching
Elements of these skills will be taught and developed throughout a range of modules. This will include: lectures; tutorials; student-led seminars; problem-based learning examples and case studies; field excursions and laboratory practicals; literature based research; computer-assisted learning; research leading to a dissertation; feedback from coursework.

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Written examinations and coursework to include: report writing, essay writing, oral and poster presentations; the submission of a dissertation; data analysis.

10.2.2 Professional practical skills (where applicable)

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

Design, apply, analyse and present various research findings or study techniques.

Plan, conduct, and report on investigations.

Collect and collated information or data in the library, from scientific sources, laboratory or field, and summarise and/or report it appropriately.

Conceive, develop, plan and undertake investigations in a responsible, ethical and safe manner, paying due attention to risk assessment, animal welfare, relevant Health & Safety regulations and legislation concerning experimental animal use, legal requirements and sensitivity to undertake investigations.

Communicate effectively with individuals and organisations in a range of scenarios.

Write for a range of audiences including academics, practitioners, special interest groups and the wider public.

Apply appropriate management and experimental techniques to a range of situations.

Learning and Teaching
Professional practical skills are acquired and promoted through practical laboratory classes, farm visits, field visits, lectures, seminars and other class activities, case studies undertaken in a range of real-life situations and experimental research for the dissertation.

Assessment Strategies and Methods
Coursework to include: the submission of scientific reports, oral presentations and essays. Lab work. Students are expected to demonstrate advanced critical, interpretative and analytical skills in both their coursework and written examinations. The dissertation should demonstrate student competence in practical and academic skills.

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:

Problem solving skills, both of a generic nature and those directly relevant to the animal science sector.

Research skills, including the ability to formulate hypotheses and develop methods to test these hypotheses

Communication of information to different levels of audiences, ranging from peers and contemporaries to the level of popular science.

Improving own learning and performance skill sets

Team working skills

Information technology skills

Application of numerical analysis

Personal development and career planning

Time management

Learning and Teaching
Transferable/key skills are incorporated within modules and evaluated via relevant assessments as appropriate. Students learn and develop skills through student and tutor-led seminars; problem-based learning scenarios; self-directed learning, oral presentations and experimental dissertation work. Students are also required to produce, and regularly update, a CV and will gain feedback. Students will be encouraged to undertake work experience, including access to the Year in Employment Scheme. Students will also have access to an optional study exchange programme which will also develop transferable skills of communication, personal development and career planning.

Assessment Strategies and Methods
The skills listed above are assessed using exercise-based and essay assignments, project work, practical laboratory reports, the dissertation project, seminar presentations, statistical evaluation, examinations essays and short answer examinations.

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.