Innovation Projects
Projects funded to support the Learning and
Teaching Strategy
David Hoole (Life Sciences) Skill development for scientists through industrial
placements: a European perspective Granted £950
Final Report
The project was undertaken in the context of ‘aspects of the provision of employability
and skills’ section of the invitation to apply and had the following aims :
a) To extend skill development within the Leonardo Scheme to incorporate other
countries within Europe i.e. Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands
b) To extend the skills development programme currently offered to students in Life
Sciences to other sciences at Keele University
c) Develop collaborative links with Staffordshire Graduate Link Co-ordinator, Chamber
of Commerce to improve student employability and skill development within the
European Initiative.
d) To explore new incentives and joint funding applications with c) above to improve
and expand student skill development and employability.
General Outcomes
Although a small fraction of the funding requested was allocated, the majority of the aims
indicated above have been met with the exception of d). This latter aim can only be
achieved by a considerable time input by both the Chamber of Commerce and Keele
University and, whilst the former was willing to explore the possibilities of joint funding
applications, unfortunately the lack of teaching relief obtained from the Teaching
Innovation Fund prevented this aim being fully explored. However, preliminary
discussions with the Chamber of Commerce did result their collaboration in two
successful joint applications to the European Union Leonardo Scheme, which provided
funding for both undergraduates and post-graduates to undertake employment placements
in France, Germany, Netherlands and Denmark.
1) Science at Work - Developing a European Perspective through work
placements for undergraduates (HE 12880). (2002-2004) € 57,500. Funds
supported second year undergraduate students in the School of Life Sciences at
Keele University to undertake a scientific training within a European Institute.
2) Science at Work (2002-2004) (YW 128709) €57,500. Funding for graduate
students either from the School of Life Sciences at Keele University or graduates
from other UK Universities whose home residence is in the West Midlands to
undertake young person scientific training in Europe
Both awards provide financial support for 10 beneficiaries to undertake training for
approx. 40 weeks in Europe. Each student receives a grant of 5,000 Euros, the rest of the
grant is to support preparatory language and cultural training, administration and tutoring.
A commitment to support this initiative was obtained from several host institutes in
Europe and contractual agreements between Keele University and each of the following
host institutions was agreed :
Institutes :
1) Laboratoire de Physiologie, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 7
rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris, Cedex 05, France
2) Station de Biologie Marine, Museum National de Histoire Naturelle,
BP225, 29182 Concarneau, Cedex, France
3) Institut Pasteur de Lille, Centre d'Immunologie et de Biologie
Parasitaire, 1 rue du Professeur A Calmette, BP245, 59019 Lille, France
4) Unité de Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, Institut Pasteur, 25-28
rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris, Cedex 15, France
5) Centre de Biologie du Développement, Bâtiment iv r3, Université Paul
Sabatier Toulouse III, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, Cedex 4,
France
6) Laboratoire de Parasitologie, 163 rue August Broussonet, 34090
Montpellier, France
7) Department of Ecology and Ecophysiology, Catholic University of
Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6500 Gl Nijmegan, The Netherlands
8) Cell Biology and Immunology Research Group, Department of Animal
Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 Ah Wageneingen,
The Netherlands
9) Laboratory of Fish Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology,
The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University Frederiksberg,
Denmark
10) Fish Disease Research Unit, School of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box
71 11 80, 30545 Hannover, Germany
The subject area of the research training received by the students was dependent upon the
host institution. Students worked as laboratory research assistants and were integrated
into the post-graduate training programmes of the host. Host institutes supplied a named
tutor and complied with European Health and Safety Regulations. All students were
required to take out personal accident and health insurance arranged through Keele
University. The Course Director, Dr. D. Hoole, was in regular e mail contact with the
student and host tutor and made one visit to the host institute during the period of the
student’s training and met with the students when they returned to the UK on national
holidays.
The project successfully achieved several learning aims and outcomes :
Learning Aims:
The key aims of the project were to enhance the employment prospects of beneficiaries in
science by helping them to develop and improve their scientific, laboratory and generic
skills and competencies with a view to enhancing employability, and facilitating their
integration, or reintegration, into working life. The project also provided basic skills in
vocational and education training through the students' work programmes and the
adoption of the University’s 'Realise' scheme. In addition, all students received European
Union scientific training accreditation through the award of the ‘Europass’.
Learning outcomes:
The learning outcomes of the project meant that by the end of the training period
students:
- were able to record and reflect on skills and learning from the placement through the
"Realise" scheme
- obtained European-wide recognition of the period of training through Europass
- had developed scientific skills and knowledge, and transferable skills, in a workplace
setting (e.g. interpersonal skills, team-working, time management, problem solving etc)
- had received training in the use of the latest laboratory technology
- were able to use new and innovative bio-medical and bio-technical techniques in a
hands on fashion
- had developed language skills appropriate to their host country, including scientific
vocabulary
Dissemination of the results of the project
This was achieved at a number of levels:
At the Institutional – the Leonardo Scheme is included in the School of Life Sciences'
newsletter, which is sent out to existing and prospective students and is also include on
the website of both the School of Life Sciences and Centre for International Exchange
and Languages (CIEL). In addition, the Careers Department were informed of the scheme
and, with their help, appropriate details were sent out to other UK universities to recruit
graduate students. The student assessment of the scheme was disseminated through the
CIEL News Letter Volume 6 Number 2 p26-28 and through presentations given by the
beneficiaries of the scheme to their fellow students i.e. first year Life Scientists.
Academic staff in Life Sciences were informed of the scheme through the Teaching and
Learning Committee and appropriate Course Teaching Committees. In addition, the
scheme was discussed in detail with the Deans of Natural Sciences and Humanities,
Professors Jones and Crook.
At the National/International level : several students have been informed that they will
be included as co-authors in publications appearing in scientific press and in conference
proceedings. In addition, Dr. Annette Kratz (Head of CIEL) has presented the results at
the Leonardo UK National Agency.
Future Developments
Future developments of the initiative are at an advance stage and are dependent on
whether the beneficiaries are graduates or Keele University undergraduates
1) Keele University undergraduates.
A further grant application has recently been submitted to the European Union
which has requested € 40,400 to support scientific training for seven students in
Poland, in addition to collaborations with institutes in France, Germany and the
Netherlands.
2) Graduates
Initial attempts to obtain appropriate FTE funded recognition and Keele
University academic accreditation for beneficiaries undertaking scientific training
through a European Union funded placement were unsuccessful. The proposed
‘Postgraduate Certificate in European Scientific Research Training’ was to be
offered through the School of Life Sciences and Continuing and Professional
Education (CPE) and included the following tutors: Course Director : Dr. D.
Hoole (School of Life Sciences); Administration Director : Dr. A. Kratz (CIEL),
Registration Director : Dr. M. Whittaker (CPE), Regional Recruitment Director :
L. Challinor (North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce). Although supported by
staff within the School of Life Sciences and CIEL and the appropriate Deans, the
Department of Academic Affairs rejected the proposal based on quality assurance
issues.
Recently however the Leonardo Funding Scheme has been used as a basis for a
proposal for a new MSc course with a provisional title: European Scientific
Research Training (MERes).