Introduction to
Oxford Brookes University
Speaker:
Dr. Alazar Gebre-Yesus
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Oxford
• 30,000 students live in Oxford.
• “Oxford is naturally a student-friendly city
and there all the facilities you could want in
town”. (The Guardian – University Guide 2009)
• “Oxford Brookes’ academic appeal is
founded on its outstanding teaching
record”. (Sunday Times – University Guide 2009)
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What makes OBU great!
• Its commitment to learning and teaching,
for example:
• a) offering free extra study support.
Student can access this through the unique
Upgrade service.
• b) providing three libraries that are well
stocked with up-to-date and ancient texts,
and friendly subject librarians that are
always willing to help by visiting the
different sites of the University.
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What makes OBU great!
• Strong teaching in research: 75% of the
University’s research is internationally
recognised.
(Research Assessment Exercise 2008 – The official
rankings of university research in the UK).
• These research teaching areas are, for
example, in arts, sciences, law, health
and education.
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What makes Oxford great! Example
• For the 8th year running, Brookes has been
named the UK’s leading modern university
by the Sunday Times – University Guide 2009.
• OBU has reputation for its connectedness
to the public. How and why? It calls experts
and guest speakers who are leaders , for
example, in industry to share their ideas.
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What makes OBU great! Example
• OBU has strong links with world
leading hospitals based in Oxford,
such as the John Radcliffe and
Churchill Hospitals, where the
Universities health care students
carry out work placements.
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What makes OBU great!
 World Leading Hospitals:
• One positive outcome of this is that the
Biomedical Science Degree (research
study in biotechnology: DNA,
immunology, histology, chemistry) has
been developed within these local
hospitals.
• The course’s clinical aspects are
delivered by hospital-based health
professionals.
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What makes OBU great! Study abroad
Biomedical Science Degree (3 years):
• Part of the course can be studied
abroad, for example, in USA, Canada
and Australia.
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What makes OBU great!
• OBU has won an international award for
its European exchange programme. These
are with:
• Australia, Austria,
• Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada,
• Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
• Iceland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands,
• Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia,
• Spain, Sweden, Turkey, USA.
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What makes OBU great! Conclusion
• Because the quality of teaching and
learning at Brookes is high, it has
been awarded millions of pounds of
additional funding.
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OBU Academic Schools
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School of Arts and Humanities
School of the Built Environment
The Business School
School of Life sciences
School of Social Sciences and Law
School of Technology
Westminster Institute of Education
School of Health & Social Care (SHSC)
 Note: See Appendix for more information about the Academic Schools
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Academic Departments of the SHSC
Pre-Qualification: BSc / DipHE
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Adult Nursing
Paediatric Nursing
Learning Disability Nursing
Mental Health Nursing
Midwifery
Nursing Studies
Occupational Therapy
Operating Department Practice
Osteopathy
Paramedic Emergency Care
Physiotherapy
Social Work
Post-Qualification: BSc / BA
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Cancer Care
Children’s Nursing
Emergency Care Practice
Health & Social Care Studies
Health & Social Care Student
Designed Award
Mental Health Nursing
Midwifery
Nursing Studies
Palliative Care
Social Work Post-Qualifying
Specialist Level Studies
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Entry Requirements to the SHSC
 Example: Adult Nursing
• FT Study: Application through UCAS
• PT Study: Application direct to the University
• DipHE and BSc courses: 5 GCSEs (including
Mathemathics, English Language and a science
subject at C or above, or equivalent
• BSc (Hons) requirements: additionally, CCC at ALevel preferable including a science subject, or
equivalent in terms of vocational A-Levels.
• All applicants will be screened for fitness for practice
• A Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent
Safeguard Authority (ISA) check will be made.
• Process of Selection: Application Letter / CV/ and
Interview
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SHSC Yearly Admission: Example Adult Nursing
• Oxford: Twice a year: September and January.
• Swindon: Once a year, i.e. September
• Number of student according to the available place
of study:
• Total number of places available: 588
• See Table of Admission (Example):
OBU
Campuses
Available
Number of
Place
Application
Received 2009
Application
Received
2010
Oxford
95 + 32= 127
455 students
725 students
67
130 students
243 students
Swindon
Total
194
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Teaching and Learning Resources
 Brookes Virtual Learning
(BVLE): PCs
 Libraries and Library Staff
Support (Headington, Wheatley,
Swindon)
 Student Support:
- Academic Advisor
- Student Support Co-ordinator
- Dyslexia Support
- Upgrade: Study Skills
- Tutorial Group Support
- Student Services: e.g. Counselling,
 Clinical Practice:
- Link Lecturer
- Practice Educator
- Mentors
- Staff Nurses
- BVLE
Financial Advice, Student Union Advice Centre,
Student Representatives
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Teaching and Learning Methods
 School
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Blended Learning
Seminar
Lecture
Conference
Workshop
Presentation
Self-directed Learning
Tutorial Group
Project works
 School
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BVLE: demo of study skills
OSCE
Authentic World
Simulated Practice
Learning
• CVS Practical Skills
• Placement: Clinic
OSCE: Objective Structured Clinical
Examination
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Example of Skills Learning & Assessment Method in
Anatomy & Physiology: Cardiovascular (CVS) Practical Skills
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OBU Structure of Each Semester
• The academic year is divided into 3 sections:
• Semester 1: 16 Weeks: i.e. 12 weeks of
teaching, 12-16: Reflection, Consolidation of
clinical practice, Week 13: Examination.
• Semester 2: 14 Weeks: i.e. 12 weeks of
teaching, Weeks 13-14: Examination.
• Summer Session: Teaching professional
practice or skills simulation, or resits.
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Conclusion
• Question Time
• Thank you for listening
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Appendix: OBU Academic Schools
 School of Arts and Humanities
• The School is one of the world's leading centres of education in
publishing, and our History department is internationally
recognised as a centre of excellence for research and teaching.
 School of the BuiltEnvironment
• The School is one of the largest of its kind in the UK. A recent
HEFCE report indicated that the Brookes-based Oxford Institute for
Sustainable Development (OISD) is one of the key players in
sustainable development research.
 The Business School
• One of a limited number of schools worldwide to be AMBA
accredited, Oxford Brookes Business School programmes were
rated excellent in the last Government quality audit. The BA (Hons)
Business and Management programme and Hospitality and
Tourism MSc programmes were among the first to be EPAS
accredited.
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Appendix: OBU Academic Schools
 School of Life sciences
• With a long standing reputation for its teaching and research, the
school teaches subjects across the whole spectrum of the life
sciences. Students have access to excellent laboratories and state-ofthe-art technology.
 School of Social Sciences and Law
• The school has an acclaimed Law Department and both the
Psychology Department and the Department of International
Relations, Politics and Sociology were rated ‘excellent’ by the Quality
Assurance Agency (QAA). The MSc in Primate Conservation was
awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Award for Higher and Further
Education.
 School of Technology
• The school is situated in a new £8 million teaching and research
facility including workshops, computer laboratories, a recording studio,
and a dedicated motor sport engineering area. The school has good
industry links and internationally reputed research groups.
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Appendix: OBU Academic Schools
 Westminster Institute of Education
• Both primary and secondary teacher training have been graded
as 'outstanding' by Ofsted inspection.The school is the largest
provider nationally of government funded continuing
professional development.
 School of Health and Social Care
• With a dedicated site in Oxford and a thriving campus in
Swindon, the school is strongly focused on encouraging each
individual to attain their full potential. The school has been
awarded the highest rating in all recent quality assurance
reviews.
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