Improving Employability: Enhancement of Core Skills and Pro - PowerPoint Presentation

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Improving Employability: Enhancement of Core Skills and Professionalism within the Pharmacy MPharm Degree

Results and Perspective of a TQEF Project in the School of Pharmacy

Chris Scott, Senior TutorSlide2

Undergraduate Program in School of Pharmacy

Single UG course

MPharm

degree

4 year program

1 year pre-registration (

organised

by Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland)

Approx 140-150 students per year group

Staff-student contact is substantial

Practicals

, practical demonstrations (dispensing, responding to symptoms), tutorialsSlide3
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Challenges FacedLarge body of students to look after

Although academically excellent, many students may have employability issues

Development of key skills and professionalism

upon

exit

of university

system?Slide5

Personal Development Planning

Personal Tutors

Advisor of Studies

Work Placements

Skills Development Module

Tools/systems in place already within the School of PharmacySlide6

Personal Development Planning

Personal Tutors

Advisor of Studies

Work Placements

Skills Development Module

Improve Employability of Pharmacy graduatesSlide7

Goals of TQEF Project Pilot scheme within the school to develop a central monitoring system to ensure professionalism and core skill development

Integration of existing resources to deliver thisSlide8

Student Opinions – Focus GroupsOrganised by Sharon

Haughey

, School of Pharmacy

Asked students about their perceptions of the degree, skills development, work placements and PDPSlide9

Focus Group ResultsStudents thought that the degree program was intense

Students felt that the skills training in L1 was useful to bring all students up to speed

Students confused by PDP

Students unclear of the role of tutorsSlide10

Staff ViewsBusy scheduleNo more please!

Varying opinions on the tutoring system and PDP

their usefulness and role of staff memberSlide11

Kick-starting the TQEF ProjectOverhaul of the application of tutoring and PDP application in the school

The fact that the TQEF was awarded to us, highlighted what we were doing and its announcement at school board etc., helped gain staff support going forwardSlide12

MPharm

Degree Progression

Continual monitoring of key

practicals

/tutorials/work placement data across degree for each skill

Identification of ‘at risk’ students in each skill

Student-led development of identified skills Slide13

Initial Achievements

Set up of structures and reporting system to highlight ‘at risk’ students to myself

I arrange tutor meeting with student and provide guidance to tutor on setting/doing/reflecting goals for the student to undertake

TQEF support gave me time to undertake this

Design and implementation of professionalism questionnaire for placement facilitators in L1

TQEF support needed to mail information and materials to facilitators across pharmacy shops in NISlide14
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Initial Achievements

Set up of structures and reporting system to highlight ‘at risk’ students to myself

I arrange tutor meeting with student and provide guidance to tutor on setting/doing/reflecting goals for the student to undertake

TQEF support gave me time to undertake this

Design and implementation of professionalism questionnaire for placement facilitators in L1

TQEF support needed to mail information and materials to facilitators across pharmacy shops in NI

Design and introduction of a new L1 ‘Introduction to Pharmacy Skills’ Module

Further emphasis on career skills

Introduction of CV workshop

Introduction of pharmacy work experience earlier

Introduction of career professionalism – requirements, do’s and don’ts

Introduction of a revamped PDP workshop to L1 pharmacy studentsIntroduction of learning diaries for work placements – reflection on what have learnt on the careerSlide16

But then…..

Roll-out of the University Personal Tutoring Guidelines

We felt that a lot of the our TQEF project was line with what the university wanted from personal tutoring service

Perhaps ‘watered-down’ the impact of the TQEF project

But

allowed almost seamless

integration of new university requirementsSlide17

Personal Tutoring At PharmacySenior Tutor

Was designated as an individual post within the school; with myself in post

Led team within Education committee to produce working guidelines within School on the basis of university blueprint

Central to this was the integration of the aims of the TQEF project Slide18

Current Setup – holistic training

Student Entry

Graduate exit with

MPharm

qualification

Academic Attainment

Module coordinators and course delivery teams

Advisor of Studies

Senior Tutor

Personal Tutoring System

Professionalism and Skills monitoring

Pharmacy

Practise

TutorsSlide19

Dealing with ‘at risk’ students

Senior Tutor

Skill Deficiency

Failed Module

Professionalism deficiency

General Discipline

Personal TutorSlide20

Implementation of TQEF Goals and Personal Tutoring is an on-going project!!

Want to roll out to L2

Particularly professionalism questionnaire to clinical and community work placements

This involves consultation with practitioners

Current Hurdles

Current re-structuring of

MPharm

degreeSlide21

What have been the main benefits of TQEF funding?Gave me time and clerical assistance to

organise

the systems

Provided assistance to attend a national PDP conference

Gave the project emphasis within the schoolSlide22

Thank you!Any Questions?