Undergraduate Employability-Technology-enabled

Employer Engagement in Analytical Chemistry

Project leader:Dr Carolyn Morton, Associate Head of Department for Forensic,

Analytical and Chemical Sciences

Key researcher:Dr Adrian Crew, Research Fellow, Dept of Applied Sciences

Why?Employability –

Awareness – employer and studentEnhancement

Issues with employer engagement

TimePerceived benefit

Project – streamline the process with

advantages for employers and students

Technology-enabled engagement between employer and student

“Dragons’ Den” using video conferencing between

• Employers from analytical and forensic science sectors

and• Year 2 BSc Forensic Science students undertaking a

module in analytical chemistry

What?

Aims:

• Employer contact – expand links, enhance curriculum, potential collaborations, work experience, employment

• Student experience- increase motivation, see relevance of

study, develop presentation and IT skills

• Develop guidelines to facilitate adoption of similar approaches by others

Approach:

• Recruit willing employers - contacted 36 companies from the forensic, environmental, water, pharmaceutical, food and instrumentation sectors

• Develop appropriate task for students- volunteers - 10 minute presentation on laboratory experiment including applications

- all – 400 word section in assignment on relevance of the analytical technique in industry – after hearing from employers on video

• Research the available technologies - Polycom video conferencing (VCON) – available at UWE

- researched 25 online meeting systems

Technologies compared - requirements:

1. FlashMeeting online meeting technologyaccess to internet with webcam and microphone for all participantsconvener to register to set up the meeting

2. Polycom Videoconferencing (VCON) system each participant ideally has (any version of)

videoconferencing facility – local arrangements alternatively can phone in (audio only) hosted at UWE – book appropriate room(s)

The exercise in action

1. Flash meeting:employer, then student

2. Video conferencing: a) student presenting to employers

b) employer giving context

c) employer giving information and questioning student

Conclusions:

• Quality of video conferencing superior to FlashMeeting

• Student perception of relevance of course to employers greatly enhanced

• Very positive feedback from employers – impressed by work being done by students, quality of presentations, usefulness of technology

“I thought the technology was one of the best video conference softwares I have used, and appeared to work well with a smartphone from a Cornish cliff-top with a poor signal.” Dr Peter Jones, Indigo Science Ltd (GCMS and LCMS services)

Future:

• Expand subject matter for exercise (to include DNA analysis)

• Increase the number of employers involved

• Incorporate in “Graduate Development Programme” – year two support for employability

• Encourage adoption by others

• Encourage collaborations/research/projects/work experience to follow this exercise

Relevance?

- module perceived as difficult but useful for employability skills (specific or generic)

- employers who would be interested to learn what skills our students develop or talent-spot

Top tips• 10-point guidelines on website• Example student assessment• Briefing document for employers

Thanks to: The project team at Bournemouth University

Royal Society of Chemistry

SW spoke HE STEM Programme