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Careers in Genetics 1 Dr. George Johnson

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Background In the 2007-2008 National Student Survey, Swansea genetics graduates felt that they could have had better careers advice during their undergraduate studies. The careers office provides general advice, however more specific information was required for these students. Following this feedback, I approached the students at level 2 and 3 of the genetics and medical genetics BSc degree schemes, who echoed this lack of careers advice. 2

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Genetics and Biochemistry BSc employability previously assured by: Transferable skills modules. Biochemistry Skills and Genetic Analysis: presentation, abstract writing, assessment of peers, asking questions to peers, critical assessment of scientific literature, CV writing. Links with major employers within the pharmaceutical industry. For example, the College of Medicine has Ph.D. Case Awards with Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, GSK. Excellent final year projects are provided within the Institute of Life Science (ILS) by members of the College of Medicine. 3

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Interventions since 2008 1.Annual careers afternoon - 2008 onwards. 2.Careers self directed e-learning tool - 2008 onwards. 3.Started an industrial placement scheme with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)- 2009 onwards. 4.Student trips to local companies, such as GE healthcare Cardiff. 5.Alumni from Industry (e.g. GSK) now lecture on our courses. 6.Dr. Masood Yousef created links with recruitment firms, including MatchTech, 2009 onwards. 4

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Careers Afternoon 5 TimeWhat?Who? 14:00WelcomeDr George Johnson 14:10Recruitment Companies.Dr. Masood Yousef 14:15Careers Office.Dr. George Johnson 14:20 Swansea Alumni and Careers Opportunities in NHS.Dr. George Johnson 14:40 Graduate Entry Medicine @ SwanseaDr. Kit Lucas and Sian Quarrell 15:00Representative from IndustryProf. David Tweats (GSK & Consultant) 15:20Coffee Break 15:30Career path to Astra ZenecaDr Anne Doherty 15:45Career path to Academia,Dr. George Johnson 15:50Biotech IndustryDr. Ed Dudley 16:00Wine, Cheese, Tea/Coffee/Cakes/FAQ First Wednesday in December.

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Feedback for Careers Afternoon Upon using this resource do you now; No Yes 12345 Have a better understanding of the career opportunities available upon graduation. 627 Have an increased array of tools that will you to help decide on which career path to follow. 1122 Have a greater appreciation of how your degree will help in preparing you for one of these careers? 1320 Also Overall, did the resource improve your understanding of the topic? 924 Did this stimulate your interest into becoming a scientist? 11823 Would you recommend this session to a fellow student? 1626 Was your chosen career path included in this session? 1 626 6

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Careers e-learning tool http://scs.swan.ac.uk/genetics_careers/index.html Transferred the PowerPoints from the careers afternoon into a website with Jess Griffiths and Martin Goddard (CoM). Update the site regularly and act on feedback. 7

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Feedback: E-learning tool 8 Upon using this resource do you now; No Yes 12345 Have a better understanding of the career opportunities available upon graduation. 1524 Have an increased array of tools that will help you to decide on which career path to follow. 228 Have a greater appreciation of how your degree will help in preparing you for one of these careers? 1614 Also; Have you used this resource more than once? 30 Overall, did the resource improve your understanding of the topic? 30 Do you think that the e-learning tool is a better resource than a careers afternoon? 2136

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Did it work? Z scores Swansea University Department JACS Subject Area Swansea 2008/09 DLHE Russell Group 94 GroupAll HEIs Welsh HEIs Medical School Biological sciences 88.9%1.422.261.803.01 9 There was an increase from 66.7% students, in employment or further study, before the intervention (2007-2008) compared to 100% (2008-2009) after the intervention.

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17 th /150 = biochemistry and genetics, www.Unistats.direct.gov.uk 96%+ student satisfaction

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Acknowledgements Jess Griffiths, Martin Goddard, Careers afternoon contributors, Prof. David Skibinski, Phil Brophy, Andrew Morgan and the tHE Genetics and Biochemistry teaching group, Institute of Life Science staff for delivery of research projects. 11

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For PhD students employability is assured by: 1.Access to undergraduate and taught masters modules to increase knowledge base in subject area. 2.Close links between CoM and key industrial/pharmaceutical sector (GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Roche, NovoNordisk, Unilever) as well as local SMEs. 3.Students attend compulsory Biomedical/health services research (as appropriate) seminars on a weekly basis. 4.CoM provides a compulsory course on statistics for biomedicine ensuring that all students are adept at data analysis. 5.Access to careers service on campus and engagement in seminars/workshops run there. 6.Close monitoring of progress of all PhD students by the CoM, including a 1 st year viva by independent academics to ensure students maximise their research opportunity. 7.Annual postgraduate research day is set up like a professional scientific conference with poster presentations, verbal presentations, visiting researchers, visiting companies etc. This develops the students presentation and networking skills, with prizes for the best work and much feedback/kudos given between students for good presentations. It is also very social and collaborations often occur as a result of this. 8.Encouragement to attend careers related course offered by studentship sponsors such as BBSRC. 12

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For the GEM employability (ie the ability and the incentive to work) is assured by: 1.Selection of candidates. 2.Early exposure to clinical practice through short Learning Opportunities in the Clinical Setting (LOCS) during the first two years of the course 3.Exposure to clinical practice in primary care through a course of community-based learning that begins in the first year 4.A system of personal tutors that help students deal with issues that might include their suitability for the profession 5.Clinical Apprenticeships throughout the 4 yr course where pairs of students are placed with a senior clinical teacher in a clinical setting in order to reflect on the practice of medicine 6.Specialty Attachments in the 3 rd and 4 th year where students experience the management of patients with specific health needs 7.Matching our teaching, learning and assessment against the GMC outcomes for graduates (as expressed in Tomorrows Doctors 2009) 8.Working closely with the Welsh Postgraduate Deanery in order to develop a seamless transition from graduation through the first 12 months of postgraduate Foundation training. 13