PH4T003 - Major Research Project, Professional Practice And Employability 01 Apr 2025 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 5

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PH4T003
Module Title: Major Research Project, Professional Practice And Employability
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Chemical and Environmental Sciences
Faculty Sub Group: Chemical and Environmental Sciences
Module Leader: Suzanna Kean
Module Team: Ryszard Babecki, Andrew Graham, Rehana Karim, Peter Miedziak, Meirion Pugh, Natasha Galea, Nildo Costa
First Intended Intake: SEP 2018 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 60 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100251 - pharmacy
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 5
Valid From 01 Apr 2025
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

To apply existing and develop new skills relevant to working in a professional setting, such as advanced and applied industry specific practical skills, research skills, communication, presentation, and employment ready skills.
To enable students to demonstrate, assess and evaluate their acquirement of these skills and experience in the context of continual professional development through either undertaking an external workplacement or internal industry-simulated project.

Content Summary

1) Practical/laboratory skills for the pharmaceutical industry: students undertake an intense practical training programme to (up)skill their ability to work effectively and safely in laboratories

2) Research and Employability Skills: Student are provided with a number of workshops that will allow them to develop, practise and hone those softer research, personal development and employability skills valued by employers. Such topics and sessions might include:
The use of the industry and research related databases and information (e.g., the Aldrich Chemical Database/Web of Science/ British Pharmacopeai). The use of chemical drawing software (both 2D and 3D viewing packages) and basic structural optimisation (ACD Chemsketch). Personal reflection and managing your professional development (e.g., keeping a log book/journal, LADRs). Methods of decision making (e.g., decision making grids). Communication/people skills (e.g., effective listening skills). Job searches and tailoring successful applications (e.g., how to address selection criteria, ways of tailoring a CV, development of a Linked in Profile)
Written communication in a formal setting (the correct use of emails/letters/types of reports). Public/Professional speaking. A significant focus will also be on the development of literature search skills and ability to critically summarise and appraise published works.

3) Simulated Professional Industrial Experience:

For in-house (research) placements - Students will undertake a directed industry relevant project under existing staff supervision at USW. The student will work independently and safely on the allocated research with a maximum of 24 hours direct project supervision. The student will be expected to maintain a laboratory notebook throughout and will be assessd by student choice. They will also be assessed by their supervisor on their developed knowledge/level of engagement/ability to work under direction and show initiative. 

For Industrial Placements - The student will undertake a period of supervised work experience in industry. The progress of the student will be monitored by a supervisor (the employer). The student will need (upon agreement with their host) to at some point initiate a program of independent work, usually of an investigative nature, to be completed alongside their given role within the company. The students will be expected to maintain a reflective/skills log and disseminate their project using student choice.

Students will also be assessed by their supervisor on their developed knowledge/level of engagement/ability to work under direction and show initiative.

 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Project supervision 24
Practical classes and workshops 40
Work based learning 360
Directed Study 176
Total Hours Selected 600

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Reflect on the nature of “professional practice” in their chosen field and on the way the student's “work-based” learning has contributed to their professional development
LO2 Develop and critically appraise an action plan of their experience and skills developed within the context of a graduate recruitment process and informed by their career plans and aspirations.
LO3 Execute the mastery of management, research/work-based, analytical/practical, and communication skills while undertaking substantial work in a professional setting.
LO4 Generate and logically and critically evaluate appropriate results/outcomes and present a substantial piece of knowledge of the subject area to which their “work-based” learning pertained in line with their professional practice

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Student Choice 1 Students may choose to present their project findings by either an oral presentation (max duration 15 min), poster (max word count 2000) or professional report (max word count 2000). 0 N/A 40 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Practical Written Work 1 Written reports reflecting the output from the practical work undertaken for the intensive skills development 0 N/A 20 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 1 A body of work that demonstrates the student’s attainment of industry relevant soft research and literature research skills 0 N/A 40 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Student Choice 1 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Practical Written Work 1 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Portfolio 1 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Reading List

As directed by the project supervisor/work placement.