Partner Details

Yunnan Agricultural University

Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Bachelor of Science with Honours (Fnd) - BSHF
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit

Programme Offerings

Full-Time

F2F-YAU-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

To provide for all students a defined academic programme of study with clear learning outcomes. To provide students with a wide knowledge and understanding of core subject matter to enable them to pursue a career in Biotechnology related employment. To enable students to acquire a high level of practical, analytical and research skills in biotechnology. To develop critical, analytical problem-based learning and transferable skills to prepare the student for graduate employment. To develop those learning, information technology, communication and reflective skills necessary to enable students to undertake independent study, and to participate in lifelong learning. To provide students from a wide variety of educational backgrounds with a high quality learning experience in a supportive environment. To provide opportunities for students to gain commercial awareness, develop entrepreneurial skills and explore a wide range of career options.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Appreciate fundamental concepts, principles and theories relevant to biotechnology encompassing molecular, cellular and physiological processes, microbiology, biochemistry, synthetic biology and genetics.
2.
Apply subject knowledge and understanding to address familiar and unfamiliar problems.
3.
Recognise the moral and ethical issues of investigations and appreciate the need for ethical standards and professional codes of conduct.
4.
Demonstrate competence and progressive development in the basic and core experimental skills appropriate to the study of biotechnology.
5.
Design, plan, conduct and report on investigations which may involve primary or secondary data.
6.
Obtain, record, collate and analyse data using appropriate techniques working either individually or within a group.
7.
Comply with health and safety policies, Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), risk and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessments and recognise the importance of quality control and quality assurances.
8.
Use and interpret a variety of sources of information: textual, numerical, verbal and graphical within the laboratory setting.
9.
Understand the need when undertaking sample selection to ensure validity, accuracy, calibration, precision, reproducibility and the need to highlight uncertainty and potential sources of bias during data collection.
10.
Prepare, process, interpret and present data using appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques, statistical programmes, spreadsheets, bioinformatics, and programmes for presenting data visually.
11.
Communicate scientific information effectively in written, verbal, and visual forms.
12.
Demonstrate competence in core experimental skills applicable to the biotechnology sector, including data analysis and interpretation of results with a critical understanding of the appropriate contexts for their use through the study of texts, original papers and reports.
13.
Use information technology to prepare, process and present information.
14.
Identify and work towards targets for personal, academic, professional and career development.
15.
Develop skills necessary for independent life-long learning (for example working independently, working as part of a team, time management, problem solving, organisational and enterprise skills).
16.
Engage with current developments in biotechnology and their applications, including the philosophical and ethical issues involved.
17.
Critically evaluate current research in the field of biotechnology.
18.
Analyse, synthesise and summarise information critically from a variety of sources including published research or reports.
19.
Recognise and apply subject specific theories, paradigms, concepts or principles, for example the relationship between genes and proteins.
20.
Construct grammatically correct documents in an appropriate academic style and format, using and referencing relevant ideas and evidence.
21.
Understand the importance of academic and research integrity.
22.
Obtain and integrate several lines of subject specific evidence to formulate and test hypotheses.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The acquisition of knowledge is fostered through a range of taught sessions including lectures, computer sessions, and practical laboratory classes. Understanding of taught material is facilitated through tutorials, problem-based learning, workshops, group work and independent study. Knowledge and understanding are assessed in a variety of ways. These include: examinations (essay style questions, MCQ, data analysis and short answers),laboratory reports, practical assessments (to assess both understanding and technical competence),essays, case-studies, oral presentations, and poster presentations. Cognitive skills are developed in many areas of the programme. For example, the ability to synthesise and analyse information critically is developed in laboratory sessions from Level 4 to 6, including in the Research Project module. Applying subject knowledge and understanding to address unfamiliar problems is developed in workshops in many modules, especially in modules that utilise interpretative examination questions. Moral and ethical issues are a key part of modern biotechnology and are developed in many taught and practical sessions. Laboratory reports, scientific communication, essays and examinations allow students to demonstrate the full range of these skills and attributes. Practical and professional skills are taught during laboratory classes. Core principles and minimum standards required for effective laboratory work are introduced at Level 4, developed at Level 5, and at Level 6 the students apply these skills during their independent Research Project. These practical and professional skills are assessed through practical tests, data handling exercises, and laboratory reports, including the execution of the Research Project. Transferable and key skills are inherent within the programme, but specifically they are taught in core modules at all Levels (Skills and Presentations at Level 3; Fundamentals of Scientific Research at Level 4; Research Methods at Level 5, and the Research Project at Level 6). These transferable and key skills are assessed through assessment activities at all levels, in all modules and specifically in the modules mentioned above.

Opportunities for work related learning

Students visit enterprises through the professional practical courses. Through the visit, students develop an understanding of the biotechnology industry. Through the graduation internship, students can complete a professional project together with the school supervisor or enterprise tutor. The ability to solve specific professional problems can be formed through the completion of a small project. During the internship, the head teacher will contact the tutor and the students to facilitate feedback. After the internship, students are required to complete their bachelor's thesis.

Programme Structure

Structure

Entry Requirements

Other international requirements

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH10-03) materials and technology