BSc Biological Sciences (Biotechnology with Enterprise)

Year 2

(Award available for year: Diploma of Higher Education)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the year students should have provided evidence of being able to:
- demonstrate, and be able to apply a broad understanding of the concepts and information in a range of aspects of biological sciences and their applications to biotechnology;
- evaluate forms of entrepreneurship and enterprising activity in relation to economic and societal outcomes on local and global levels;
- apply relevant enterprise development processes, related to appropriate personal, industry and subject-specific issues;
- demonstrate understanding of a range of practical techniques that are routinely used to study biological molecules, cells and their components;
- demonstrate compliance with laboratory safety, ethical, professional and disciplinary boundaries.

Transferable (key) skills

Students will have had the opportunity to acquire, as defined in the modules specified for the programme:
- demonstrate proficiency in the design and implementation of simple controlled experiments;
- demonstrate proficiency in the recording, analysis and interpretation of data using a range of techniques;
- effectively communicate information, analysis and arguments in a variety of forms to different audiences;
- demonstrate an ability to use and evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to problem solving associated with the disciplines;
- demonstrate skills in information handling, including finding information from appropriate sources, selecting relevant information and using information to solve problems;
- demonstrate organisational, self-management and decision-making skills necessary for the exercising of personal responsibility;
- work effectively in a variety of roles within a team;
- demonstrate commercial awareness;
- appreciate their strengths and weaknesses as learners, and proactively address learning needs.

Assessment

Achievement will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will include:

- demonstrating the ability to apply a broad range of aspects/competencies of the discipline/profession to complex, albeit standard, situations and simple, albeit novel or atypical, instances;
- work that is often descriptive in nature but drawing on a wide variety of material;
- problem solving, using a range of types of data, and analytical techniques;
- demonstrating basic professional competencies relevant to the discipline;
- the ability to evaluate and criticise received opinion;

Assessment of most core modules in biological sciences is largely by examination, with a greater emphasis on written essay answers than in Year 1, though MCQ style questions are also used in some modules. The skills module is assessed entirely through in-course assessment of a range of assignments, including MCQ tests, practical reports, data handling and problem solving exercises, essay writing, oral presentation and literature review. The core enterprise modules are assessed by a combination of examination and in-course assignments including individual and group written reports and oral presentation.