EDUCATION AND TRAINING


Celebrating success at Aston University


Executive Head of Education Alan Wainwright reports on a milestone in biomedical science education in the West Midlands and reflects on the importance of university, employer and IBMS collaboration.


Aston University, one of 51 IBMS-accredited universities in the UK, has recently undergone a re-accreditation of its BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science (full-time and sandwich) and BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science degrees, as have several other universities this year. The Institute first accredited the


biomedical science degree at Aston in 2006, and it has been interesting to see how this has progressed over time. Alongside the universities of Coventry and Wolverhampton in the south of the region, and Keele and Staffordshire in the north, Aston has worked closely with employers to develop its degrees, maintain its relevance to the profession and employability in biomedical science, and, crucially, provide placements for successful integrated biomedical science degrees in the West Midlands. Birmingham was my home city and as


my early career was ‘down the road’ at the University of Birmingham, I was only vaguely familiar with the Aston Triangle, as it was known affectionately, but frequent trips for re-accreditation and Train the Trainers events provided opportunities to correct this and


see the many changes that have taken place. I was therefore honoured and privileged to


be invited to an anniversary dinner in June to mark the 50th anniversary of the granting of the university’s Charter. The Royal Charter was granted on 22 April 1966, triggering the transformation from a college of advanced technology into a university. Over the past 50 years, Aston has grown into a leading university renowned for world-class research and graduate employability, increasing its student application numbers and research income year on year. The anniversary dinner was particularly


special for me when Professor Anthony Hilton was awarded one of the university’s fifty 50th Anniversary Chairs. These were awarded as part of the celebrations to recognise the significant contribution of the recipients to furthering scholarship in their chosen discipline, their wide-reaching impact externally, their willingness to do things differently, and their commitment to Aston. This was particularly poignant as it was Anthony who initiated contact with me to help guide the university towards achieving IBMS accreditation status.


‘Aston has worked closely with employers to develop its degrees, maintain its relevance to the profession and employability in biomedical science’


Professor Anthony Hilton receiving his 50th Anniversary Chair from Aston University Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Julia King, Professor the Baroness Brown of Cambridge.


Some readers may remember Anthony


for his contribution to the IBMS Biomedical Science Congress in 2007, when he deliver the Vincent Marks Lecture entitled ‘Grime Scene Investigation’ – a combination of science and ‘entertainment’ that struck exactly the right chord at the culmination of a very successful Congress. It is very satisfying to know that the IBMS


has been part of the success story for Aston University. We know how much our degree accreditation is valued and we know how the university goes from strength to strength, providing graduates for the future biomedical science workforce.


More about the university’s 50th anniversary may be found on the Aston website (www.aston.ac.uk/50). Information about IBMS degree accreditation can be found on the IBMS website (www.ibms.org/go/qualifications/ ibms-courses/accreditation).


Guests at the dinner in June to mark the 50th anniversary of the granting of the university’s Royal Charter. 434 AUGUST 2016 THE BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIST


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