FURTHER EDUCATION
Devices’ modules. Our ‘Quality Assurance Practices’ module is taught by a blood transfusion expert and covers quality assurance processes and procedures for a clinical diagnostic setting concordant with the latest relevant International Organization for Standardization requirements; with the aim of informing students of best practices to ensure quality, reliability, integrity, and competence in a clinical diagnostic setting.
The project contributes to 60 credits
The ubiquity of POCT means the new course aims to attract a broad spectrum of professionals from throughout the healthcare ecosystem.
solution-focused workforce. To address these needs Abertay has launched an MSc programme that is designed with the needs of working professionals and graduates who wish to transition to POCT in mind. Our online variant (Biomedical Sciences with Point of Care Testing) is principally aimed at professionals working in a relevant work setting. The ubiquity of POCT means that we hope to attract a broad spectrum of professionals from throughout the healthcare ecosystem who use or aim to use or implement POCT devices in their work. Our on-campus variant (Biomedical Sciences) is a practical-intensive course with up to nearly 100 hours of laboratory time in our state-of-the-art teaching facility.
Consequently, we see this new course attracting graduates who wish to gain or improve their core laboratory skills as well as be introduced to and use commercially available POCT devices. This variant of the course has optional modules so students may wish to focus more on the principles for designing and executing experiments in the context of healthcare applications such as in vitro diagnostics
and pharmaceuticals. For example, in the ‘Statistical Process
Control’ module students will learn about quality and processes and how they can be controlled and monitored using statistical methods. Students will learn how to apply common statistical control methods to identify and resolve production issues, retain quality and reduce costs. The aim of this module is to develop an understanding of processes and how statistical process control techniques improve product quality and reduce cost.
Unique insights Core themes within our programmes include principles and implementation of POCT, risk management and QA processes, including fundamental statistical methods and requirements of ISO 15189:2022. To highlight this, we have three modules that are taught exclusively by NHS professionals who specialise in POCT which ensures students will gain unique insights into current best practice as well as future trends. Robyn is teaching our ‘Principles of POCT’ and ‘Implementation of POCT
(one third) of the MSc and where appropriate can be conducted in the workplace. All on-campus students will get the opportunity to apply to undertake an industrial placement as an alternative to the research project. Placements, subject to availability, are on a competitive basis and are subject to an application and interview with the placement provider. If successful, students will be moved on to the MSc Biomedical Sciences with Industrial Practice. Our online students will be supported by weekly drop-in meetings where they can discuss their progress with an assigned tutor. On-campus students are supported by regular tutorials. Our long- term goal is to be a base for a growing network of POCT users and specialists who can continue to develop and share best practice from their experience across the world. Students can exit with PG Certificate (60 credits. three taught modules), PG Diploma (120 credits, six taught modules) or MSc (180 credits). Alternatively, single modules may be attractive as CPD options. Students can currently enrol for January 2025 and then September and January going forward.
We have three modules that are taught exclusively by NHS professionals who specialise in POCT which ensures students will gain unique insights into current best practice as well as future trends
Dr Sean Brown
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM OCTOBER 2024
Career opportunities Robyn Wilson: My relationship with Abertay has been long and fruitful and my own career started when I undertook the Biomedical Sciences BSc course, graduating in 2011. During the third year of my course, I undertook a clinical work placement in the biochemistry department within Blood Sciences at Ninewells Hospital. From then, my career has flourished, allowing me to develop both professionally and personally into what I hope is someone that can provide a valuable contribution to this MSc programme. NHS Tayside was the first health board
to provide Point-of-Care Testing work placements to those students undertaking the IBMS-Accredited Undergraduate Biomedical Sciences programme. There have been three students who have undertaken this work placement, and each one has had the opportunity to develop, grow and be exposed to a wider
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