Introduction to Oxford Brookes University

Speaker:

Dr. Alazar Gebre-Yesus

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Oxford

• 30,000 students live in Oxford.

• “Oxford is naturally a student-friendly city and there all the facilities you could want in town”. (The Guardian – University Guide 2009)

• “Oxford Brookes’ academic appeal is founded on its outstanding teaching record”. (Sunday Times – University Guide 2009)

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What makes OBU great!

• Its commitment to learning and teaching, for example:

• a) offering free extra study support. Student can access this through the unique Upgrade service.

• b) providing three libraries that are well stocked with up-to-date and ancient texts, and friendly subject librarians that are always willing to help by visiting the different sites of the University.

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What makes OBU great!

• Strong teaching in research: 75% of the University’s research is internationally recognised.

(Research Assessment Exercise 2008 – The official rankings of university research in the UK).

• These research teaching areas are, for example, in arts, sciences, law, health and education.

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What makes Oxford great! Example

• For the 8th year running, Brookes has been named the UK’s leading modern university by the Sunday Times – University Guide 2009.

• OBU has reputation for its connectedness to the public. How and why? It calls experts and guest speakers who are leaders , for example, in industry to share their ideas.

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What makes OBU great! Example

• OBU has strong links with world leading hospitals based in Oxford, such as the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals, where the Universities health care students carry out work placements.

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What makes OBU great!

World Leading Hospitals:

• One positive outcome of this is that the Biomedical Science Degree (research study in biotechnology: DNA, immunology, histology, chemistry) has been developed within these local hospitals.

• The course’s clinical aspects are delivered by hospital-based health professionals.

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What makes OBU great! Study abroad

Biomedical Science Degree (3 years):

• Part of the course can be studied abroad, for example, in USA, Canada and Australia.

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What makes OBU great!

• OBU has won an international award for its European exchange programme. These are with:

• Australia, Austria, • Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, • Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, • Iceland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, • Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, • Spain, Sweden, Turkey, USA.

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What makes OBU great! Conclusion

• Because the quality of teaching and learning at Brookes is high, it has been awarded millions of pounds of additional funding.

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OBU Academic Schools

School of Arts and Humanities School of the Built Environment The Business School School of Life sciences School of Social Sciences and Law School of Technology Westminster Institute of Education School of Health & Social Care (SHSC)

Note: See Appendix for more information about the Academic Schools

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Academic Departments of the SHSC

Pre-Qualification: BSc / DipHE

• Adult Nursing• Paediatric Nursing• Learning Disability Nursing• Mental Health Nursing• Midwifery• Nursing Studies• Occupational Therapy• Operating Department Practice• Osteopathy• Paramedic Emergency Care• Physiotherapy• Social Work

Post-Qualification: BSc / BA

• Cancer Care• Children’s Nursing• Emergency Care Practice• Health & Social Care Studies• Health & Social Care Student

Designed Award• Mental Health Nursing• Midwifery• Nursing Studies• Palliative Care• Social Work Post-Qualifying

Specialist Level Studies

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Entry Requirements to the SHSC Example: Adult Nursing• FT Study: Application through UCAS• PT Study: Application direct to the University• DipHE and BSc courses: 5 GCSEs (including

Mathemathics, English Language and a science subject at C or above, or equivalent

• BSc (Hons) requirements: additionally, CCC at A-Level preferable including a science subject, or equivalent in terms of vocational A-Levels.

• All applicants will be screened for fitness for practice• A Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent

Safeguard Authority (ISA) check will be made. • Process of Selection: Application Letter / CV/ and

Interview13

SHSC Yearly Admission: Example Adult Nursing

• Oxford: Twice a year: September and January.• Swindon: Once a year, i.e. September• Number of student according to the available place

of study: • Total number of places available: 588• See Table of Admission (Example):

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OBU Campuses

Available Number of Place

Application Received 2009

Application Received 2010

Oxford 95 + 32= 127 455 students 725 students

Swindon 67 130 students 243 students

Total 194

Teaching and Learning Resources Brookes Virtual Learning

(BVLE): PCs Libraries and Library Staff

Support (Headington, Wheatley, Swindon)

Student Support:

- Academic Advisor

- Student Support Co-ordinator

- Dyslexia Support

- Upgrade: Study Skills

- Tutorial Group Support - Student Services: e.g. Counselling,

Financial Advice, Student Union Advice Centre, Student Representatives

Clinical Practice:

- Link Lecturer

- Practice Educator

- Mentors

- Staff Nurses

- BVLE

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Teaching and Learning Methods

School

• Blended Learning• Seminar• Lecture• Conference• Workshop• Presentation• Self-directed Learning• Tutorial Group• Project works

School

• BVLE: demo of study skills

• OSCE• Authentic World• Simulated Practice

Learning• CVS Practical Skills• Placement: Clinic

OSCE: Objective Structured Clinical Examination

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Example of Skills Learning & Assessment Method in Anatomy & Physiology: Cardiovascular (CVS) Practical Skills

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OBU Structure of Each Semester

• The academic year is divided into 3 sections:

• Semester 1: 16 Weeks: i.e. 12 weeks of teaching, 12-16: Reflection, Consolidation of clinical practice, Week 13: Examination.

• Semester 2: 14 Weeks: i.e. 12 weeks of teaching, Weeks 13-14: Examination.

• Summer Session: Teaching professional practice or skills simulation, or resits.

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Conclusion

• Question Time• Thank you for listening

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Appendix: OBU Academic Schools School of Arts and Humanities• The School is one of the world's leading centres of education in

publishing, and our History department is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence for research and teaching.

School of the BuiltEnvironment• The School is one of the largest of its kind in the UK. A recent

HEFCE report indicated that the Brookes-based Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) is one of the key players in sustainable development research.

The Business School• One of a limited number of schools worldwide to be AMBA

accredited, Oxford Brookes Business School programmes were rated excellent in the last Government quality audit. The BA (Hons) Business and Management programme and Hospitality and Tourism MSc programmes were among the first to be EPAS accredited.

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Appendix: OBU Academic Schools School of Life sciences• With a long standing reputation for its teaching and research, the

school teaches subjects across the whole spectrum of the life sciences. Students have access to excellent laboratories and state-of-the-art technology.

School of Social Sciences and Law• The school has an acclaimed Law Department and both the

Psychology Department and the Department of International Relations, Politics and Sociology were rated ‘excellent’ by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). The MSc in Primate Conservation was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Award for Higher and Further Education.

School of Technology• The school is situated in a new £8 million teaching and research

facility including workshops, computer laboratories, a recording studio, and a dedicated motor sport engineering area. The school has good industry links and internationally reputed research groups.

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Appendix: OBU Academic Schools

Westminster Institute of Education• Both primary and secondary teacher training have been graded

as 'outstanding' by Ofsted inspection.The school is the largest provider nationally of government funded continuing professional development.

School of Health and Social Care• With a dedicated site in Oxford and a thriving campus in

Swindon, the school is strongly focused on encouraging each individual to attain their full potential. The school has been awarded the highest rating in all recent quality assurance reviews.

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