Do you have someone suitable to train (or be assessed) as an HLTA? Kent is sponsoring the first wave of these and a flier for the science training / assessment is attached. HLTA's provide more flexibility to departments as their training allows them to take whole classes as well as groups of students. HLTA training with Christ Church Canterbury UC also allows them to gain credits for a foundation degree.
Please see the attached flier or go to http://www.tda.gov.uk/support/hlta.aspx
for more information on HLTA's.
Foundation Degree in Life Science Laboratory Technology and Bio-Manufacturing
The first course to be launched at the site will be the above Foundation Degree. The curriculum for the course has been written in consultation with regional industries and is designed to train laboratory workers with the key knowledge and skills to meet the needs of Kent Life Science laboratory operatives.
As such the course has a more practical approach than a normal undergraduate course although the practical techniques are underpinned by scientific knowledge and related to industrial applications.
This course has been recently validated by the University of Kent and we are currently recruiting students. We are looking for students with an interest and desire to pursue a career in lab science with a demonstrated ability for hands on science. Students may be educated to level 3 ( e.g A levels, BTEC or Access although exceptional entry may be permitted for the right student, subject to interview). The course has been widely supported by the bodies whose logos appear on our leaflet and SEEDA have offered up to 15 scholarships for the first intake of students. This will mean full fees paid for the two years of the course (usually £1,200 per year)
The course will be run on a full time basis with Part time possible for lab scientists already in work. Those students with lab experience may be able to get Accreditation for their prior learning in the lab and so be exempt from some parts of the course subject to submission of evidence to assess their learning.
I have attached a version of our promotional leaflet for you to see, I can supply you with some of these if you wish, we have a glossy printed version and some posters to promote the course.
If there is anyone who you think may be particularly interested in this initiative, the FD course, or other courses that we may run at KSRC in the future, please do not hesitate to contact myself or my colleague Paul Walsh at the Science Park. We will be pleased to talk to Science staff, careers tutors and students as appropriate. Our contact details are in the leaflet.
Best regards
Julie Coleman
FD Programme Coordinator