Dr Emma Taylor (Senior Lecturer in Medical Sciences, Academic Lead for Careers and Employability, and Education Exeter Incubator Fellow) presented the first paper of 2017-18 at Exeter’s Academic Practice Network on Wednesday 6 December 2017. Emma introduced the ‘skills audit’ aspect of the tutoring system in Medical Sciences.
This development aims to increase student awareness on the transferable skills they develop during their study in order to increase employability, whilst also encouraging reflection on one’s own practice. Reflective cycles had been part of students’ studies, and this has now been brought into the tutoring system.
As part of an ongoing skills audit, students regularly evaluate their own skills using an Academic & Professional Learning Support (APLS) form and set SMART targets as goals for their own development. This is then discussed with their tutor so that each student can be supported on a personalised basis (e.g. by prescribing targeted resources if needed). Emma gave colleagues opportunity to have a go at filling in the APLS form, and discuss how this might be adapted to other disciplines.