The University of Wolverhampton has invested £250,000 in a new Pharmacy Practice Suite to support its pharmacy students.
The facility will aid in teaching the clinical aspects of the MPharm course.
The new investment is part of a £1 million infrastructure boost to the university’s School of Pharmacy, which includes £500,000 for interactive teaching spaces and another £250,000 for team based learning facilities at its city campus in Wolverhampton.
The university said its structured classroom space, equipped with touch screen technology and mobile classroom seating, promotes a collaborative and flexible learning environment for the students.
“The course itself is brilliant. There is so much to do, so many people to talk to and learn from, especially the support given by the staff to improve your studies – they are always so open and friendly,” says Lanna Zouabi, a second year MPharm student.
The university’s School of Pharmacy is also known for its promotion of inclusivity, with 92 per cent of students coming from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background.
A recent analysis has shown that the institution is one of the five schools of pharmacy, out of the 23 studied, with a negative or zero awarding gap, or the difference between white students and BAME students being awarded a first or 2.1-degree classification.
With an awarding gap of -2 per cent, the university is placed third on the table. Nationally, the figure is a significant 12 per cent for schools of pharmacy, almost on par with the 13 per cent awarding gap in higher education as a whole, reported in the latest Universities UK study.
“What differs between courses in higher education is how they are taught, and the level of support provided to students,” comments Dr Colin Brown, head of the Wolverhampton School of Pharmacy.
“We recognise the needs and challenges faced by all of our students and we use teaching methods which break down barriers, promote inclusivity and develop the skills and attributes needed for success.”
Brown added that the school has a longstanding tradition of positive action in the recruitment of, support for, and development of students and staff who represent all groups within society.
“Our students predominately come from the local area and many arrive with disadvantages which we need to address early on. Our students undertake lots of small group enquiry based learning and they benefit from a lot of study and pastoral support,” he explains.
