The Department of Health Learning Team’s collaboration with the Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) has been described by the University as ‘the gold standard for collaborative partners with the University’.
MMU, which is the awarding body for the Island’s health and social care degree programmes, works closely with the Department to validate the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Honours Degree in Health and Social Care and the new Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Professional Practice, ensuring comparable academic standards are applied in the Isle of Man as in the UK. The projects and assignments completed on the degree programmes are directly applied to the students’ work settings, resulting in enhanced services and safer practice for patients and service users.
MMU representatives praised the Department of Health’s Learning Team for their commitment to partnership and collaboration in delivering these programmes. They expressed their confidence in the Learning Team in meeting the needs of the increasing number of graduates working in health and social care services.
Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK, said:
'The Department welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with esteemed academic bodies in the UK to further on-Island education and training opportunities for our community. Our partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University is, by the university’s own admission, a ‘gold standard’ which others could emulate. Being able to choose to study for these degrees on-Island removes many of the barriers that put some people off, such as having to move to the UK for a prolonged period which would prove especially difficult for those with young children. The Department’s approach ensures academic rigour and quality whilst making the attainment of a health and social care degree – and a subsequent career in this field – all the more accessible. It’s all about maximising opportunity and potential through nurturing and drawing from home-grown talent.
The latest set of degree results is outstanding and reflects our students’ hard work, dedication and enthusiasm. In addition to studying for their degrees, all the students perform challenging professional roles within the Departments of Health and Social Care, so their commitment is all the greater. The results are testament to the educational standards and support provided by the Learning Team.'
Of the eighteen students who undertook the B.Sc. (Hon.) Degree in Health and Social Care, six achieved First Class; eight achieved Upper Second Class; three attained Lower Second Class; and one accomplished a Third Class. When comparing undergraduate degree awards at First Class, the Island’s Health and Social Care degree average was 33%, whereas in the Northwest of the UK, only 10% of candidates studying similar subjects achieved this classification and the UK national average for all subjects at First Class was just under 16%. These exceptional local results were due to the students own hard work and the Learning Team’s guidance, knowledge and mentoring skills. The multi-professional nature of the students’ backgrounds, which included adult and mental health nurses, social workers, paramedics and outreach workers, enhanced their learning experience as they brought with them a wealth of knowledge about health and social care.
Les Gelling, Chief External Examiner, said:
'The diversity of the group of students undertaking this undergraduate degree course enables an excellent relationship to develop in which they are supported and mentored by their tutors to achieve excellent results. The close working relationship and on-going partnership between the Department of Health’s Learning Team and Manchester Metropolitan University results in exceptionally high standards of healthcare education.'
Dr Jacqueline Yates, Head of Learning at the Department of Health, said:
'The students have achieved excellent results and can be justly proud of their academic high standards. I would very much like to thank the entire academic and practice-based staff who contributed to their education and supported them to reach produce such inspired and valuable work.'
With 79 students currently undertaking an undergraduate programme and 19 participating in the Masters programme, feedback shows their enthusiasm for the courses and for learning from people with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. All the students work in health or care settings, which gives them the opportunity learn about each others' professions and the different approaches adopted in different areas.
