Core Skills in Pharmaceutical Sciences
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| PHAR1028 | Pharmacy | 1 | 20 | Full Year Malaysia |
- Code
- PHAR1028
- School
- Pharmacy
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year Malaysia
Summary
This module provides students with an introduction to key intellectual, managerial, experimental, analytical and transferable skills, while also to reinforce degree-specific scientific themes from the first year in the context of individual and small group academic performances. The module introduces seven (7) core skills to the BSc Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences programme:
Core 1: Library & IT skills
Includes a combination of lectures and computer lab (hands-on) sessions. This aims to develop students’ ability to use the online library, retrieve accurate/reliable information, use databases, and properly cite sources.
Core 2: Study skills and time management
Includes a combination of lectures and tutor-tutee meetings. This aims to develop students’ personal skills in note taking, reading, writing, revision techniques, assignment/coursework planning and timely its submission, individually or with peers.
Core 3: Numerical skills
Includes a combination of lectures, tutorials and practical sessions. This aims to develop your students’ ability to understand, convert and work with different units, concentrations and dilutions. The skills acquired will be assessed in-class assessment during the Autumn semester (10%).
Core 4: Scientific writing skills
This part will be covered in lectures alongside the Core 2 lectures. However, the skills will be assessed throughout the year. Students will be required to produce and submit a number of essays and reflections, which will account for 30% of the final module mark.
Core 5: Research and statistical skills
Includes a series of lectures and tutorials in the Spring semester, covering the basic methods in research, appraisal and statistical skills. Students will acquire basic knowledge is using a statistical software for data analysis and graph plotting via hands-on workshop sessions. The statistical skills assessment accounts for 20% of the final module mark.
Core 6: Peer learning and teamwork
Includes a combination of lectures, gaming sessions, case studies and presentations. This part challenges students to learn by assisting others in their learning and/or learn in collaboration with their fellow peers, which involves explaining, discussing, debating issues, and adapt to work on, distribute, and complete a given task as a group. This part will be assessed via group presentation and account for 30% of the overall module mark.
Core 7: Towards successful career (Personal portfolio)
This part involves a series of personal tutor-tutee sessions. The personal tutor will assess the progress and achievement of their tutees based on the personal objectives/goals that have been established at the beginning of each semester. This aims to showcase/highlight students’ improvement and development of skills gained through curricular and extracurricular activities. This part contributes 10% to the final module mark.
Target Students
BSc Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences students
Classes
- One 1-hour tutorial each week for 6 weeks
- One 2-hour practicum each week for 8 weeks
- One 3-hour practicum each week for 2 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 18 weeks
Module convener or Exam committee reserve the right to formulate a resit assessment that reflect the nature of failed component” . For instance, if student failed a written coursework component, then a resit coursework of the same length and type will be formulated. All resits will be taken at the end of year and according to University guidelines.
Assessment
- 30% Presentation: 20% in Autumn; 10% in Spring
- 30% Lab reports: Essay writing - 10% in Autumn; 20% in Spring
- 10% Portfolio: 5% in Autumn; 5% in Spring
- 10% Calculation test: In-class, in Autumn
- 20% Rogo: 1 hour, in-class, end of Spring
Assessed in both autumn & spring semest
Educational Aims
This module aims to develop students’ core intellectual, managerial, communicational skills in writing, presenting, analysing and summarising material/data, both individually and in groups. Students will be given several problems/assignments that will require them to critically analyse, solve and come up with solutions or alternative solutions. It is also essential to grasp the appropriate and necessary technology to achieve these aims. All the core skills taught in this module are transferable and applicable to other modules throughout programme, as well as their future lifelong career journey.Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of this module, you should be able to:
B. Intellectual skills
B1 Critically appraise, analyse and summarise information
B4 Cite and reference work appropriately
B5 Analyse and critically evaluate scientific data
C. Professional/practical skills
C1 Undertake effective information exchange with professionals in the pharmaceutical industry and academia
C3 Undertake numerical tasks and carry out quantitative analysis
D. Transferable/key skills
D1 Effective communication in a variety of forms, including written, verbal and visual
D2 Critically use information resources, including library and electronic sources
D3 Work effectively as an individual or as part of a team
Conveners
- Dr Mustafa Ahmed Mahdi Al-Shagga