After this course in Academic skills:
- you have a plan for the next step in your education or career and you can motivate how this matches your personal development
- you have a broader insight in the career opportunities of people with a scientific education
- you can analyse and steer your skills and options at a level that matches your personality
- you have proven experience with communication of practical and research results, according to the rules of scientific integrity
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The concept of Academic skills may be a little vague, but most people with a university education will be able to name a few elements that are a part of being ‘an academic’. It entails both real skills such as being able to communicate, but also the ability to critically reflect on scientific issues.
Academic skills
The course ‘Academic skills’ is a mandatory part of all Bachelor's programmes in the Faculty of Science. It begins with the start of the programme in the first year and is completed at the end of the programme in the third year. In the meantime students fulfill assignments and follow a number of lectures (e.g. on scientific integrity).
Examples of assignments are: writing a motivation statement, reflecting on a past year and planning the next, exploring the professional field of a molecular scientist.
Exploring career options
This exploration of the professional field is done throughout the Bachelors programme with two activities:
- At the end of the first year, students look up and invite people from different professions to present their work during the final symposium.
- During the second and third year students follow a series of at least 12 seminars. The educational institute organizes the “MW-Colloquium” (see elsewhere in this prospectus), but also study associatons, the BBB and the Faculty regularly invite speakers from other institutes or outside academia.
These seminars not only serve to see possible career options, but also train the students in following seminars and in scientific discussion.
Mentor
Each student is assigned to a mentor who is member of the academic staff. Students can talk with their mentor as often as they wish, but at the end of every year a meeting must take place. The final assignment is the drawing up of a ‘master plan’ that is the subject of a final meeting with the mentor.
Study and communication skills
Starting the academic year 2016-2017 we will pay attention to study and communication skills right at the beginning of the year. The chemistry tutors will be involved in the first two quarters with respect to study skills as well. Communication through oral and written presentations is part of the lab courses.
Instructional Modes
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Two partial tests need to be passed:
- The programme test in week 4
- A set of assignments throughout the rest of the year
Programme test:
Four weeks after the start of the programme there will be a short mandatory digital progression test on topics from first quarter courses (Math, Structure of Atoms and Molecules, Biochemistry, Chemical Analysis).
If you do not pass the digital test you take an oral resit with a lecturer.
If the oral resit is not successful either you will be referred to the student advisor who will look with you at your study method and make a study plan with you or bring you in contact with a tutor.
Via one of these consecutive options you can earn a pass for the programme test. |
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The course Academic Skills (NWI-MOL086) runs throughout the whole Bachelors programme. During the entire course you work on assignments and a portfolio in Brightspace course NWI-MOL086A as well as in other regular courses such as the lab courses.
Academic Skills is graded at the end of the first year and at the end of the Bachelors programme after fulfilling all assignments.
The course Academic Skills first year (NWI-MOL0861) is mandatory and will be marked V if you fulfilled all first year assignments. At the end of the bachelors programme the whole course Academic Skills (NWI-MOL086) is awarded 3 ec. |
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