Established in 2016, our group is a collaboration between the University of Birmingham and Health Education England (HEE), including the National School for Healthcare Sciences and the HEE Genomics Education Programme.
Our aim is to create new knowledge and insights into the education and training of healthcare scientists, to ensure that newly qualified scientists have the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to provide the scientific services and expertise that enable the highest standards of patient care. To achieve this, we work with healthcare scientists and policy makers at all levels, undertaking quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research as appropriate and formulating recommendations for educational enhancement.
Our current focus is research related to the Scientist Training Programme (STP). Introduced in 2011, the STP is a Masters level course that educates over 300 trainees annually across 30 different healthcare science specialties.
In September 2018, our work will extend to include aspects of the HEE Genomics Education Programme, which aims to ensure that National Health Service staff have the knowledge, skills and experience to ensure that the NHS remains a world leader in genomic and precision medicine.