The University is the first to be awarded accreditation from the country’s leading professional association for biology, the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), for its outstanding Master’s degree programmes.
Dr Mark Shepherd, lecturer in Microbial Biochemistry in the University’s School of Biosciences accompanied by Dr Jill Shepherd, honorary lecturer in Biosciences and top Master’s student, Abeo McCollin, collected the award at a ceremony at the Pavilion Terrace at the Houses of Parliament in London in April 2017.
The RSB accreditation scheme promotes excellence in the biosciences and identifies courses of particular quality that provide the knowledge and skills required by employers in the life sciences sector. The Kent Master’s courses accredited were in Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Cancer Biology, Drug Design, Infectious Diseases and Reproductive Medicine: Science and Ethics.
The RSB awarding panel scrutinised the courses, met with staff and students and inspected the teaching and research facilities. The panel noted several areas of good practice, including the interactive style of teaching, the development of research skills, the academic advice and pastoral care available and the ability of students to use cutting-edge research equipment as part of their course.
Kent’s undergraduate provision in Biosciences has already been awarded RSB accreditation and the University now becomes the only UK institution with all its BSc and MSc taught programmes accredited by the professional association.