Minister discovers cutting-edge courses

Cutting edge courses equipping Dundee students with skills to meet the needs of industry were the focus of a visit to the University from the Right Honourable Charles Clarke. During his trip the Minister for education officially opened the new anatomy teaching labs in the School of Life Sciences and met with staff and students involved with the Interactive Media Design course at DJCAD.

Mr Clarke also viewed the re-furbished dissection labs and spoke with students who are using these new facilties, accompanied by Head of Anatomy and Forensic Anthroplogy Professor Sue Black and local MP Ernie Ross. Together with core funding from SHEFC, the University has invested around £500,000 in anatomy facilities in the past year - making Dundee the only UK Higher Education Institution to have invested in this area in the last 20 years. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of anatomy has approved the new facilities and commended them as 'among the best in the UK.'

Interactive Media Design was also on the itinerary forthe ministerial visit. Mr Clarke met with Head of Applied Computing Ian Ricketts, who is involved in the computing elements of the course, and spoke to course leader Morna Simpson. Morna explained how IMD draws on art-based design, computer and engineering skills to bring useable products to the marketplace, and encourages interdisciplinarity as a key tool to increase graduates' employability. Students from IMD presented their work to Mr Clarke, and spoke about their industrial placements, a key part of the course.