29 June 2005

University of Dundee and Dundee College Collaborative Success

The success of an annual work placement scheme between the University of Dundee and Dundee College has seen a number of College students gain direct entry onto the University's science degrees courses, giving testimony to the successful collaboration between the two institutions.

Twelve students from the Dundee College HNC and HND Biotechnology courses and one from the College's Access course have successfully completed a 12 week work placement in a number of the laboratories in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee, including the Scottish Crop Research Institute, the Wellcome Trust Biocentre and Forensic Anthropology laboratories and in the Life Sciences Teaching Unit.

The work placements are an important part of the HNC/HND courses at which time the students spend a minimum of two half days each week for 12 weeks in their allotted laboratory carrying out a specific project or providing general laboratory assistance.

Whilst in Forensic Anthropology laboratory, Access student, Miss Kim Hunter, undertook the disarticulation of a number of skeletons and then subsequently collated the remains in order to facilitate the teaching of osteology within the Unit. This exposure to human remains allowed Kim to further her knowledge and understanding of the human body and specifically the skeleton.

Working in the laboratory of Professor Grahame Hardie, Miss Hajara Labaran, was involved in developing a novel, affinity purification procedure for AMPK (a key target in developing a treatment for type II diabetes). Production of large amounts of pure AMPK is an important prerequisite for successful drug development and methods currently involved are only partially successful and very labour intensive.

David Gourley, course coordinator at Dundee College said: "This hands-on practical experience is invaluable to the students for their training. We’re very pleased with what the students have achieved, and eight of the twelve will be going on to study at the University of Dundee from September."

Professor Peter Downes, Head of the School of Life Sciences said "The partnership with Dundee College has been a great success for both institutions. College students experience the technology and excitement of world class research labs and their enthusiasm translates into academic success. It’s a win-win situation because many of the students enrol on undergraduate courses at the University."

By Roddy Isles, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, r.isles@dundee.ac.uk