Dear all,
One of the issues we need to discuss on feedback day is "marketing". To start the ball rolling please find below a suggestion that has been bouncing around since last September. Which of these make sense? Which would be most effective? Anything missing from the list? etc
I will bring this as part of the faculty presentation, but I thought it would be good for people to see in advance to think about.
Best wishes,
Lloyd
Suggestion for school outreach by the Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine.
Over the past few years it has been clear that there needs to be more contact between providers of biochemical education in Oulu with high-schools, especially those which may act as feeders into our degree programmes.
To date this has been a series of relatively uncoordinated actions, the same people have often been involved in the process (often in addition to their expected duties), but there has been no coherent coordinated policy of the different aspects.
It is proposed that there should be more coordination of these important duties in future, with a single person playing a coordinating role for the following:
. School visits by staff and current students . Possible summer schools for high school students and teachers . Practical biotech course provision . Interaction with LUMA . University Science Day . ABI days. . Groups from high schools visiting the department
Notes. School visits by staff - These have become more infrequent. It is suggested that with appropriate coordination it would not be unreasonable to ask each senior member of staff to do one school visit a year, should there be demand.
School visits by current students - A small budget (2000 euro/year, but has never been completely used) has been made available to fund this in previous years and we hope that this will be included in the budget of the new faculty. Tuomo Glumoff will coordinate this activity this year.
Summer schools for high school teachers - More than a decade ago a week-long summer practical workshop used to be held regularly. It is suggested that this be reintroduced.
Summer schools for high school students - This idea was recently discussed by OKTR and Histoni and both supported the concept of a practical workshop for one month each summer run by two paid MSc students. This would cost circa 5000 euro/year. Due to uncertainty about the date of the physical merger next summer, it was suggested that this be deferred to summer 2015. This would also allow more time for market evaluation.
Practical biotech course provision - This is a 1.5 day practical laboratory course for high school students taking part in an optional biotechnology course in their own school. It is run for 10-15 students by Mirva Saaranen and Kati Korhonen or Juha Kerätär
Interaction with LUMA - The Oulu branch of LUMA (http://www.luma.fi/) has been in contact with the department towards providing material for use in high schools on a couple of occasions. This year Tuomo Glumoff will coordinate the possible use of the popularized BSc thesis on the LUMA website, but it would be useful to be more actively involved in with LUMA. Coordination with LUMA has added benefits with respect to coordinating our actions towards local schools.
University Science Day - We should actively participate in these if/when they run again in the future. Our participation this year was successful and attracted the attention of LUMA.
ABI days - These are currently coordinated by Jari Heikkinen and Mirva Saaranen.
Groups from high schools visiting the department - includes presentation about biochemistry studies and research at the department & a tour. Currently primarily organized by Mirva Saaranen.