Swansea University and the University of Glamorgan joined forces to present Welsh Cardiac Physiologists and Cardiology departments with awards for excellent development and support standards for students in practice, for the first time last Friday evening.
The two universities are the sole providers of Cardiac Physiology degree schemes in Wales and have many accredited Work-Based Assessors (WBA) in Hospitals across the principality.
The two awards up for grabs at the meeting in Swansea were WBA of the year, and Best Learning Environment – and Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil clinched both victories!
Emma Rees, Cardiology Course Leader at Swansea University organised the awards along with Peter Lewis a Senior Cardiology Lecturer at the University of Glamorgan. Emma said:
“It was important to recognise the essential contribution of quality work-based learning to the undergraduate Cardiac Physiology degree programmes that we offer in Wales.
“We asked students from both universities to think hard before nominating a WBA who had gone the extra mile to support them in their development in 2008.,
“Whilst many were nominated, the winner of the WBA of the year award by a significant majority was Lynda Jones from Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.”
Lynda was presented with a certificate and £100 to spend on educational products to support student or personal learning.
The Cardio-Respiratory Unit at Prince Charles Hospital was recognised as Best Learning Environment 2008 for the proactive approach to WBA development, consistently achieving excellent student feedback, and having several WBAs nominated as having 'gone the extra mile'.
Sandra Davies collected the award on behalf of the unit, and was presented with a certificate and a copy of the prestigious Braunwald's Heart Disease textbook. Both Lynda and Sandra were surprised and delighted with the awards.
Emma commented on the Hospital’s success and achievements:
“The department has worked hard over the last year to develop a strong team of WBAs and an exemplary learning environment, and we hope the recognition of their achievements inspires them and others to continue with this excellent work; Swansea University,the University of Glamorgan, and our students are grateful for their continued support.
“We hope to continue celebrating the achievements and successes of work-based learning with these awards year on year.”