Academic Programme
Presentations on the use of AI in education and employment with Q&A session
AI: Friend or Foe
Presentations on the use of AI in education and employment with Q&A session
1pm – 2.30pm BST, 23 September 2025 ‐ 1 hour 30 mins
AI: Friend or Foe
Positive use of AI in HE - Prof. David Smith
AI in practice: What do employers expect and need
Speakers
Best practice for preparing students for placement and how to achieve consistency: Placement Bootcamp
Placement Preparation Swap Shop
Best practice for preparing students for placement and how to achieve consistency: Placement Bootcamp
2.30pm – 3.30pm BST, 23 September 2025 ‐ 1 hour
Placement Preparation Swap Shop
The West of England Pathology Network hosted its first face-to-face Placement Bootcamp in September 2024, in collaboration with NHS Blood and Transplant. The Bootcamp was open to all students undertaking a placement within the region, from the University of the West of England and the University of Gloucestershire. It was designed to provide students with a firm introduction to key areas such as Health and Safety, how to complete the IBMS Registration Portfolio, quality management, and an overview of all pathology disciplines.
The two-day programme included four practical sessions and eleven presentations delivered by a range of Training Leads, university lecturers, and former placement students.
The Bootcamp featured hands-on training with laboratory equipment and best practices, aiming to give students a head start in their respective departments, reduce the time needed for individual Training Officers to cover the same core topics, and encourage the development of a student support network across the region.
Seventeen students attended the Bootcamp, all of whom have now successfully completed their Registration Portfolios. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with students valuing how the Bootcamp helped them understand how their learning applies to Biomedical Science roles in the workplace.
Speakers
Rebecca Woodward
Pathology Network Education Trainer, Histopathology Training Officer, West of England Pathology Network, North Bristol NHS Trust
Student experience, expectations and employability: How do we support students to succeed?
Placement Preparation Swap Shop
Student experience, expectations and employability: How do we support students to succeed?
4pm – 5pm BST, 23 September 2025 ‐ 1 hour
Placement Preparation Swap Shop
Speakers
Dr Lowri Mainwaring
Associate Dean Policy and Culture, Cardiff Metropolitan University
