The aims of this project are to promote stronger links between universities and employers and to develop the transferable skills of physics students in order to match graduates’ skills with employers’ needs.

The objective is for nine universities toroll-out the scheme, which has been running successfully at Durham for 20 years. 

Engagement with 9 universities- 350 students

The School of Physics Astronomy and Mathematics (PAM) of the University of Hertfordshire offers the option of undertaking a group industrial project to the students in their third year of the BSc in Physics. Students are provided with a number of topics proposed by various members of staff and students are able to propose their own topics.

The project is requires the same amount work expected for a regular module, i.e. approximately 300 hours (worth 30 credits). During the course of the project the students have to prepare an initial plan where they describe the aims of the project and an initial outline making clear what it is they intend to do and how to achieve it.

Towards the end of the semester, the students present their progress in a poster session, where they have the opportunity to interact with their fellow students and assess how their project is going. Finally, the students prepare a report.  During the next semester, students submit a sample chapter and contents page which enables them to receive feedback and make any appropriate changes before submitting their final report of approximately 80 pages.

Closer links forged between universities and employers with students gaining an insight into work practices and a model that can be adapted by any STEM department.  Opportunities for the adopting Universities to work together sharing ideas and best practice.

The IOP is now working in partnership with fifteen physics departments (Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Hertfordshire, Hull, Lancaster, Liverpool, Leicester, Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, Surrey, UCL and York) to develop and establish undergraduate group projects with local industries and organisations.  The group is coordinated by Dr Jennifer King of Durham University: jennifer.king@durham.ac.uk.