UK universities furthering the success of future healthcare practitioners

09 Apr 2019

Humanity has reached a turning point in the global healthcare sector.

Through its Future of Healthcare report, The Economist explains that, “Healthcare is about to enter a period of rapid change. Longevity and the advance of new technologies and discoveries – as well as innovative combinations of existing ones – are among the many factors propelling patient empowerment, which is fundamentally changing how we prevent, diagnose and cure diseases.”

At the forefront of continuous advances, today’s healthcare students and graduates can make a huge impact on our interconnected ecosystem.

By fearlessly exploring the implications of IoT in healthcare, future health professionals appreciate the improvements in patient care and the rapid speed of treatment.

“The ability to put cheap sensors into any object, and connect them to the internet, offers a host of benefits, particularly in healthcare. Patients save time by being monitored remotely. Those with mobility issues will also benefit, as will the hospitals and clinics, which will face lesser burdens on capacity. Doctors will also receive continuous patient data, giving them a more detailed picture of their patient’s health,” the report concludes.

Through its alliance with the healthcare sector, innovation is turning heads.

With 3D printing technologies, high-powered and machine-learning-driven infrared microscopes, assistive robotics and even the promise of prescription vegetables, the potential to change the way healthcare professionals deliver and monitor services is high.

To prepare students for the transition from traditional to technological, universities in the UK are widening the real-world relevance of their healthcare education and ensuring it’s inclusive of current and future trends.

So, innovation isn’t just about disrupting the inner workings of healthcare, it’s also about disrupting methods of higher education. To keep up, Master’s programmes in health science are now integrating creative teaching styles and increasing student awareness of tech, certifying their future success.

“In the longer term, we can expect a radical reimagining of how healthcare is itself delivered. New technological capabilities point to a future where healthcare provision is proactive and continuous, rather than reactive,” The Economist notes.

To be ready for this radical reimagination and revolutionary healthcare methods, today’s healthcare professionals must be ready to master the necessary skills and welcome tech trends with open arms.

Here are five universities that promote industry-led health science programmes…

SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES, ROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITY – SCOTLAND

Ranked the top university in the UK for student satisfaction in the ‘Subjects Allied to Medicine’ rankings by The Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019, Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen offers unrivalled healthcare education.

Proactively responding to radical change within healthcare, the School of Health Sciences has developed a number of innovative courses to meet industry demand, including the MSc Exercise, Health and Wellness Coaching (EHWC), Doctorate of Physiotherapy (DPT), MSc Strategic Service Planning and Delivery (SSPD), MSc Public Health and Health Promotion (PHHP), as well as a number of online learning courses to fit around your needs.

As a student, you will gain real-life practical experience and opportunities, ensuring you graduate with the necessary skills that are highly sought now and in the future.

Associated with leading organisations and professional bodies such as the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) and the British Dietetic Association (BDA), the school has gained accreditations from various regulators such as the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in the USA and The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in the UK.

Robert Gordon University

Whether you have recently graduated, or are looking to enhance your skills or retrain, RGU has a wide range of Master’s programmes with flexible study modes including online, part-time or full-time. Integrating theory with practice from an early stage is fundamental and with access to volunteer patients, a wide range of equipment, purpose-built facilities including a human performance lab, functional capacity lab, and more, you’ll be ready to meet the demand for clinical effectiveness and smart practice.

Inspired by research projects and staff members who have been awarded research fellowships for their PhD, you’ll harness your innovations and progress within an academic hub of healthcare in Aberdeen.

FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES & MEDICINE, KING’S COLLEGE LONDON – UK

A ruling academic authority of life sciences and medicine, King’s College London (KCL) in the UK unveiled plans for its new Medical Imaging & Artificial Intelligence Centre for Value-Based Healthcare last year.

With aims to train sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms from NHS medical images and patient data, to provide tools for clinicians to speed up and improve diagnosis and care across several patient pathways including dementia, heart failure and cancer, this centre will be a marvellous addition to the KCL medical community.

As Greg Clark, UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) confirmed, “AI has the potential to revolutionise healthcare and improve lives for the better. That’s why our modern Industrial Strategy puts pioneering technologies at the heart of our plans to build a Britain fit for the future.”

So, if you’re searching for a modern Master’s programme in the growing fields of healthcare, King’s College London could be the ideal option.

FACULTY OF BIOLOGY, MEDICINE & HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER – UK

At the University of Manchester Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, there’s always an important update on new discoveries made by academics to be shared, awards that have been won by students or insightful events that are up-and-coming on-campus.

Providing postgraduate research degrees across a range of biological, medical and health science disciplines, the faculty continuously emphasises the importance of leadership and teamwork and the diversity of students and staff.

Open to learners who are passionate about learning new revelations in the healthcare division, gender equality is supported through their Women in Biology, Medicine and Health hub.

Giving us a glimpse into postgraduate life at Manchester, MSc Health Psychology graduate Faye Johnson expresses her opinion, “My advice to prospective students would be to think carefully about your reasons for doing a master’s and not to lose sight of those reasons when the pressure increases a bit. The courses at this faculty offer a lot to enjoy and a lot of opportunities if you want them!”

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, PHYSIOTHERAPY AND SPORTS SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN – IRELAND

The University College Dublin encourages students to think bigger, go further and learn more.

Delivering a strong and meaningful impact through excellent research and innovation tactics, you could intertwine your postgraduate studies with themes of agri-food, culture, economy and society, energy, environment, health and ICT.

The School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science is multi-disciplinary, offering dynamic programmes in Dietetics, Food Safety, Occupational Safety and Health, Physiotherapy, Public Health and Sports Sciences.

This year, the UCD Physio Hub was awarded for its outstanding contribution to student learning and the way it challenges students to develop solutions with formal evaluation, indicating high levels of student engagement and positive student experience.

Marrying tradition with ambition, the school’s philosophy is to foster excellence in all its disciplines. Whether it’s public health, physiotherapy, sport sciences, dietetics or occupational safety and health that interests you, opportunity awaits at UCD.

COLLEGE OF HUMAN AND HEALTH SCIENCES, SWANSEA UNIVERSITY – WALES

For international postgraduate students seeking academic revival in health, nursing, midwifery, social care and psychology disciplines, the College of Human and Health Sciences at Swansea University is a great place to start.

Complete with outstanding clinical suites and laboratories, students become the next generation of health and social care professionals and graduates are equipped for the workplace with superb career prospects.

Postgraduate courses at this college are accredited, approved or have support from established external organisations, including the Royal College of Nursing, British Association of Therapeutic Playwork (BATP), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and Health Professions Council (HPC).

Through the virtual tour, you’ll witness the splendour of facilities and view the Audiology Soundproof Booth, the Clinical Practice Suite, the midwifery practice room, the osteopathic lecture and practical suite, the paramedic sciences education facilities and more.

So, start your academic expedition at Swansea and evolve as a confident, diligent and driven healthcare professional.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International