Evaluation of the current and future provision of undergraduate research projects in UK Schools of Pharmacy
Written by: David Mottram, Phil Rowe, Jennie Day • December 1 2007• Volume 7 - Issue 4•Abstract
Evidence suggests that there have been significant differences in the way that undergraduate research projects have been operated and assessed in UK Schools of Pharmacy (SoPs). The present study was designed to explore: current thinking within UK SoPs regarding the provision of undergraduate research project modules; whether undergraduate projects are meeting the educational requirements of all students and providing the appropriate knowledge and skills for the profession of pharmacy; the issues that impact on running undergraduate projects and whether they should still form an integral part of the MPharm curriculum. Views of project coordinators and other staff were sought by face-to-face and telephone interviews using a semistructured interview guide. Interviews were tape recorded and transcripts analysed using constant comparison and thematic analysis. Considerable differences were found in the operation of projects and a number of constraints identified. However, there seemed to be general agreement that a research project should continue to be an integral part of the UK MPharm degree programme. Projects were not perceived as a means of generating publishable research.
