Loughborough University: Loughborough University degree programmes receive Society for Natural Sciences accreditation
The Natural Sciences BSc and MSCi degree courses have received the accreditation from SNS – a professional body for scientists, educators and students working across the discipline boundaries of science.
The programmes have achieved the standards set out in the Society’s accreditation framework and are recognised by SNS as “offering outstanding quality interdisciplinary science education, providing students with excellent learning opportunities and skills development to prepare them for future careers in research, education, business or industry”.
Reader in Biomaterials and Interface Science Dr Paul Roach, who established the natural sciences programmes at Loughborough and led the accreditation, says the news “not only demonstrates Loughborough’s academic standing across the UK but also highlights the benefits of interdisciplinary learning and research”.
He said: “Working across and between the disciplines is becoming more and more important to tackle global challenges. I am very proud that our Natural Sciences students enjoy learning about these research efforts as they progress through their course, cementing skills in their final year projects and contributing to the excellent research conducted at Loughborough.
“It feels wonderful to be accredited at this time; a lot of work has been put in to establish and develop the Natural Sciences course at Loughborough so I’m proud to have the accreditation status.”
Dean of Loughborough’s School of Science, Professor Claudia Eberlein, said of the accreditation: “I am very pleased that our Natural Sciences programmes have received their accreditation and with such strong positive feedback.
“The programme team, led by Dr Paul Roach, have worked extremely hard to put together the very best educational offering for their students, guided by state-of-the-art research done in the School of Science and inline with the excellent student experience that Loughborough University is famous for.”
Professor Nicky King, Chair of the Society for Natural Sciences, says the first of its kind interdisciplinary accreditation scheme is already improving the way interdisciplinary science is taught in the UK.
She said: “We’re delighted for all those successful institutions and hope this is just the start of a rewarding partnership with them, and others who apply in the future, to continue to raise both standards and opportunities for studying interdisciplinary science in the UK.”