As part of our continuing expansion of medical, pharmaceutical and healthcare sciences at Bangor University, the North Wales Medical School is seeking a suitably qualified and experienced applicant for this permanent role of Lecturer in Educational Psychometrics.
The successful candidate will provide psychometric support, advice and guidance to the School’s activities in student assessment and selection across a number of professional programmes. The candidate will also contribute to teaching across our new independent Medicine programme, the teach-out phase of the current Cardiff C21 North Wales Medicine programme, and our new MPharm Pharmacy programme.
The student intake across our programmes will be expanding over the next 5 years, and the successful candidate will have a unique and exciting opportunity to be involved in the development and quality assurance of the new North Wales Medical School. This post offers a stimulating environment with support to enable you to fulfil your professional ambitions.
The School’s overall mission is to champion and promote excellent medical and healthcare science, research scholarship, teaching and learning, language and cultural competence relevant to local, national and international priorities and an inclusive culture and environment for staff and students of the school.
Candidates should have obtained a higher degree (or equivalent) in a subject with a high statistical content e.g. Mathematics, Psychology, Computer Science and have knowledge of relevant statistical and psychometric approaches to assessment analysis.
The successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as possible to contribute to the teaching within the School and supporting the application of the field of Psychometrics, in addition to other areas of programme delivery.
The role holder will oversee the development of psychometric tools and analysis to assist in our standard setting approaches of assessments and secure academic standards.
The successful candidate will study for the University’s Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma/Masters in Medical Education qualification, and/or seek other professionally recognised teaching qualifications. This will be factored into the postholder’s job plan and appropriate support will be offered by the School.
This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.
Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time or job share basis.
Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.
Interested applicants are invited to contact the Dean of Medicine, Dr Nia Jones, n.e.jones@bangor.ac.uk
Committed To Equal Opportunities.
Overview
Founded in 1884, Bangor University has a long tradition of academic excellence and a strong focus on the student experience. Around 10,000 students currently study at the University, with teaching staff based within ten Academic Schools.
Bangor University’s research has been ranked highly in the Government’s most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), with 85% judged to be world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*). Bangor’s research in Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy is ranked 15th overall in the UK.
The University has been consistently successful in the National Student Survey results and is regularly amongst the UK’s top 10 Universities for student satisfaction (excluding specialist institutions).
The Project
The College of Medicine and Health has a track record of world-leading teaching and research excellence and high levels of student satisfaction. The College provides professional training across a wide range of medical and health professions, in addition to a range of core foundational research activities which underpin the College’s Schools’ contributions to medical and health research and research methods, translational biomedical sciences, psychology and neuroscience, preventive health, rehabilitation, clinical intervention, and human performance and applied physiology.
Boasting excellent teaching and research facilities at our campus sites and at our clinical partner centres in collaboration with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. This enables an integrated approach to developing research, training, medical and healthcare education that best serves the needs of North Wales.
The North Wales Medical School is the focus for medical, biomedical teaching and research at Bangor University. The school comprises of over 90 staff, delivering a career-spanning portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that continues to expand. These include existing programmes in Biomedical and Medical Sciences, Pharmacology, Physician’s Associate and the franchised Cardiff C21 North Wales medicine programme. From Autumn 2024 onwards, the University’s Welsh Government-backed North Wales Medical School commenced its new, independent Medicine programme, subject to GMC quality assurance monitoring, and a new Pharmacy MPharm programme is due to commence in 2025. The School’s research centres are organised with partner schools within the Bangor Institute for Medical and Health Research (BIHMR), spanning medicines optimisation, primary care, clinical trials, health economics, ageing and dementia, public health and cancer biology and pharmacology. The School’s overall mission is to champion and promote excellent interprofessional medical, health and social care, research, scholarship, teaching and learning, quality and values with people who use services, practitioners, and stakeholders; to promote language and cultural competence relevant to local, national and international partners, and to provide an inclusive culture and environment for staff and students within the School.
The programme benefits from state-of-the-art campus facilities for basic science, clinical simulation and skills training. Clinical exposure is gained across an extensive network of General Practices, primary, community and secondary care facilities across North Wales in close collaboration with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Students gain a rich experience across urban, rural, and remote healthcare settings that reflect the spectacular geography of the region. The new independent North Wales Medical School programme will closely follow the current Cardiff C21 North Wales Medicine programme with Cardiff University School of Medicine acting as the contingency partner required by the GMC. Medical student intake consists of a mix of direct entry students who join Year 1, whilst graduate entrants complete a ‘catchup’ summer school before joining Year 2. During Years 1 and 2, students build a solid foundation of medical science using a case based learning approach, along with clinical skills and simulation training and early patient contact sessions. This prepares students for Year 3, which consists of an innovative longitudinal integrated clerkship based in a General Practice, with students living within and contributing to a local community. Years 4 and 5 comprises clinical rotations in hospital and primary care, in preparation for initial employment as NHS employment as Foundation House Officers.
Purpose of the Job
This post is offered by the North Wales Medical School. The NWMS has administrative jurisdictions for all taught programmes of study emanating from the School of Medicine. The post is weighted towards providing teaching support for the 5-year BMBS programme but it is expected that the appointee will also contribute appropriate teaching to components of the other programmes within the NWMS and expanding feeder programmes for entry onto the graduate Entry Medical programme.
The purpose of the job will be:
To lead on the delivery and continuous development of effective, efficient means of selection assessment for the North Wales Medical School drawing on best practice from educational psychometrics.
Specifically, to provide evidence-based statistical and psychometric analysis, and expert support for the evaluation and quality assurance of assessment and assessment data.
To teach at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including supervision of projects and students.
To develop teaching materials or methodologies, for example course design or assessment and contribute to module coordination.
To provide pastoral and academic support to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
To undertake administrative duties as designated by the Head of School or Dean of Medicine.
The successful candidate will study for the University’s Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma/Masters in Medical Education qualification, and/or seek other professionally recognised teaching qualifications. This will be factored into the postholder’s job plan and appropriate support will be offered by the School.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Develop and deliver routine reports and post-test analyses after each assessment, including measures of item and test reliability, student performance, and analysis by demographic and other factors.
Work in close collaboration with the Dean, Programme Lead and Leads for Medical Education and assessment.
Liaise closely with staff at Cardiff University School of Medicine on all matters associated with assessment for the C21N Medicine programme during teach-out and as contingency partner.
Development and delivery of reports on assessment practice and performance on demand, particularly in response to requests from external bodies.
Modelling the effect of change including the development and running of simulations designed to look at the impact on student and test performance.
Recommending changes to practice at all levels of the programme through membership on relevant committees.
Designing and delivering materials for presenting information to students, including answering questions and responding to enquiries.
Contributing to staff development and teaching (undergraduate and postgraduate) by designing and delivering learning material where appropriate.
To participate in research and other scholarly activity with a medical education theme.
Plan, prepare and deliver lectures and tutorials, responding effectively to a variety of student backgrounds, learning styles and class sizes.
To carry out research that supports as a best evidence approach toward assessment. Undertake any other reasonable activities that provide an efficient service delivery.
Develop and deliver routine reports and post-test analyses on the Multiple Mini-Interview student selection process.
Provide pastoral care and academic support by acting as both an Academic Mentor and a Personal Tutor for the Medical Students.
Lead group case-based learning tutorials for Year 1 and Year 2 students.
Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate projects.
Contribute to the development of new programmes and module co-ordination.
Maintain and develop Scholarly activities in line with University and College strategies.
Publish evidence of scholarship related to learning and teaching in books, articles and/or papers in academic journals.
Additional requirement at Grade 8:
Provide course leadership to designated academic programmes, paying particular attention to marketing and recruitment, programming, and quality assurance.
Lead the development of new academic programmes that address strategic opportunities.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures, and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.
Person Specification
For appointment at grade 7 applicants will possess the following:
Qualifications/Training
Essential
A higher degree (or equivalent) in a subject with a high statistical content e.g. Mathematics, Psychology, Computer Science.
Desirable
Graduate level skills in psychometrics or relevant discipline.
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
Knowledge of relevant statistical and psychometric approaches to assessment analysis.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint.
Advanced working knowledge of statistical software such as SPSS® or equivalent.
Effective teaching capability in a relevant subject area.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
Excellent communication and IT skills, to include the ability to present complex and conceptual statistical and psychometric analysis clearly and confidently to others, using high level skills and a range of media.
Ability to undertake appropriate administrative tasks associated with supporting the programmes of study.
Evidence of positively contributing when working as an individual and within a team working environment.
Desirable
Knowledge of health sciences assessment methods.
Knowledge of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) and/or the R programming language.
The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role. If applicants are not able to speak/write in Welsh, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.
For appointment at grade 8 candidates will possess the essential qualifications, skills and experience above and the following:
Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCertHE) or be close to the completion OR Recognised by the HEA as a Fellow / Recognised by Advance HE as a Fellow against Descriptor 2 of the UKPSF (Essential for Grade 8 Appointment).
Experience of module development and delivery in higher education.
Experience of supervising undergraduate and postgraduate projects.
Evidence of scholarship relating to learning and teaching through publication of books, articles and/or papers in academic journals.
Evidence of conference and/or seminar presentations on pedagogy.
General
The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.
We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.
We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We have recently been awarded a Race Equality Charter Bronze award. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.
All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.
We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us. When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful. If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa. The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas. If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.
Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.