SWANSEA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL Continuing Excellence

SWANSEA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL

Continuing Excellence: Strategy for Growth

2018 - 2021

www.swansea.ac.uk/medicine FOREWORD

Swansea University Medical School has and interdisciplinary research and to link come a long way in a short time since its those benefits to the economy through a beginnings as a Clinical School in 2001 philosophy of Open Innovation. and now consistently appears in the top 10 rankings of medical schools in the UK. This mix of strengths means we are already These rankings reflect research quality and a unique institution ideally placed to prepare intensity, teaching excellence, graduate and support students to undertake future employability, graduate prospects and careers across the fields of science, student satisfaction. health, social care and enterprise and to turn research into patient focused improvements. As a medical school we have a strong record We are proud that graduate employability in each and we constantly strive to innovate, for our life scientists is amongst the best in expand and deliver world-class education. the UK. Recent performances in the Research Evaluation Framework (REF2014), where we We must now build on these strengths. came 1st in the UK for research environment This strategy sets the direction and objectives and 2nd for overall research, coupled with for doing that, recognising both a history our Top-3 position in the Complete University of performance that belies a school of its Guide 2018, behind only Oxford and current size and our continued appetite for Cambridge, are testament to this. growth and improvement.

Few medical schools offer courses that also contain Intellectual Property generation, knowledge transfer, innovation and diffusion and how to embed them in practice. This has been achieved through the development of the Institute of Life Science (ILS). The Medical School’s Professor Keith Lloyd, research and innovation arm, the ILS aims Dean and Head to advance medical science through multi- Swansea University Medical School 3 A LONG WAY IN A SHORT TIME: History in the making

1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s

Swansea University is one of Genetics and Biochemistry EPSRC sites its UK National Mass Swansea University founds a Swansea University Medical the first UK institutions to offer departments develop at Spectrometry Service Centre at Postgraduate Medical School School’s journey begins Genetics degrees Swansea University Swansea University

2009: Local NHS trusts combine 2008: The 2007: The Medical 2004: The Clinical and are granted University Medical School 2007: The Swansea- School opens the 2006: IBM’s Blue C School develops into a 2001: Swansea Hospital status to become enjoys remarkable Gambia Link is established in doors to ILS1, its first Supercomputer is given Medical School, offering a University Abertawe Bro Morgannwg results as part of partnership with the School bespoke research a permanent home at collaborative Medical degree establishes a University (ABMU) Health Board the RAE 2008 of Medicine in the Gambia facility Swansea University with Cardiff University Clinical School

2009: The Medical 2010: BEACON project begins, a 2011: The Medical School 2012: The Joint Clinical 2013: The EPSRC School launches its collaboration between Aberystwyth, Bangor opens the doors to ILS2 as well Research Facility 2012: MRC upgrades to a 2013: ESRC independent Graduate and Swansea Universities, dedicated to as the Centre for NanoHealth, a (JCRF) is launched in Health eResearch National Mass Administrative Entry Medicine (GEM) harnessing the power of plants in medicine, collaboration with the College collaboration with Centre CIPHER Spectrometry data centre programme science and manufacturing of Engineering the NHS established Facility CADRE created

2015: The Data 2015: The Medical School 2015: ARCH 2014: 1st in the UK for 2014: The GMC gives Science Building opens is Swansea University’s first is launched in Research Environment and Swansea University the right its doors to harness Big department to earn the Athena collaboration with 2014: 2nd for Overall Research 2014: MRC to award Primary Medical 2013: Farr Data for the benefit of SWAN Silver Award for commitment ABMU and Hywel Dda COLLABORATE in the Research Excellence bioinformatics Qualifications independent of Institute human health to gender equality in science Health Boards is launched Framework (REF2014) centre established any other institution established

2016: The Medical School launches 2017: Medical School BSc Applied Medical Sciences and 2016: British Heart 2016: Celtic Advanced 2016: The PG Dip Physician Associate Studies Foundation Research Life Science Innovation Medical School ranked 3rd in the UK by 2017: Physicians Associate to meet tomorrow’s life science and Centre chooses Swansea Network (CALIN) breaks into the Top the Complete University Studies programme expanded healthcare challenges at its base established 10 in the UK Guide for 2018 to meet growing demand

4 5 STRATEGIC AMBITION

Our ambitions are global, national and regional and progress towards our vision will be guided by the need to establish Swansea University Medical School as:

• A medical school with global reach and impact: We have much to offer and feel it is important that more people benefit from what we do - whether that is through creating opportunities for more students to study, by increasing the reach of the real-life impacts of research, building stronger international strategic partnerships or supporting more companies develop through open innovation.

• A medical school for all of Wales and for the UK, at the forefront of designing and securing the medical and life science workforce of the future: We will continue to make a unique contribution to the challenges facing healthcare by supporting health partners to identify, understand and meet their workforce needs and by enabling service change through research and innovation driven improvements in VISION MISSION treatment and practice. • A medical school that drives economic By 2020, Swansea University Medical Our mission is to educate and train development and well-being though investment School will be consistently rated as tomorrow’s doctors, life scientists and collaboration in world leading science, innovation and enterprise: We will make the a top 5 medical school in the UK and researchers in an approach to most of an exciting period of investment in and have an international reputation translational medicine that spans south-west Wales, led by the Swansea Bay for excellent research, teaching basic science, health and social City Region Deal and drawing on ARCH, a and innovation that delivers real care and the knowledge economy. Regional Collaboration for Health, by using our expertise to create new jobs, products and improvements in health, well-being services and support business growth which and the economy. We do this through our activities in will deliver both economic growth and positive research, learning and teaching, benefits to patients. enterprise and innovation in The Medical School’s ambitions will be delivered collaboration with our internal and through its three core activities of Research, external partners, including the NHS. Learning and Teaching and Enterprise and Innovation.

6 7 OBJECTIVE 1: TO INCREASE THE • Take action now to plan for changes to the RESEARCH IMPACT OF OUR RESEARCH AND THE current composition of research funding in NUMBER AND RANGE OF PEOPLE, the UK arising from the UK’s decision to ORGANISATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS leave the European Union. With a REF 2014 ranking of 1st in the UK The Medical School’s UK research council WHO BENEFIT FROM THAT RESEARCH. for research environment and 2nd for overall funded centres are the UK Centre for Health We will measure our performance in this area research, the Medical School has an established Informatics, the Farr Institute, the Engineering In delivering this objective we will: by securing a 50% increase in total research reputation for excellent research led by world- and Physical Sciences Research Council UK income and a 60% increase in Postgraduate class researchers that results in real-life health National Mass Spectroscopy Facility and the • Build on the arrival of the British Heart Research students by 2020/21 and through and well-being improvements for patients and Economic and Social Research Council funded Foundation in 2017 by exploring other an analysis of the breakdown of research the wider public. Administrative Data Records Centre. Other opportunities for developing and hosting income by funding type. centres include BEACON, CALIN and the British UK centres for research. This success has been underpinned by the Heart Foundation. School’s unrivalled research facilities. Housed • Recognise the importance of academic OBJECTIVE 3: TO MAINTAIN A TOP- across three state-of-the-art buildings, our Over the next four years, we will continue to freedom in determining future research 5 POSITION IN THE NEXT RESEARCH modern research laboratories equipped with invest in established areas of excellence and whilst also acknowledging the importance EXCELLENCE FRAMEWORK. the latest instrumentation have enabled delivery promote our expertise on the international stage of high value research outcomes. of research and innovation across the four with the aim of winning an increasingly larger In delivering this objective we will: major research themes of the Medical School: share of prestigious research funding with which • Put in place ways of monitoring progress Biomarkers & Genes, Devices, Microbes & to further grow our research impact. and targeting support for individual • Put in place an on-going performance and Immunity and Patient & Population Health and researchers in their pursuit of innovative improvement process through which Informatics. Over the last 10 years, research We will work to attract and retain world leading and original research. progress of research projects can be undertaken has reduced unnecessary hospital academic staff at the forefront of their discipline assessed at key points, as part of a admissions, led to the development of national and develop the next generation of international We will measure our performance in this area culture of continuous improvement. standards for the quality of patient records, quality researchers by establishing the Medical by the improvement in overall impact score in informed national policy for care of patients School as the place of choice for those in the the next Research Excellence Framework (REF) • Provide dedicated technical, professional with prevalent diseases, been incorporated into early stages of their career. and by quantifying the organisations which and administrative support to researchers regulatory guidelines for drug use and resulted benefit from research undertaken over the through the Life Science Research Hub, in globally registered intellectual property. This work will be guided by the following same period. to release academic time for research. objectives: • Use increases in research and other School OBJECTIVE 2: TO GROW RESEARCH income to reinvest in expertise and INCOME YEAR-ON-YEAR AND resources that further promote research INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF FUNDING excellence. SOURCES IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE MEDICAL SCHOOL’S RESEARCH The key measure of performance in this area AMBITIONS. will be the overall position of the Medical School in the REF 2021 ranking for Unit of In delivering this objective we will: Assessment 3A.

• Identify and support areas of emerging research strength, and and further support those in which there is a good track record of delivery so that all existing sources of funding are being pursued.

• Work with regional and national partners, including the NHS to identify new research opportunities, including through the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Region Deal.

8 9 OBJECTIVE 2: TO EQUIP GRADUATES • Increase the number of high-quality medical LEARNING AND TEACHING WITH THE ATTRIBUTES AND ABILITIES graduates available to the NHS though TO UNDERTAKE CONTINUED STUDY, expansion of the Graduate Entry In addition to our founding Graduate Entry Medicine degree, the Medical School is home to HIGHLY SKILLED EMPLOYMENT OR Medicine and Physician Associate Studies a range of undergraduate programmes in Medical Sciences, Biochemistry and Genetics, and GAIN ACCESS TO THE PROFESSIONS. programmes. postgraduate programmes across a range of topics. These are delivered in the best Research THIS WILL INCLUDE HEALTHCARE AND Environment in the UK. We pride ourselves on balancing excellence in research with excellent LIFE SCIENCES IN WALES AND BEYOND. • Double the number of undergraduate learning opportunities to give students a unique and well-rounded experience and the right students studying at the Medical School over support to help them realise their aspirations. In delivering this objective we will: the next four years – matching the pace of overall growth in the last five years. Our aim is to continue to deliver an outstanding • Use widening access initiatives to increase student experience, with research-led and practice- numbers of students from under-represented • Develop a sustainable strategy for driven teaching of the highest quality that produces groups, including Welsh domiciled students. international student recruitment. graduates equipped for distinguished personal and professional achievement. • Develop a comprehensive Continuing Performance will be measured by a Professional Development offer aligned with planned increase in students and by student Our success to date is evidenced by the Medical the needs of the NHS and other partners, satisfaction. School coming top of the UK junior doctor now and in the future. preparedness survey. Our BSc graduates have outstanding employability prospects and excellent • Seek further professional accreditation for student satisfaction as demonstrated in the National taught programmes as a marker of teaching Student Survey. excellence and alignment with best research and practice. Over the next four years, we will continue to deliver teaching excellence whilst increasing the number of students who can benefit from our unique learning environment. We will also widen Performance will be measured using graduate access to our degree programmes to ensure that geographic, social, and economic factors are employability data for entry into further study not a barrier to study. and highly skilled employment. The number of Medical School graduates taking up Foundation Our aims will be guided by the following objectives: training places or entering service in the NHS will also be a key performance indicator.

OBJECTIVE 1: TO PROVIDE AN • Enhance our student mobility programme OBJECTIVE 3: TO INCREASE STUDENT OUTSTANDING LEARNING EXPERIENCE, to create further practical, clinical and NUMBERS IN UNDERGRADUATE AND SUPPORTED BY MODERN FACILITIES, entrepreneurial learning opportunities. POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES AND HIGH-QUALITY TEACHING AND GRADUATE ENTRY MEDICINE WHILST OPPORTUNITIES TO EXTEND • Review and improve assessment and MAINTAINING A TEACHING ETHOS KNOWLEDGE THOUGH WORKING feedback processes to make them more THAT RECOGNISES THE IMPORTANCE WITH PARTNERS AND INDUSTRY. efficient and effective for learning. OF CONTACT TIME WITH STAFF AND SUPERVISORS. In delivering this objective we will: Performance will be measured using In delivering this objective we will: nationally recognised Teaching Excellence • Provide inspiring, modern learning Framework metrics. The successful completion • Continue to develop new courses and opportunities based on programmes of of refurbishment and construction projects to pathways to medicine and to invest in the study that reflect the needs of students and improve the estate will also be a key indicator people, resources and skills needed to the health and life sciences community. as will be the number of opportunities students support a greater number of students. have for extending their knowledge. • Harness Swansea Bay City Region and ARCH opportunities to increase the number of community based study environments.

10 11 OBJECTIVE 2: TO EXPAND THE ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION PORTFOLIO OF ENTERPRISE AND and skill programme to support the evolving INNOVATION COLLABORATIONS life and health science sector. Swansea University Medical School is uniquely health and social care stakeholders regionally AND THE IMPACT OF ILS PROJECTS IN placed to translate advanced research into new and further afield. THE REGION, ACROSS WALES AND • Identify and develop placement and and improved treatments, innovative products, INTERNATIONALLY. opportunities for existing members of processes and services to benefit human health. Our work will be guided by the following the health service which can be used in It does this by providing dedicated support for objectives: In delivering this objective we will: Continuing Professional Development. the commercialisation of research, knowledge transfer and business incubation for life science OBJECTIVE 1: TO FURTHER DEVELOP • Develop a new structured approach to Performance will be measured by an increase client organisations who can benefit from ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION ACTIVITY collaboration, targeting high-value in the number of placement opportunities purpose built environments and unparalleled UNDER THE INSTITUTE OF LIFE SCIENCE programmes where efficiency can be made available and the employability of access to the skills and expertise needed for BRAND, RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS achieved through replicable processes. graduates as measured by the Destination growth. OF THE SWANSEA BAY CITY REGION of Leavers from Higher Education Survey for / ARCH AND WITH GLOBAL REACH, • Enhance the frequency and intensity of entry into employment, further study and highly Central to the Medical School’s offer since RECOGNITION AND IMPACT. engagement across the ILS community to skilled employment. 2007 has been the Institute of Life Science identify, develop and support the delivery of (ILS), an £81m collaboration with the Welsh In delivering this objective we will: collaboration opportunities. Government, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, IBM and industry and • Examine existing national, regional and • Establish active research and development business partners. As Wales’s premier purpose- Swansea University initiatives (including collaborations with major life science built medical research facility, the ILS vision has AgorIP and those arising through the Internet organisations, including the Wales Cancer been to benefit human health and to link those of Health and Well-being) to identify new Research Centre and the Wales Cancer benefits to link those benefits to the economy by activities that can be undertaken. Partnership. encouraging interaction with other organisations. • Expand the sites and locations at which Performance will be measured by growth These interactions draw upon an ‘Open Access the ILS brand operates, through the creation in the portfolio of key collaborations across Open Innovation’ philosophy, encapsulated by of linked developments at Singleton, Morriston Enterprise and Innovation and the output of AgorIP, a Medical School-led initiative to support and other sites. new knowledge or technology with industrial academics, clinicians and industry to turn bright value as indicated by the IPR registrations per ideas and cutting-edge research into real-world • Deepen partnership working with NHS year. products and services. Wales.

The Medical School is also a partner in the Performance will be measured by an increase OBJECTIVE 3: TO INCREASE THE Celtic Advanced Life Science Innovation in sites at which ILS activity is undertaken and NUMBER OF HIGH-QUALITY PLACEMENT Network (CALIN), connecting 240 businesses the growth of the ILS ecosystem as indicated OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT A UNIQUE across Ireland and Wales with world-leading by the number of collaborations with individual AND DYNAMIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE institutions to advance life science product partners. FOR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYABILITY development through collaborative research FOR GRADUATES. and development, again helping new business bring new life science products to market. In delivering this objective we will:

Over the next four years, we will build upon • Develop a pipeline of placement and project these foundations to deliver impact through opportunities for students enrolled on enhancing the scale and scope of enterprise and all courses. innovation collaborations. We will do this by seizing opportunities arising from the Swansea • Embed Enterprise and Innovation skills Bay City Region Deal and the Medical School’s development across the region by working partnership in A Regional Collaboration for with Swansea Bay City Region Deal and Health (ARCH) and by creating new and deeper ARCH initiatives such as Talent Bank, a relationships with business, government and bespoke education. 12 13 ENABLING STRATEGIES Find out more Visit: www.swansea.ac.uk/medicine Achieving our vision and meeting the objectives accommodate existing activity and prepare Email: [email protected] Call: +44(0)1792 602145 set out in the strategic themes, will be unpinned for growth. by four enabling strategies. These strategies will embed the Medical School’s values and deliver • Put in place cutting edge technology cross-cutting improvements that will benefit all infrastructure and services to better support areas of the Medical School’s work. online learning and teaching. ENGAGEMENT PEOPLE Building and maintaining relationships with Our success depends on the outstanding local, national and international partners performance and contribution of all of our staff. underpins the Medical School’s ability to meet The Medical School will provide an inclusive aims in research, enterprise and innovation environment and culture that recognises opportunities, student experience and excellence, provides opportunities for personal employability. Such engagement is also key to development and supports collaborative identifying needs in NHS Wales and elsewhere working. which can in turn determine what new course offerings should be developed. We will:

• Devise succession planning arrangements We will: to safeguard the longer-term success and • Support existing, and develop new, development of the Medical School’s international relationships through which performance. to create further opportunities in research, • Develop career pathways to help develop enterprise and innovation. and retain staff in all areas of the Medical • Develop a robust Health Board interface to School’s business - including staff on research determine what research will help improve contracts. service delivery and what workforce needs • Work with staff to develop an approach are now and in the future. that recognises, encourages and rewards excellence. FINANCE Maintaining and building overall financial ENVIRONMENT strength to support the delivery of strategic Creating a suitable environment for students, priorities and commitments will enable the staff and those who choose to use Swansea Medical School to be agile in response to University as a base for collaboration, research changing needs and maintain a strong position or work is a core part of achieving the Medical in a competitive environment. School’s ambitions for growth. The environment We will: covers the physical estate as well as the systems, facilities and technology needed in a modern • Maintain a strong financial position, generate university to support world class learning, increasing turnover and surpluses and invest research, -business incubation and innovation. wisely.

We will: • Explore the potential of new income streams to support the overall financial strength of the • Deliver new research, teaching and Medical School. enterprise and innovation space to better 14 15 SwanseaMedicine