Partner spotlight: The impact of Sponsored courses model and accreditation
Wellcome Genome Campus Advanced Courses and Scientific Conferences launched its first biomedicine courses on FutureLearn earlier this year. Working with internationally-renowned scientists and healthcare professionals, the team’s expert courses are aimed at research scientists, clinicians and healthcare professionals, as well as students and the wider public who are interested in learning more about genomics, biomedical research and bioinformatics. The Campus is particularly interested in reaching a global audience and up-skilling learners in parts of the world where access to face-to-face training may be limited.
Attracting a professional audience
To help reach this professional audience, the team added accreditation to both courses. Bacterial Genomes: Disease Outbreaks and Antimicrobial Resistance is accredited by the Royal College of Pathologists and the Royal College of Nursing. Bacterial Genomes: From DNA to Protein Function Using Bioinformatics is accredited by the Royal College of Pathologists.
Delivering free access via the Sponsored course model
Wellcome Genome Campus Advanced Courses and Scientific Conferences are committed to removing barriers to accessing learning, so, for this reason all their courses are Sponsored, meaning that all learners receive free, unlimited access to the course and a free, downloadable, digital Certificate of Achievement when they become eligible. This approach has helped more than 1,500 learners achieve full participation on their first two courses, completing more than 90% of the Steps and all tests.
By using the Sponsored model, the Campus would also like to encourage universities, colleges, and scientific training organisations to use these courses in full in their teaching and training. No permission is needed for using or integrating in full or partially the courses or materials in teaching and training although acknowledgement is expected, and email communication about usage is welcomed.
Our work with the team at Wellcome Genome Campus Advanced Courses and Scientific Conferences led to media coverage in Nursing Times and University Business allowing us to promote the free courses to key audiences.
