Liberal Learning in Research Universities: Course Distribution in General Education Programs

This study examines general education course requirements at American research universities and discusses how those requirements relate to the definition of liberal learning. Ten characteristics of liberal education are identified based on a review of the literature on liberal learning, general education, and residential education.The sample includes all members of the American Association of Universities (AAU) located in the United States. Their catalogues were reviewed in order to determine the percentage of degree requirements required for the major and for courses in the natural sciences, arts and humanities, social sciences, writing and speaking, and specialized categories. The percentage of total general education requirements was also determined. The results were analyzed using statistical measures of central tendency. The institutions' mission statements were also reviewed in order to gauge their stated public commitment to liberal education.AAU members require students to complete a broad representation of courses across all of the academic areas noted above. Their total general education requirements are similar to total requirements for the major. They require the largest proportion of courses in the natural sciences, followed by the arts and humanities, social sciences, specialized courses, and writing and speaking. The majority of courses in the specialized category are related to cultural and diversity studies.The institutions' general education requirements strongly support the comprehensive liberal learning goal of educational breadth, and are similar to the requirements in place at liberal arts colleges, as demonstrated by other studies. Mission statements emphasize preparation for citizenship, appreciation for diversity, communication, and critical thinking. In practice, the curricular requirements emphasize quantitative reasoning, diversity, and intellectual and aesthetic growth. AAU members generally have a strong commitment to liberal education, but they favor some liberal learning components over others (e.g., quantitative reasoning versus foreign language skills), and their course requirements do not always reflect the values in their mission statements

Like Frying Multiple Eggs in One Pan: a Qualitative Study Exploring the Understanding of Inter-speciality Training in Cancer Care

High-quality cancer care is a key priority worldwide. Caring for people affected by cancer requires a range of specific knowledge, skills and experience to deliver the complex care regimens both within the hospital and within the community environment. In June 2022, the European Cancer Organisation along with 33 European cancer societies began working together to develop a curriculum for inter-speciality training for healthcare professionals across Europe. As part of the project, this research consisted of a qualitative survey distributed to the European Union societies via email. The aim of this paper is to disseminate the qualitative findings from healthcare professionals across Europe. Questionnaires were sent out to a convenience sample of 219 healthcare professionals and patient advocates with a response rate of 55% (n = 115). The findings identified that there were four key themes: 'What is inter-speciality training?', 'Barriers and challenges', 'Support throughout the cancer journey' and 'New ways of working'. These results are part of a larger needs analysis and scoping review to inform the development of a core competency framework which will be part of an inter-speciality curriculum for specialist cancer doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals across Europe. Healthcare professionals will be able to access education and training through the virtual learning environment and workshops and by clinical rotations to other specialties

Impact of policy for Children and Young People with Cancer

No abstract available

Like Frying Multiple Eggs in One Pan: a Qualitative Study Exploring the Understanding of Inter-speciality Training in Cancer Care

H igh-quality cancer care is a key priority worldwide. Caring for people affected by cancer requires a range of specific knowledge, skills and experience to deliver the complex care regimens both within the hospital and within the community environment. In June 2022, the European Cancer Organisation along with 33 European cancer societies began working together to develop a curriculum for inter-speciality training for healthcare professionals across Europe. As part of the project, this research consisted of a qualitative survey distributed to the European Union societies via email. The aim of this paper is to disseminate the qualitative findings from healthcare professionals across Europe. Questionnaires were sent out to a convenience sample of 219 healthcare professionals and patient advocates with a response rate of 55% (n = 115). The findings identified that there were four key themes: 'What is inter-speciality training?', 'Barriers and challenges', 'Support throughout the cancer journey' and 'New ways of working'. These results are part of a larger needs analysis and scoping review to inform the development of a core competency framework which will be part of an inter-speciality curriculum for specialist cancer doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals across Europe. Healthcare professionals will be able to access education and training through the virtual learning environment and workshops and by clinical rotations to other specialties

Detection of neutralising antibodies to SARS coronavirus 2 to determine population exposure in Scottish blood donors between March and May 2020

Background The progression and geographical distribution of SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the UK and elsewhere is unknown because typically only symptomatic individuals are diagnosed. We performed a serological study of blood donors in Scotland between the 17 th of March and the 18 th of May to detect neutralising antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 as a marker of past infection and epidemic progression. Aim To determine if sera from blood bank donors can be used to track the emergence and progression of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. Methods A pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 virus microneutralisation assay was used to detect neutralising antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. The study group comprised samples from 3,500 blood donors collected in Scotland between the 17 th of March and 19 th of May, 2020. Controls were collected from 100 donors in Scotland during 2019. Results All samples collected on the 17 th March, 2020 (n=500) were negative in the pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 virus microneutralisation assay. Neutralising antibodies were detected in 6/500 donors from the 23 th -26 th of March. The number of samples containing neutralising antibodies did not significantly rise after the 5 th -6 th April until the end of the study on the 18 th of May. We find that infections are concentrated in certain postcodes indicating that outbreaks of infection are extremely localised. In contrast, other areas remain comparatively untouched by the epidemic. Conclusion These data indicate that sero-surveys of blood banks can serve as a useful tool for tracking the emergence and progression of an epidemic like the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak