Department of Biology

The University of Westminster’s Biology Department, located in the heart of London, provides a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in biology and related areas. The department is dedicated to providing students with a high-quality education and preparing them for successful careers in science. Experts in their fields with substantial research and teaching experience, the teaching staff are passionate about their subject and committed to assisting student learning and progress. Students can personalize their degrees to their interests and career aspirations by choosing from several modules. The department has excellent facilities, including contemporary laboratories, lecture theaters, and a library, which provide students with the resources they need to succeed academically. Moreover, the department participates in outreach initiatives, such as school visits and public lectures, to raise awareness of the value of science and inspire young people to seek jobs in STEM fields.

Courses Offered

The Biology department at the University of Westminster offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. These courses cover an array of topics, such as:

• Bioinformatics: This course teaches students how to use computer science techniques to analyze biological data.

• Contemporary Challenges in Biology: This course examines some of the most pressing issues facing biology today, such as climate change and antibiotic resistance.

• Exploring the Microbial World: This course introduces students to the diversity of microorganisms and their role in the environment.

• Human Parasitology: This course studies parasites that can infect humans, including their life cycles, transmission, and diagnosis.

• Medical Physiology: This course examines the function of the human body at a cellular and molecular level.

• Metabolic Biochemistry: This course studies the chemical reactions in living organisms, such as energy production and nutrient utilization.

• Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics: This course investigates the use of drugs and other therapies to treat diseases at the molecular and cellular levels.

• Molecular Biology and Genetics: This course provides an overview of the molecular basis of life, including DNA replication, transcription, and translation.

• Neuroscience: This course studies the structure and function of the nervous system.

• Research Methods: This course teaches students how to design and conduct scientific research.

• Applied Biotechnology MSc: This program teaches students how to apply biotechnology to solve real-world problems.

• Biomedical Sciences MSc: This program provides students with a comprehensive education in biomedical sciences, focusing on clinical applications.

• Medical Sciences BSc Honours: This three-year program prepares students for a career in medicine.

Alumni

Among Westminster’s prominent alumni are:

• Vivienne Westwood, fashion designer

• David Hockney, painter

• Trevor McDonald, newsreader

• Mo Farah, athlete

• Jodie Whittaker, actress

Notable Achievements

Some of the University of Westminster’s major accomplishments include:

• Being ranked in the top 15% of universities in the world for its work on contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• The prestigious Social Enterprise Gold Mark recognizes the university as a beacon of social enterprise across several business areas central to social enterprise excellence.

• Winning the 2022 BAFTA Craft Award for Sound Engineering for the film 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything.

• Having over 200,000 alumni worldwide, including many notable figures in the arts, media, business, and law.

• In 2021, the university was ranked 10th in the UK for graduate employability by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HESC).

• The university has been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education for its work in social enterprise.

• The university’s law school is ranked in the top 100 law schools in the world by the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

• The university’s School of Media, Arts, and Design is ranked in the world’s top 50 art and design schools by the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Westminster University is a strong and dynamic university with a promising future. It is dedicated to providing its students with the knowledge, skills, and experience they require to be successful in their chosen careers.

Also Read: The 10 Most Prestigious Human Universities in 2024

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Located 85 miles southwest of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota State University is a prime example of a higher educational institute providing top-notch educational opportunities to students. The Council on Undergraduate Research has named Minnesota State University as one of the top 20 universities in the country for undergraduate research.

Reputed Foundation

Minnesota State University started as Mankato Normal School, which served only 27 students and, since then, it has been an institution where big ideas meet real-world thinking. The Journey from school to university has been remarkable as the school became Mankato State Teachers College in 1921, Mankato State College in 1957, and Mankato State University in 1975. In 1998, it was eventually established as—Minnesota State University, Mankato.

As one of the largest providers of graduate education in the state, Minnesota State Mankato’s College of Graduate Studies and Research provides students with innovative, nationally acclaimed programs at value for money. The University has established a reputation for offering top-notch programs that offer chances for scholarly, artistic, and research endeavors that cater to the requirements of its students and those of state, area, and the entire world.

Exceptional Academics with Career Cushion

Minnesota State Mankato’s academic quality is recognized through its accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission. The University provides a wide range of degree programs, certificates, and chances for success both inside and outside the classroom. In addition to over 85 graduate programs, including master’s, specialist, and doctorate degrees, the university provides over 130 undergraduate programs of study, including 13 pre-professional programs.

These programs are offered through six academic colleges: Allied Health and Nursing; Arts and Humanities; Business; Education; Science, Engineering and Technology; and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Several of the programs, or portions of them, are also offered through various University Extended Education venues, including the facility at 7700 France in Edina and at the Normandale Partnership Center. 

There are 90 academic programs that hold specialized accreditation, certification, and recognition from 24 different recognized accrediting agencies. Six non-academic programs also hold specialized accreditation, certification, or recognition. Some of the beneficial programs and scholarships include:

• The university’s aviation program collaborates with Sun Country Airlines and Delta Air Lines to offer students employment options after graduation.

• With Scholarship Finder, students can apply for scholarships in one place while having their needs and skills matched with scholarship requirements.

• Three TRIO programs run by the Minnesota Department of Education: Upward Bound, Student Support Services, and Educational Talent Search serve underrepresented high school and college students.

The University also offers over 25 programs at various Twin City sites, including graduate business, educational leadership, and nursing degrees. At least 50 programs are offered online or in conjunction with classroom instruction.

Years of Teamwork

Over the years, Minnesota State University has had 12 presidents leading it to its remarkable success. In 2021, Dr. Edward Inch became the 13th president of the University. President Inch and the faculty, students, and staff are committed to solving problems, finding solutions, and making life better for people throughout the state, region, and global society.

Faculty members at Minnesota State University are researchers at the frontlines of their specialties. They assist students in using their knowledge to address challenges in the real world. Faculty and students use modern facilities, including a variety of research centers, for their research. With about 1,600 academic and staff members, including over 700 teaching faculty, and over 125,000 alumni globally, the university is home to over 14,000 students, including over 1,170 international students from 89 countries.

Campus, Health & Security

The Minnesota State University believes that a diverse campus is critical for students, faculty, and staff to be engaged and productive members of a global society. Vibrant campus life includes over 200 academic student clubs, intramural sports, leadership and religious organizations, honorary and professional fraternities and sororities, and special interest groups. The university also provides On-campus and Off-campus housing options for students according to their preferences and comfort.

• On-Campus Housing: Minnesota State University provides housing in 11 residence halls on campus and a wide variety of living and learning options available for student success. The majority of first-year students attending Minnesota State University straight out of high school prefer to live on campus because of the academic counseling, social opportunities, and convenience of being close to classes and having meals supplied.

• Off-Campus Housing: In order to assist students in making the best choice, the Student Activities Office keeps a list of some of the nearby off-campus housing possibilities. However, this housing is not affiliated with the campus.

Every student at Minnesota State University has access to high-quality, reasonably priced healthcare. Student Health Services include a certified on-site medical clinic, a full-service pharmacy, lab services, and health education. University Security supports the mission of Minnesota State University by maintaining a secure environment for living, learning, and working in partnership with the community it serves.

Versatility with Sporting Success

In sports,  Minnesota State University ranked 24th for the 2018-19 season national standings in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, which honors colleges with comprehensive programming and achievement in men’s and women’s sports. The University also offers 20 intercollegiate men’s and women’s sports, including hockey, volleyball, soccer, softball, tennis, golf, swimming and diving, football, cross-country, basketball, track and field, wrestling, and baseball.

Nearly 600 student-athletes compete in the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey (Western Collegiate Hockey Association), NCAA Division II men’s baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, track, and wrestling (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference), an NCAA Division II women’s basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, and volleyball (all competing in the NCAA Division II).

Valuing Individual Growth

The primary focus of Minnesota State University is on students’ personal growth. The University, coordinates, advises and offers students valuable connections, opportunities, and experiences. The university has adopted strategic priorities that are focused, attainable, and exciting. Over 200 officially recognized department groups, political organizations, recreation clubs, intramural athletics, social clubs, service, and religious organizations contribute to the thriving student life. New Student and Family Programs help first-year students get off to a solid start and some of them benefit from residential learning communities, where students who have the same major live on the same floors of the residence community and take classes together.

The annual International Festival and student-run Signature Nights, which highlight the cultures, food, and histories of the nations from which the University’s student body continues to expand, are just two examples of the international lectures and cultural activities that take place on campus.

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Also Read: The 10 Most Prestigious Human Universities in 2024

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The goal of healthcare education in the twenty-first century is to prepare competent professionals as communicators, collaborators, academics, health advocates, leaders, and managers. At the University of the Free State (UFS), innovative programs focus on interprofessional, community-based education and technology-enhanced learning, teaching, and assessment that is relevant and authentic.

Starting from the Scratch

The UFS is one of South Africa’s oldest universities. Founded in 1904 with six students in the Humanities, it has developed into a well-respected, highly internationalized, and regionally active school, with around 42,000 students scattered across three varied campuses in seven academic faculties.

The vision of the UFS is to be a research-led, student-centered, and regionally engaged university that contributes to the development and social justice through the production of globally competitive graduates and knowledge. The education at the UFS relies on three pillars: Teaching and learning, Research, and Engaged Scholarship.

Firstly, UFS has an innovative perspective and a dedication to excellence in terms of teaching and learning. This encourages ongoing examination, renewal, and updating of the curriculum, as well as incorporating innovative teaching approaches that embrace technology in all of its forms. Secondly, the research strategy of UFS responds to the institutional goal of increasing contribution to local, regional, and global knowledge, and aims to address fundamental and strategically important questions. Lastly, the Engaged Scholarship model is about connecting the best of staff and student research, teaching, and learning abilities to particular societal learning and development requirements.

Evolution of Courses and Programs

The UFS provides a wide range of high-quality and globally recognized degrees, diplomas, and certificate programs in the following faculties: Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Health Sciences, the Humanities, Law, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and Theology and Religion. It also houses a Business School and various Open and Distance Learning offerings and Short Learning Programmes. Over time, these programs have grown by adding indigenous knowledge systems and new information into the curriculum, as well as continually adapting to innovation and universal best practices in different study sectors.

Campus Tour and Student Life

The UFS has three unique campuses, each with its own distinctive character.

1. The Bloemfontein Campus, ‌in Bloemfontein – the capital of the Free State province – is the oldest and biggest of the three. It houses many student residences, lecture and study spaces, and sports facilities. Historic buildings rub shoulders with modern architecture, while eco-friendly landscaping minimizes the institution’s carbon footprint, and communal spaces celebrate diversity and promote a community environment.

2. The Qwaqwa Campus in the picturesque rural Eastern Free State has a strong focus on socio-economic development, informed by a rural context. It is home to the internationally acclaimed Afromontane Research Unit (ARU), which is doing ground-breaking work to empower vulnerable mountain communities with uplifting environmental, social, and economic knowledge.

3. The South Campus, also in Bloemfontein, provides alternative access to higher education for promising students who did not get the required marks in their final school examinations. It is also home to various open and distance learning initiatives, and the center of a variety of very successful collaborative projects in schools.

The UFS maintains a vibrant student life, with several efforts to support students’ academic, psychological, and social well-being. Peer mentoring programs help students move smoothly from high school to university life. There are also specific projects to help the growing number of international students feel at home, as well as an ‘internationalization-at-home’ strategy that exposes all students to an international experience – through engagement with international students, cultural celebrations, and other curricular and co-curricular activities.

Extra-curricular Activities and Resources

The UFS boasts a remarkable array of sports facilities and provides high-level coaching and instruction in 22 sports to its students. Students can also participate in a variety of arts and culture-related activities, including high-quality university choirs, theatrical sing-off contests, theatre performances, and multicultural festivals, in numerous well-equipped auditoriums and theatres.

Current Programmes on Offer

There are five different schools within the Faculty of Health Sciences, enabling the UFS to offer diverse and comprehensive healthcare training:

1. The School of Clinical Medicine is nationally and internationally renowned for its training curriculum and the excellence of the medical and medical physics graduates produced, with a training platform that includes various hospitals and clinics throughout the Free State. Departments within the school represent the full array of medical disciplines, such as cardiology, dermatology, neurology, Family Medicine, psychiatry, and pediatrics.

2. The School of Biomedical Sciences hosts an advanced Clinical Simulation and Skills Unit that compares with the best in the world, as well as offers state-of-the-art dissection facilities.

3. The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences offers training and research opportunities in Exercise and Sport Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, and Physiotherapy.

4. The School of Pathology comprises Anatomical Pathology, Chemical Pathology, Haematology and Cell Biology, Human Genetics, Medical Microbiology, and Virology.

5. The School of Nursing remains at the forefront of nursing education with its innovative simulation, teaching, and learning facilities.

Individual Attention and Support

The Centre for Teaching and Learning’s academic achievement efforts have garnered the UFS international acclaim. Language and literacy development, writing skills aid, and well-supported tutorial programs are examples of these. The UFS also leads South African institutions in academic counseling, ensuring that students’ educational routes are linked with their employment goals.

The Department of Student Counselling and Development provides psychological support through individual sessions and workshops that address a variety of issues that students often deal with, such as time management, self-acceptance, and relationships. South Africa has 11 official languages, and the UFS Academy for Multilingualism is performing ground-breaking work to build innovative multilingual pedagogic practices across the institution to overcome language hurdles.

Take on Modern Employment

Healthcare graduates have a wide range of job options, including general practitioners or medical specialists in the public or private sector, as well as nursing professionals, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and biokineticists (exercise experts) in the allied health professions.

The UFS places a major emphasis on cultivating flexibility among its graduates in order to meet the ever-changing need of employers to remain relevant. UFS graduates’ qualities have evolved away from a strict concentration on academics, adding components of local and worldwide workplace requirements. With academic competence remaining at the center of its vision, aspects such as critical thinking, problem-solving, oral and written communication, ethical reasoning, civic engagement, and entrepreneurship currently make up the rest of its envisaged graduate attributes.

The UFS also places high significance on cooperation and has several highly regarded industry partners that provide help as bursaries and internships. Faculty Advisory Boards Consisting of people from business and government guarantee that courses remain current.

Response to Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the necessity of teaching a new generation of healthcare professionals capable of adapting to changing societal and global concerns using evidence-based research and resilience. The educational environment has transformed into a blended learning approach that embraces technology, while simultaneously acknowledging the diversity of human experience and student support needs.

In response to the lockdown limitations, the UFS implemented emergency online tuition at the start of 2020. Innovative programs, such as its ‘No Student Left Behind’ campaign, have enabled the university to assess student participation in online learning and implement interventions as needed, by using advanced data analytics.

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Also Read: The 10 Most Prestigious Human Universities in 2024

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Through globally oriented and personalized education, Webster Vienna Private University (WVPU) aims to generate knowledge and prepare students for success. The university’s approach to education is rooted in five core values. These are namely—a student-centered approach; the integration of theory and practice and research-led teaching; Individual accountability and social responsibility; Commitment to diversity and inclusion; and Global perspective.

Insightful Educational Commencement

Founded in 1981, Webster Vienna Private University was established as the second European campus of Webster University that was founded in 1915 and is located in St. Louis, Missouri. Webster Vienna was the only American university during a time when higher education in Austria was still traditional and universities did not offer degree programs purely in English.

In 1981, it received accreditation as an Austrian private university and was officially named the Webster Vienna Private University. The accreditation was an important milestone for Webster Vienna. It allowed the university to offer two diplomas—one American and one Austrian—opening the door for its students to pursue advanced or post-graduate studies not just in the USA but also in the European Higher Educational Area.

Effectual Study Programs

Currently, Webster Vienna offers seven bachelor’s degree programs. These include Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration; Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Relations; Bachelor of Arts degree in Management (General, and with Emphases in International Business and Marketing); Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; and Bachelor Strategic Communication.

The university offers five master’s programs, namely—Masters of Arts degree in International Relations; Masters of Arts degree in Psychology (with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology); Masters of Science degree in Marketing; Masters of Science degree in Finance; and Master of Business Administration.

Piloted by a Promising Leader

At the core of Webster Vienna, Deidree Diño serves as the MSc Head of Admissions. She leads a team that regularly collaborates with all academic and administrative departments for ensuring new students are prepared to fulfill expectations and be successful. She represents Webster Vienna in several recruitment events and constantly seeks new opportunities to find solutions and improve processes with other department heads as well. “Webster Vienna offered me the opportunity to help newly admitted students transition to the next chapter of their academic careers,” remarks Deidree.

Comprehensive Student Support Services

Webster Vienna offers comprehensive student support services through its Student Resource Center. The university offers the following additional benefits to its students:

• Faculty Advisor and Department Coordinator: Provides personalized guidance throughout the entire program of study;
• Library and Textbook Service: Provides students with textbooks, reference materials, and other resources, required for their coursework and research;
• Language Center: Helps students improve their reading, writing, and presentation skills through one-on-one or small group tutoring sessions;
• Quant Center: Offers free tutoring in Math and Statistics at all levels and across all disciplines.

The university fosters a ‘Global Alumni Network’ that supports and connects students after graduation and throughout their careers. Additionally, it also endorses a good selection of clubs for encouraging extra-curricular programs and events. These include Webster’s Model UN, the SIR Eta Alpha Honors Society, the Student Government Association, the LEADS program, Webster’s Community Week, and the annual “Webster’s Got Talent” competition. Webster Vienna also provides ample study abroad opportunities at one or more of the other Webster campuses in its global network.

Diverse Career Development Opportunities

Webster Vienna’s Career Services Team is committed to helping students and alumni find the best possible career opportunities. It offers one-to-one or small group career counseling and coaching and organizes career workshops and events such as career lunches, professional photoshoots along with on-campus recruiting. The team collaborates with the online platform, JobTeaser, where students connect with potential employers and can apply directly for internships and job openings.

Webster Vienna also provides students with opportunities to accumulate work experience through its Webster Vienna Training Scholarship program. Through this program, students can apply for training positions for research projects or administrative departments within the university and earn tuition fee discounts for their work.

Encouraging Foreign Amalgamation

Webster Vienna harbors a welcoming approach to helping students throughout their journey. It has 30 different nationalities represented among its faculty and staff. The university treats its students equally regardless of their nationality, race, or background and does not entertain differences in tuition fees based on citizenship. It aims to annually award its merit and needs-based scholarships to a diverse group of students.

Webster Vienna inputs tremendous effort to assist international students as they transition to life in Vienna, especially if it is their first time abroad. It helps them with general questions on Austrian student residence permit applications and answers their questions and concerns about settling in Vienna. Its current students–through the Student Government Association and the university’s LEADS program – have resources in place to help promote and encourage diversity.

Fostering Rich Cultural Experience

Webster Vienna’s American-style and European-accredited programs in Vienna puts it in a commendable position for introducing culture, history, art, and music to its foreign students. The university offers opportunities for its undergraduate students to learn German. It also holds Language Cafés where students and faculty or staff can start pursuing German or other languages such as Italian. 

For a fascinating cultural experience, Webster Vienna provides an opportunity for its students to attend a traditional ball during the ball season in Vienna. The university collaborates with its sister campuses in Europe through its leadership retreats, where students in Vienna can engage and form strong connections with their counterparts in Geneva and Leiden.

Strategic Measurements during Crisis

The global pandemic made all educational institutions realize how indispensable and valuable technology is for effective teaching and learning, especially when conventional forms of instruction are all but impossible. On a fortunate note, Webster Vienna had access to technological tools and faculty and staff dedicated to ensuring that learning did not stop despite the challenging circumstances. Its parent university in the US provided Webster Vienna with all the necessary upgrades. By the beginning of the fall semester in 2020, the university had access to better tools for communication that helped it surpass the unprecedented times.

Anticipating Prolific Environment

Webster Vienna envisions proliferation during the upcoming academic sessions. For its fall semester–which began in September 2021–the university plans to allow access to its courses via distance learning for those students who experience visa difficulties or travel or health restrictions. This hybrid approach is currently in practice and more challenging for the instructors as they have to ensure that students on campus and online benefit from the lectures.

Aside from the occasional issues related to internet connectivity, Webster Vienna anticipates that the majority of its students will be more eager and motivated to participate and satisfactorily complete their coursework. The university envisions a normal work environment for its faculty and staff and eagerly looks forward to more opportunities for community building.

Also Read: The 10 Most Prestigious Human Universities in 2024

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