The University of Canterbury (UC) in New Zealand has announced a new milestone for being the first institution in Australasia to gain international accreditation for the first Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Biological Sciences.
After assessing the university’s biological sciences program and meeting with the teaching team, the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), based in London, United Kingdom, awarded UC its international accreditation.
Key Takeaways:
- UC has achieved international accreditation of its first Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biological Sciences.
- The international accreditation was granted by the UK-based Royal Society of Biology (RSB).
- UC is the first in the Australasian region to have its biological sciences program internationally accredited.
UC has become the first international institution outside the United Kingdom to receive the RSB degree accreditation for a pre-Honours undergraduate major.
To meet in part the academic and experience requirement for the membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol) status, the major has been accredited by the RSB.
RSB followed an independent and rigorous assessment, with criteria that require evidence that graduates from accredited programs meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability, and transferable skills.
Such an accreditation from RSB will benefit UC graduates since they will be equipped with well-rounded skills and knowledge, making them highly employable both within and beyond their chosen field.
UC’s Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biological Sciences contains a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills that prepare graduates to address the needs of employers.
According to Professor Matthew Turnbull, UC’s Head of School of Biological Sciences | Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora, the RSB accreditation panel identified some key features of the university’s BSc degree program that have special merit.
Among the merits include the university’s research-led curriculum, engagement with students, emphasis on laboratory and fieldwork, and the integration of bicultural competence into the curriculum.
Aside from the program’s key features, graduates of an RSB-accredited program are also entitled to a free year of membership to the society.
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