Award for course giving students hand-on ecology experience
04 July 2024
A Reading Master’s course teaching ecology students practical skills through an industry placement has won a national award.
The MSc Ecological Survey Skills with Placement course, in Biological Sciences, was named Higher Education Programme of the Year by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).
Dr Jonathan Mitchley, associate professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the programme director, collected the prize at CIEEM’s annual awards event in London on 28 June 2024.
The Higher Education Programme award recognises high standards of teaching and success in preparing students for future careers.
CIEEM is the leading professional membership body representing and supporting ecologists and environmental managers in the UK, Ireland and abroad.
About the award-winning programme
The MSc Ecological Skills with Placement programme offers students the chance to gain valuable, hands-on experience in the ecological consultancy and conservation sectors.
Reading has teamed up with consultancy partner RSK Biocensus, and a number of other leading ecological consultancies, to enable six-month paid placements as part of the course. These allow students to work as field ecologists, undertaking surveys and producing reports.
Students are taught by Reading experts and visiting lecturers from the partner consultancies, some of whom are Reading alumni.
The programme therefore provides skills and knowledge that are demanded by employers, giving our students the best possible chance of a career in the industry after graduating. The latest HESA and Graduate Outcomes data shows that 100% of graduates find work within 15 months of finishing this course.
Image caption: Jonathan Mitchley (centre) holding the award trophy, with Simon Boulter and Roberta Epps from RSK Biocensus, and the awards hosts to the far left and right.