IHEEM has entered into an arrangement with Eastwood Park, via which candidates on the training establishment’s Foundation Degree in Medical Technologies course will, subject to their application to join the Institute being successful, benefit from having their IHEEM membership fees paid for the first two years.
IHEEM has long supported this degree course; the Institute’s William E Schall Award for Excellence in Medical Technologies (HEJ – May and June 2012) goes annually to the graduate who has made the best contribution while studying on it. Successful applicants for the course will have their application paperwork reviewed by the IHEEM Membership Committee in the usual way, with a view to their being awarded a grade appropriate to their age and qualifications. A sample of previous candidates suggests that most candidates under this arrangement will also be eligible for registration as Engineering Technicians upon joining IHEEM. Chris Parker, IHEEM recruitment and membership manager, said: “I am delighted to be able to work with Eastwood Park and Kingston University in adding value to the Foundation Degree Course. We are always seeking innovative ways of increasing IHEEM’s membership numbers, and, as well as achieving that aim with this scheme, we will be able to offer the full range of membership benefits to candidates on this course as soon as they commence their studies.” Carol Holloway, training manager, work-basedlearning, at Eastwood Park (pictured), adds: “Many who have successfully completed the course have gained promotion, increased job satisfaction, and remuneration, through achieving a higher-grade position, and membership of IHEEM will serve to further develop our graduates. I would, however, remind those keen to join the next course that the latest date for applications is 14 September, and places are limited.” Eastwood Park – which developed the Foundation Degree in partnership with Kingston University, and in association with the Department of Health, IHEEM, and the Sector Skills Councils, SEMTA & Skills for Health, the MHRA, IPEM, and IDSc – says the work-based course ‘specifically addresses the skills shortage and career development issues in the medical technology sector’. ‘Unique to Eastwood Park Training’, the degree can be taken while working full-time, and allows access to the final year of a flexibly delivered Kingston University London Honours Degree programme. For more details, visit: www.eastwoodpark.co.uk/ training/t_courses_found_mt.htm
