BCU's annual Innovation Fest

In May, the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery and Life and Health Sciences hosted a special outreach event celebrating BCU's annual Innovation Fest. A cohort of Level 3 learners from Birmingham Metropolitan College participated in the event at our City South campus, engaging in four high-quality, interactive sessions led by some of the University's specialist academic and technical staff. 

Activities included a lab session exploring body parts using real porcine organs, with Scott Colton, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing; a deep-dive into the behaviour and impacts of vaping, delivered by Loukia Tsaprouni, Professor of Epigenetics; a workshop investigating bodily functions using state-of-the-art Anatomage tables with nursing lecturers Jeena Shiju and Paul Nix; and role-play using VR technology that put students right in the action of patient scenarios, led by Social Work lecturer, Michael Greenhouse.

92% of students reported a positive experience, with 42% stating they “loved it” and a further 50% that they “liked it.” Students responded particularly well to the hands-on and immersive nature of the activities, including the use of VR technology, the Anatomage table, and practical anatomy-focused sessions. They also praised the welcoming and supportive environment created by staff, alongside the opportunity to explore progression pathways within health disciplines. College staff emphasised the clear educational value, noting that students gained meaningful insight into anatomy and physiology, as well as benefiting from relevant topics such as vaping awareness. 

Innovation Fest is a flagship annual event at BCU, showcasing academic excellence, industry partnership, and students' achievements in real-world problem solving.