Sharing best practice: LTDF Project - Chemistry Films: Connecting Level 1 learning to Chemistry careers
Published: 1 September 2025
Katrina Gardner, Careers & Employability Manager for CoSE, shares best practice through the LTDF Project - Chemistry Films: Connecting Level 1 learning to Chemistry careers
What is the objective?
In 2024, Dr Cosma Gottardi and Katrina Gardner made a successful LTDF bid to fund a project on ‘Improving employability through videos of alumni demonstrating real-world use of lab techniques’. The project aim is for level 1 students to gain a wider understanding of the disciplinary and professional skills they are learning through demonstrations of their uses in the workplace. The videos will showcase technologies and the career paths of recent alumni from university to their current role, with the ultimate intention of improving students’ employability and retention through knowledge of industry and identification with role models.
What is your approach and how are you implementing it?
This project takes a light-touch approach to embedding employability into the level 1 curriculum by integrating short videos into teaching activities. The videos will form part of the coursework for 600 students in the Quantitative-1 Laboratory (part of Chemistry-1 CHEM 1001). During this semester-long lab, students complete 7 experiments, but there has been little context regarding the relevance of these experiments in the chemical industry. Students will be encouraged to interact with the videos through short, assessed questions after they have completed the experiment.
As of December 2024, we have filmed 6 videos, with others in the planning for early 2025. The first batch of films have been incorporated into the lab sessions for Quant 1 starting in January 2025. Some were filmed by Nigel Hutchins from our ever-supportive ADD-Media Unit and others by the team which includes 2 interns. A welcome outcome that we didn't plan for is that one of the chemists will be a current placement student thus giving current students an insight into the level 4 work placement experience in addition to the graduate career journey.
How are you working together as a team?
The team of four works as a staff and student partnership with everyone encouraged to contribute. One of the two interns has taken the lead in building relationships with alumni – from finding and inviting them through to supporting them with script writing. The other intern has taken the lead in the filming and editing of the films. Later in this semester they will work together to gather feedback from students. Most of the funding will likely be spent on the intern’s salaries. We didn't need to buy any expensive filming equipment as it was already available within the School/College/media Unit.
What have some of the successes and challenges been to date?
The biggest challenge has been finding willing alumni/employers which has taken longer than we anticipated. We approached many alumni via DAO, LinkedIn and networking at careers fairs, but many did not respond. In several cases our requests were timely as the companies were looking to create some promotional material for their recruitment website so we will share footage with them to create their own branded versions. Therefore, a very positive outcome of this project is building strong relationships with industry which may lead to further resources and future experiential learning opportunities for students.
How can staff find out more?
They can contact Dr Cosma Gottardi (Lecturer, School of Chemistry) or Katrina Gardner (Careers & Employability Manager for CoSE).
First published: 1 September 2025