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Thousands of healthcare students at Â鶹ӰԺ Leicester (Â鶹ӰԺ) will soon have access to some of the most realistic training available after the university won funding to develop several state-of-the-art simulation suites.

The Office for Students (OfS) has awarded the university £2 million to expand its simulation-based teaching learning and assessment as part of its drive across the university to ensure modern innovative teaching methods are applied to practice-based learning.

The first state-of-the-art simulation suite based on the ground floor of Heritage House welcomed students earlier this year, and this funding will see several further suites refurbished to the highest level in the Hawthorn Building.

Staff and students will be able to use these practical suites to simulate a number of lifelike scenarios and practice on patient simulators without compromising the wellbeing of a real patient.

All suites will be installed with the latest technology CAE Learningspace which allows simulation-based training solutions giving students a 360-degree view of their simulation training environment and enables students to view teaching sessions at anytime from anywhere, with the ability to watch recorded sessions and review their own practice.

Additionally, all suites will contain modern patient simulators (manikins) which can link into the system and produce vital signs students must respond to, followed by instant feedback through a simulation debriefing, enhancing patient safety and ensuring that students are better prepared for what is to come when practicing directly in the field.

Penni Robson, Director of Faculty Operations at Â鶹ӰԺ said: “As a faculty we are delighted to receive this funding which will enable us to upgrade and expand our clinical skills suites which will benefit lots of our students over the coming years.

 “We are working closely with colleagues across the university with the aim of opening the new teaching spaces after the Easter holiday.” 

The recent increase in the use of simulation-based learning across healthcare education at both undergraduate postgraduate levels, helped the university win the funding which will benefit 11 programmes and over 2,500 students at Â鶹ӰԺ.

Professor Simon Oldroyd, Dean of Health and Life Sciences said:  "The fantastic opportunity that this OfS funding has afforded us means that we are able to teach and assess our students with the latest technology available.

"Simulation of clinical scenarios alongside existing clinical placements is a fundamental part of our teaching and learning strategy – it means that we are able to prepare our future graduates for their professional careers in a safe, dynamic environment."