Revamping undergraduate physics degrees with a focus on translational skills

A physics degree gives graduates an enviable set of skills that can prove useful in a wide range of jobs. But could physics courses be improved to make students even more prepared for the future of work?

In this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast, Andrew Mizumori Hirst and William Wakeham explain how graduates would benefit from a greater emphasis on the teaching of translational skills such as effective communication; team working; creativity; and the ability to find cross-disciplinary solutions to complex problems.

Mizumori Hirst is director of White Rose Industrial Physics Academy and Wakeham is chair of the South East Physics Network – both in England. They address a wide range of issues facing university educators including technology, assessment, diverse learning styles and teaching students how to tackle open-ended problems.

Wakeham and Mizumori Hirst have also teamed up with Veronica Benson – formerly of the South East Physics Network – to write an article for Physics World called “Building a physics degree for the future: five key questions we need to answer”.