Encompassing the University’s core strategic goals, service learning ensures social responsibility remains central to the world-leading teaching and learning at Manchester. The transformative initiative allows students across various disciplines to address real-world challenges with the academic knowledge and expertise developed over their time at university. Embedded into their curriculum, students actively engage in a variety of projects with local communities and minority groups, such as delivering educational workshops or providing vital services.

Beyond developing practical and professional skills, this approach empowers our students to become conscientious global citizens, dedicated to civic engagement. 

Incorporating service learning into their curriculum, third year pharmacy students are running free health clinics across campus. The walk-in clinics, held 13.30-15.30 on specified dates throughout the year, are open to all staff and students.

Upon arrival, visitors are directed to a group of 2-3 students for their consultation. Students begin the health check by measuring visitors’ blood pressure, heart rate, height and weight. This information is used to calculate body mass index, followed by an evaluation of heart age, using an NHS evidence-based tool, and diabetes risk.

During the consultation, students share their academic knowledge, helping visitors to identify and understand potential risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The consultation is completed by a discussion of results, including signposting to further information, to form a tailored action plan.

Leading the pharmacy service learning initiative and supervising students during the clinics are Harsha Parmar and Sarah Knighton, academics in the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry.

“It is really important we embed this learning into the course, we want our graduates to not only be good pharmacists but to also have that sense of responsibility for the community they live in and society in general”, says Harsha. Both Harsha and Sarah describe feeling a sense of pride towards their students and the University for supporting them throughout the process of organising the clinics.

Over the course of the semester, the clinics have seen an overwhelmingly positive turn out, with over 100 University staff and students visiting. Reflecting on their experience, students explained how the idea was initially very nerve-wracking due to the stark contrast with traditional lecture-based methods of learning.

However, since beginning the clinics, students agreed the experience had been rather fun and enjoyable. They had greatly developed their confidence both personally, through engaging with new people, and professionally, practicing consultation skills required for their future career in a familiar and comfortable environment.

Forming a part of a wider research study,  visitors can complete a questionnaire, providing feedback on their experience of the student-led clinics. The findings will help to revise the University’s pharmacy teaching and learning framework, in line with The General Pharmaceutical Council’s training guidelines (2021), which place a greater emphasis on development of consultation skills and delivery of clinical care.

Although visitors attended the clinics for a free, easily accessible health check, many left having gained knowledge not only about leading a healthy lifestyle but also about the different services their local pharmacy can provide.  “I was not aware of the diabetes types or the risk to develop it, I had never really checked my BMI” said one attendee. “It was a very good experience overall, very professional”.

The student-led clinics will continue to run in the next semester. Visit our website to access information about upcoming dates.

To find out more about service learning at the University, visit our service learning website.

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