Contemporary practice education: exploring student perceptions of an industrial radiography placement for final year diagnostic radiography students.

Wareing, A.K.; Henderson, I.

Abstract

Introduction: There is a paucity of evidence in diagnostic radiography evaluating a career path into industrial imaging despite several higher education institutes stating this route as a career option on graduation. The link between a career in industrial radiography and diagnostic routes is unknown although there are anecdotal examples of individuals transferring between the two. Successfully obtaining a first post job following graduation in diagnostic radiography can be challenging in the current financial climate. A partnership was formed with an energy sector company that offered non-destructive testing/non-destructive evaluation (NDT/NDE) employing industrial radiographic technicians. Method: As an initial pilot, 5 (. n = 5) final year diagnostic radiography students visited an industrial radiography site and underwent theoretical and practical training. Following this placement they engaged in a focus group and the student perceptions/responses were explored and recorded. Results: Common themes were identified and categorised via a thematic analysis. These were; radiation safety, physics and technology, widening access, graduate attributes/transferable skill sets and working conditions. Conclusion: Student discussion focussed around the benefits of working conditions in healthcare, the value of technology, safety and physics education in alternative placements and the transferability of skills into other/industrial sectors (e.g. NDT/NDE). Contemporary practice placements are a useful pedagogical approach to develop complex conceptual theoretical constructs, such as radiation physics. An in depth evaluation between the two industries skill sets is postulated. Additionally, this could offer alternative/emerging roles to interested diagnostic radiographers potentially meeting the skill shortage in industrial radiography.

Citation

WAREING, A.K. and HENDERSON, I. 2015. Contemporary practice education: exploring student perceptions of an industrial radiography placement for final year diagnostic radiography students. Radiography [online], 21(2), pages 176-180. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2014.10.008

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 25, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Nov 20, 2014
• Publication Date: May 31, 2015
• Deposit Date: Sep 12, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 12, 2016
• Journal: Radiography
• Print ISSN: 1078-8174
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-2831
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 176-180
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2014.10.008
• Keywords: Practice education; Industrial radiography; NDT; NDE; Physics
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1654