Published: 12 August 2024
With the recent publication of the Skills for Care Workforce Strategy, identifying that the sector will need 540,000 additional social care posts by 2040, we hear from Dr Banhishikha Ghosh, Lecturer in Health & Social Care, about her new role at the university - that will focus on driving improvements in student employability prospects, and the transformative role of academics.
“Working in the Care sector is an all-in career, one that requires the engagement of all the senses.” explains Banhishikha, as she outlines her broad and exciting plans to enhance the employability focus of the University of Sunderland in London’s (UoSiL) Health and Social Care courses.
“I want to positively shift the thinking of our students beyond just entry-level career opportunities. This includes exploring graduate job pathways in the NHS and in Care sector research organisations.”.
Working closely with fellow academics at the university and the Careers team, Banhishikha aims to enhance the curriculum, grow industry and civil society collaboration, and make Health and Social Care teaching at UoSiL “…more relevant and responsive to societal needs.”.
Developing empathy in Care
A key part of Banhishikha’s plan is exploring internships, placements, and volunteering opportunities with Care sector organisations so students can develop industry-relevant skills - such as analysis and empathy – as well as more innovate skills such as entrepreneurship.
“I have a strong desire that theoretical frameworks are maintained throughout the teaching of the courses to improve our students’ analytical, critical and empathy skills – vital attributes for a successful career in the Care sector.”
“I have a strong desire that theoretical frameworks are maintained throughout the teaching of the courses to improve our students’ analytical, critical and empathy skills – vital attributes for a successful career in the Care sector.”.
Enhancing this offer further is the university’s location, right next to Canary Wharf and its growing number of Health and Care organisations.
The transformative experience of university
Banhishikha’s career path to academia started from a very young age. With a Vice-Chancellor father and an Associate Professor mother – whom she describes as her “personal heroes” -, Banhishikha was encouraged to learn from an early age, reading Sociology texts at just seven years old.
Her time at university, including earning her MPhil Sociology from the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India, was a “Transformative turning point, due the academics who urged students pushed the boundaries of critical thinking and the incredibly supportive environment”.
Foundations that, Banhishikha explains, positively influence her approach to teaching for students at the UoSiL as she and her colleagues equip the much-needed Care workforce of the future.
With an enhanced employability focus, experienced, passionate teaching staff, and the opportunity to study in one of London’s most thriving areas, now is an excellent time to explore the Health and Social Care courses offered by the University of Sunderland in London.