Open University Experiential Learning Pilot
Earlier this year, Healthcare Science colleagues from Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland) supported the delivery of an innovative experiential learning pilot in partnership with the Open University, using a mock Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) patient case study to give students meaningful insight into Healthcare Science roles within NHS Scotland.
The pilot was designed to address a long‑standing challenge across healthcare science careers visibility and addressing how to provide high‑quality, inclusive work experience at scale, without placing additional pressure on clinical services. Delivered virtually and facilitated by Healthcare Science professionals, the event enabled students to take part in a live, interactive NHS‑focused experience, regardless of geographical location or scientific degree programme.
Learning by doing: the mock MDT model
Rather than observing practice passively, students worked in facilitated groups to explore a realistic patient case, following diagnostic pathways and considering how different Healthcare Science roles contribute to patient care. The Mock MDT format promoted multidisciplinary understanding while helping learners apply academic knowledge in a simulated professional setting.
Alongside career insight, the experience supported development of wider employability skills, including teamwork, communication, problem‑solving and professional confidence—key strengths of Healthcare Science practice that are not always visible through traditional teaching approaches.
Strong outcomes from student feedback
Evaluation of the Open University pilot demonstrated consistently positive outcomes across satisfaction, perceived value and learner confidence. All participants rated the event positively, with 100% describing the mock MDT experience as very or extremely valuable in understanding how Healthcare Science roles contribute to patient care.
Nearly two‑thirds of students reported that the event exceeded their expectations, and the majority felt confident in their awareness of our healthcare scientists role in diagnostic tests and patient pathways following the experience. This combination of high satisfaction, strong perceived value and improved confidence provides clear evidence that this mock MDT Open University event delivered an effective experiential learning and career engagement approach.
💬 Student Voice: Mock MDT Experiential Learning
“I enjoyed learning how an MDT works, particularly the problem‑solving and working with an unfamiliar team.”
“The activity was interactive, collaborative and multidisciplinary, and felt very realistic.”
“I didn’t realise how integrated the disciplines were – it’s given me new career ideas to explore.”
Why this matters for Healthcare Science
Healthcare Science remains a critical but often less visible professional group within NHS Scotland. This pilot has shown that well‑designed, digitally enabled experiential learning can play a meaningful role in raising awareness of Healthcare Science careers, widening access to work experience, and supporting future workforce pipelines—as a complementary approach in additional to traditional placements in the NHS.
Importantly, the experiential learning event for students has been shown to be repeatable, scalable and resource‑efficient, making it well suited to national coordination and future expansion across universities and learning providers.
Looking ahead
Building on the success of the Open University pilot, PSD Scotland, Healthcare Science is exploring opportunities to expand this initiative as part of a nationally coordinated approach to experiential learning for Healthcare Science. This would support equity of access for students, strengthen early career awareness, and reinforce Healthcare Science’s role within a modern, sustainable workforce model.
Watch this space for further news on this exciting initiative from Public Services Delivery Scotland.