University strengthens its links with leading international health publisher.

Elsevier who are one of the worlds leading healthcare publishers recently visited the University to
research our undergraduate physiotherapy students views about their study patterns, learning
styles and reading habits. Rita Demetriou Swanwick senior content strategist and Nicola Lally Project
manager asked our students about their choices of and preferred means of learning and the
strategies that are personally effective for them on their varied learning trajectories.
A cross-section of level four and level five undergraduate students from the University of Salford
BSc honours physiotherapy were invited to undertake discussions about future publishing project
formats and the nature of their learning in higher education. We recruited 10 students comprising
EU, international, access, previous degree and A level students and undertook a productive focus
group about the future directions of publishing in health and the needs of our students in terms of
hard copy vs electronic media resources in higher education.
This sees a strengthening of the already strong links between the University of Salford and Elsevier
which have been in existence since 1999. Dr Stuart Porter a lecturer in Physiotherapy and a
publishing consultant and author with Elsevier added. Maintaining links between our students and
the publishers is a very valuable experience for Elsevier, academic colleagues and the students since
it allows the publishers to engage with us as a team and our students on a personal level and
understand the pressures that our students face and how they desire information in an easily
accessible yet appropriately detailed format. Elsevier are now able to take away a deeper
knowledge of the changing study patterns of our student cohort. This will inform future directions of
publishing and provide a firm basis for future publications. This is crucial if we are to maintain
appropriate learning media for our future students and I would like to thank the students who gave
their time.
Stuart would like to thank Jordan Arnfield, Becky Hadfield, Dawn Freilinger, Rachel Kenny, Sam
Shevlin Esther Rose Tuakli Sylvia Gautier, Tom Foster, Ricki Clark and Nabil Shah for representing
our programme and University so professionally on this internationally driven project. If you are
interested in contacting Stuart he can be contacted on s.porter@salford.ac.uk or 0161 295 0039
Room C702 Allerton Building