BE6W67 - Work Placement (for Life Sciences) (2022/23)
Module specification | Module approved to run in 2022/23 | ||||||||||||||||
Module title | Work Placement (for Life Sciences) | ||||||||||||||||
Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||||||||
Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
School | School of Human Sciences | ||||||||||||||||
Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||||||
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Assessment components |
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Running in 2022/23(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
Description: This module focuses on extending students' learning experience by providing them with an opportunity to tackle real-life problems, appropriate to their academic level, by undertaking a short period of professional activity in the workplace. The placement needs to be approved prior to being undertaken, by the work placement coordinator. It is expected that the student should work for 140 hours, for which they will be required to provide evidence (completed in the summer or part-time over the Autumn or Spring semester). The suitability of the opportunities will be assessed on an individual basis. Where required, students will be supported in finding suitable opportunities and with all aspects of their job search and applications. However, it is the students’ responsibility to obtain suitable employment, and roles cannot be guaranteed. DBS checks and or Hep B vaccination may be required for some placements (NHS or School-based).
This module aims to provide the student with an opportunity to: Increase their personal and professional development and gain experience of the culture and structure of a working environment; evaluate, and critically reflect on, the workplace as well as the student's role and contribution to it; and to apply previously-learnt academic knowledge to the task in hand. Explore employment options and consider future career plans. It will also ensure that suitable health and safety requirements are in place and the work activity will be approved by the module team in advance.
Prior learning requirements
Completion of level 4 (can be taken at level 5 or 6)
Syllabus
No specific academic content, material will be dictated by the placement (1-4)
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Suitable work placements should offer students a range of learning opportunities appropriate to their academic level and career aspirations and should be, wherever possible, related to their subject specialism. The placement should enable the student to build on previous experiences and learning gained in their academic course and elsewhere, and should have outcomes consistent with those for their course as a whole. During the placement the student will have an opportunity to develop transferrable skills appropriate for the workplace and also ideally be able to apply theoretical material and practical techniques learned in an academic setting within the working environment.
Successful operation of a work placement requires adequate communication between the student, a nominated university contact (the Academic Group Employability Co-ordinator/ "academic supervisor"), who will normally be a member of the academic staff group responsible for the student's degree course and a nominated employee in the workplace (the "placement supervisor").
When a work related learning opportunity is gained, students will be required to complete the “Work related learning approval form”. At the start of the placement students will also be required to complete the “work-related learning agreement.
Students working in the NHS will be required to be immunized against Hep B. Students seeking work placements in Schools or similar Education establishments or in the NHS for some placements will be required to have Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) checks completed before taking up such placements.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. generate and implement a plan of conduct within a supervised work environment whilst demonstrating effectiveness, rationality and organisational skill, working both independently and in a team.
2. demonstrate and intergrate consistent and appropriate communication with colleagues, superiors, and placement supervisor(s) together with demonstrable adherence to health and safety, legal and ethical obligations;
3. critically evaluate and reflect upon her/his performance, abilities and achievements in the work place and evaluate critically the structure, major activities and responsibilities of the organisation.
4. critically reflect upon how the experience relates to their personal, career and academic development and identify future skill and knowledge development needs.
Assessment strategy
The summative process includes: (i) a copy of the work-related learning agreement including an statement of approval and their liability insurance from the employer (ii) completed portfolio comprising a written log/digital artefact and a learning report or presentation evaluating the work undertaken. (iii) The employer will provide confirmation of satisfactory performance and attendance.
To pass the module, students need to achieve a minimum aggregate mark of 40%. There will be an attendance requirement for the practical sessions. If the module is passed on reassessment, then the maximum mark awarded will be 40%.