BI2PLA-Summer Placement

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Renee Lee
Email: r.b.y.lee@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
In a competitive job market, understanding how the professional work place functions, along with well developed employability skills are essential to securing future employment. In this module, students will undertake a short placement within a relevant company or organisation. This is an excellent opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience of the working world, improve and diversify their skills as well as enhancing their curriculum vitae. Students will be supported in finding their own placement, a useful skill for seeking out future employment opportunities.

Aims:
This module aims to expose students to the processes involved in securing a placement (or a job) by putting theory into practice. The placement itself aims to familiarise students with the professional work environment, provide the opportunity for students to acquire new skills and to develop an awareness of the job and sector. The associated assessment aims to give students the experience of writing a reflective report and presenting to a large audience.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, the student should be able to:

• Provide an insight of the sector that they are hoping to work in; the employment opportunities and requirements within the sector


• Reflect on their personal growth and professional performance in the work environment


• Demonstrate industry specific and other valuable transferable skills - specifically professional communication, working on own initiative, flexibility, problem solving, punctuality and time management


• Determine the link between theory and real-life, work based learning and application


• Evaluate their own performance and develop their written and communication skills through completion of a report and presentation at the end of the placement.

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:
Summer placements should be organised by students (either independently or with the help of the module convenor). The placement should be a minimum of 3 weeks and will have to take place during the summer vacation, either between part one and two or part two and three. The 10 credits for this module can be taken in the Autumn Term of the subsequent academic year, however, this cannot be done retrospectively. The placement can be paid or unpaid, however it must be relevant to the degree subject that the students are taking. Please note that the placement must be approved by the module convenor before the work-based learning takes place.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
In Autumn, a seminar will be given by the Careers Team to all students in the School of Biological Sciences. This will provide an overview of the module aims and the process of finding a suitable placement. Students will also have the opportunity to attend the presentations of students who themselves have undertaken placements in the previous Summer. Thereafter, students can arrange drop-in sessions with the programme advisor and careers consultant throughout Spring and Summer to ensure that a s uitable placement is secured. During the end of the Summer Term, students who have confirmed a placement will have to attend a compulsory, pre-placement briefing. Upon completion of their placement, students will be required to submit a reflective placement report (no later than week 2 in the Autumn Term) on their work experience, day-to-day activities and skills gained and how they have contributed to the students’ personal growth and professional development. Students will also be required to present their experience to the next cohort in a placement event that will take place in Autumn.