GV3PLANU-Summer Placement

Module Provider: Geography and Environmental Science
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Semesters in which taught: Summer & Autumn Terms
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Placement opportunity: Mini placement
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Nicholas Branch
Email: n.p.branch@reading.ac.uk

NUIST Module Lead: Buda Su
Email:

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module gives students an opportunity to undertake a research or professional placement broadly related to the general area of their degree programme, during the summer vacation preceding Part 3 study. Research placements provide the opportunity of working with a member of staff on a project based in China or internationally. Professional placements allow students to work with a professional organisation, consultancy or government organisation to gain experience of the professional sector.

Aims:

1. To gain experience of the job application process through self-organised placements


2. ÌýTo gain relevant research/professional placement experience to provide a context for academic studies


3. ÌýTo increase employability through being able to demonstrate dedicated experience in the university or professional sector


4. ÌýTo extend knowledge and learning of degree discipline modules and to identify career path(s)


5. ÌýTo enhance ‘soft-skills’ such as team-work, communication, time-management and planning.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that the student will be able to:

• Gain understanding and appreciation of the research/professional environment


• Think critically and analytically about the work carried out on the placement and how it has contributed to the research/professional activity


• List examples of soft-skills acquired and developed whilst on placement


• Production of a screencast, article/opinion piece and poster and attendance of poster networking event

Additional outcomes:

Students may also develop the following:

1. Understand and take part in the job application process (CV, cover letter, interview)


2. Appreciation of the internal and external factors that impact upon the running of a research/enterprise activity


3. Self-confidence within the research/professional environment


4. Identification of a future career path

Outline content:

Students are expected to secure their own placements of at least 20 days, to be completed during the summer vacation Part 3 study. The placement length should be 20 days (140 hours), or part-time equivalent (although longer placements can contribute to this module). Placements may be paid or unpaid. Advice and support on securing placements will be available from the School and the Careers Service. Placements must provide students with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of the research/enterprise working environment, and provide them with situations to develop both the academic/technical expertise and ‘soft-skills’. Each placement must be individually approved by the module convenor, with all necessary legal, health and safety documents in place prior to commencement. During the placement the student must abide by the rules and regulations of the provider.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will consist of at 20 days (140 hours), or part-time equivalent of placement experience (although longer placements can contribute to this module), the timing of which will be arranged between the student and research/professional placement provider. The work content of the placement will be determined by the academic/enterprise organisation with input from the module convenor(s).

Ìý

The placement will be supported by 10 hours of teaching time (in the form of lectures, seminars or tutorials) provided by the module team and placement provider to: (1) give advice on how to secure a placement and develop skills for the job application stage, (2) outline the requirements and pr