Module: BMA5120-20 Work Placement

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Rose Hiron-Grimes

Module Tutor Contact Details: r.hiron-grimes@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

The Work Placement module is open to all students and supports you through a developmental process of undertaking 15 full days (or 120 hours) of work-related learning. The support includes finding a placement, planning for your personal and professional development, and reflecting critically on your placement experiences and learning.

With support from the module team, you find or create your placement opportunity with a host organisation appropriate to your development and/or your future. The placement may involve you in participating in a range of the roles, responsibilities and duties inherent in the day-to-day running of the host organisation, or it may be more project-based with a particular focus or agenda. In all cases, the aim of the placement encompasses the development of employability skills valued by employers and organisations employing graduates.

If you are already engaged in paid part-time work you will not normally be allowed to use that organisation for your placement unless you can clearly demonstrate that the placement role offers a new learning experience, further developing your personal and professional skills.

In this module you will be able to demonstrate the following Bath Spa Graduate Attributes:

• Employable – working on your employability through doing a work placement

• Able to understand and manage complexity, diversity and change – adapting to a workplace experience

• Creative thinkers, doers and makers – taking responsibility for your professional development

• Critical thinkers – critically evaluating your own practice in the workplace

2.Outline syllabus

The module is divided into three sections: pre-placement arrangements and support; the placement itself; and post-placement reflection, evaluation and assessment.

Pre-placement

• This section of the module includes a series of lectures, workshops and tutorials hosted by the module team. Typically this would include:

• Finding a placement opportunity

• Creating professional CVs and placement-specific covering letters

• Preparing for job interviews

• Setting the parameters of the placement in terms of timing, length, frequency etc., in collaboration with the placement host and in relation to other commitments (i.e. BSU academic work, paid part-time employment, family commitments, etc.)

• Negotiating the structure, content and objectives of the placement, in collaboration with the placement host and in relation to your wider academic area of study

• Developing a personal and professional skills development plan

• Gaining an understanding of reflection and introducing reflective-practice.

Placement

• The placement is expected to last the equivalent of approximately 15 full days or 120 hours in total. The time on placement may be divided up in a number of different ways as is mutually convenient to both you and the host organisation. While on placement you will be expected to keep up with your other university commitments.

• You are supported through the placement itself by a designated mentor in the host organisation and by the module team.

Post-placement

• This section involves you in completing the post-placement assessment for the module and reflecting on the overall experience of the placement.

Reflective log

Throughout the module, you are required to keep a placement journal in which you:

• Outline the activities you are involved in throughout the module and on the placement

• Raise any issues or problems and consider ways of managing them (problem-solving)

• Chart the skills learned and knowledge gained

• Evaluate your own performance on the placement

• Critically reflect on your work-based learning within the broader context of your degree and plans for the future.

3.Teaching and learning activities

The module is front-loaded with a series of lectures and workshops to provide you with the instructions and confidence to secure or create a suitable work placement.

The module team will span the necessary expertise in the areas of personal development, careers support and placement guidance to prepare you for your work placement opportunity.

The assessments are designed to maximise your learning from the work placement experience and provide a model for your on-going professional and career development.

You are expected to reflect on your work-related learning in consultation with the recommended key texts and to research how to develop specific skills.

You will work with other students in formative exercises and tasks and your learning will be electronically supported through Minerva and the Bath Spa CareerHub.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Development plan (1,500 words)

• % Weighting: 30%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Reflective portfolio (3,500 words)

• % Weighting: 70%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Record of 70-120 hours worked (signed by employer) 

• % Weighting: Pass/Fail