AP2ID5-Professional Practice Placement for International Development

Module Provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Pre-requisites: Part 1 BSc International Development (3 & 4 years) including BSc Spanish with International Development and BSc French with International Development
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Placement opportunity: Micro placement
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Ms Rebecca Jerrome
Email: r.m.jerrome@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

You’ll gain and apply a range of essential career planning skills, including developing your career action plan, CV, applications and professional networks, through a series of seminar sessions supported by a Careers Consultant. You’ll use your skills to apply for and undertake a short work experience placement (35 hours) related to development, and through this experience you'll develop your critical self-reflection abilities to help you get the most out of this professional development opportunity.

Aims:

This module provides opportunities for students to gain essential career planning skills and provides a means of promoting and recognising short term work placements within the field of development and related disciplines, which are independently organised by students and approved by the University. Its main aims are to (i) to enable students to learn and apply essential skills for planning their career (ii) enhance employability through acquisition of relevant experience and (iii) promote personal and professional development and increased self-awareness by providing a framework for critical self-reflection in the context of the career decision making and work based learning experience.

there will be an alternative assessment pathway available, comprising of the student arranging and conducting information gathering interviews with employers to support their career research, in the event that mini placements cannot be secured due to Covid-19 constraints.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By completion of the module students will be able to:

1. Identify, assess and articulate their skills, interests, values and personality traits in the context of career decision making


2. Effectively articulate relevant experience and skills in their CV and online profile


3. Reflect on their personal career planning journey including through critical reflection on the personal and professional learning opportunities afforded to them duri ng an independently organised micro work-placement in the field of development. OR through independently organised interviews with employers in the field of development.

Additional outcomes:

Students will also gain experience of

• Careers information retrieval, research and decision making using a variety of sources.


• Writing an effective application (a CV and covering letter)


• Networking - informed by their understanding of the recruitment and selection processes.


• Organising a mini work-placement (or interviews with potential employers should Covid 19 restrictions mean a mini-placement cannot be secured)


• Applying their skills and knowledge to the tasks and responsibilities of the role in which they are working in the micro placement.

Students will also gain or enhance a range of day to day transferable skills in the work place, as appropriate to their role, including for example time management, communication, team work and independent work, initiative, organisation, decision making and global awareness.

Outline content:

1. A series of career planning sessions, supported by Reading Careers service


2. Students will then undertake either:
   
   
   
   1. A 35 hour Micro-work placement
   
   
   2. Or if a micro-placement is prevented due to Covid 19 restrictions: A career research project comprising a series of information gathering interviews with employers/employees working in the field of international development or rela ted disciplines.
   
   
   
   

Micro-work placement - conditions

1. Work placements must amount to 35 hours minimum - the equivalent of one full time week of work. Other arrangements for accrual of time may be discussed with and approved in advance by the module convenor on a case by case basis (i.e. weekly day/part day sessions over a period of time). Longer summer placements are allowed/encouraged but are not a necessity for completion of the module.


2. All placements must be within a company or organisation connected with development work, for example in the areas of aid, charity work, politics and international relations, non-governmental organisations, local authorities, education, research and communication.


3. Placements must be undertaken between the end of the Part 1 examinations and the end of the Easter Vacation of Part 2.


4. All placements must be discussed with and approved by the University in advance of the placement commencement date. Placements will not be approved retrospectively. Placements which involve doing a job the student already does or has done in the past will not normally be approved – students are encouraged to seek new opportunities.


5. All placement providers must satisfy health and safety requirements, hold relevant insurance and be willing to provide evidence of student attendance along wit h a basic testimonial of the student’s performance. Health and Safety documentation and a Work Placement Agreement must be completed and signed off before the placement can commence.


6. In order for placements to be recognised within this module, it is the responsibility of the student to have all required paperwork completed and submitted to the module convenor prior to commencing their placement, failure to do so will result in penalty in the final module mark, failure of th e module or if there is time, another placement being fulfilled.

Career research project interviews - conditions

1. A minimum of three interviews with different employers/employees must be arranged and conducted by the student. Detailed requirements will be given within an assessment brief.


2. All interviews must be with people managing/working in a company or organisation connected with work in an organisation connected with international development or related fields, as outlined above.


3. Interviews which involve students speaking to present or past employers will not usually be approved.


4. Interviews must be undertaken before the end of the Easter Vacation of Part 2.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Seminars and tutorials (Spring/Summer Term Part 1):

• Career action planning


• Research and preparing to obtain work experience placements


• CVs and covering letters


• Applying for work experience


• Networking including use of online platforms e.g. LinkedIn


• Applications and interviews


• Reflective thinking and writing

There will be a number of s eminars and tutorials in the Autumn Term Part 2.

Seminars and tutorials will help students to prepare for and develop the skills needed for securing a micro-placement and /or for securing and conducting interviews with employers. They will encourage effective self-evaluation and reflection during and after the placement or interviewing experience. Drop in sessions will be available for support.

Work based learning:

A micro work-placemen t will be independently organised and undertaken by the student, or students will secure and conduct information gathering interviews with employers or employees in the development or related sector. Students are encouraged to apply for a challenging placement, or to search for and secure informational interviews that are aligned to their personal career interests which will afford them quality development opportunities. If a placement is undertaken it must be approved by the University and all associated paperwork must be completed BEFORE any placement commences.

Contact hours per term will be dependent upon the timing of the student’s individual placement. Accordingly, hours below are indicative only.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	4	8
Tutorials	1	2
Work-based learning			35
Guided independent study:
Advance preparation for classes	5	5
Other		5
Preparation of practical report	10	15	10
Total hours by term	20	35	45
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Portfolio	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

N/A

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students will be required to submit reflective portfolio divided into parts, and containing evidence of their career planning and micro-placement or career research (interview) project activity (subject to ongoing Covid 19 constraints).

Formative assessment methods:

There are regular opportunities for discussion in class sessions. Students will receive feedback on elements of their portfolio submission, allowing time for reflection and development.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall. 

Reassessment arrangements:

By submission of coursework.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  Students will need to provide any neccessary clothing, footwear or PPE if undertaking a practical based placement, unless these are provided by the employer.

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  Students will have to pay for any such costs associated with undertaking their placement.

Last updated: 30 July 2021