FT2PPY-Professional Placement Year

Module Provider: Film, Theatre and TV
Number of credits: 120 [60 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Pre-requisite: Studying for a degree in FTT
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Placement opportunity: Maxi placement
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Lucy Tyler
Email: l.s.tyler@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module provides students with the opportunity to undertake a placement with an organisation relevant to their skills and knowledge within the broad remit of their degree programme within Film, Theatre & Television. Gaining hands-on experience of a work environment broadly related to the creative film, theatre and/or television industries, their confidence and self-reliance, maturity and sense of responsibility, team working, and communication skills will be enhanced. The module aims to provide students with an opportunity for critical reflection on the work of a relevant organisation and on their own career development. Students will be encouraged to reflect on the transferable skills they have acquired in the course of their studies and to identify skills they plan to develop in relation to future employment. The overall experience will be potentially invaluable in terms of their future career development and employability. The module is available only to students on FTT undergraduate programmes, Students will be admitted to the module at the discretion of the programme director and the module convenor, and will be responsible for securing their own placement.

Aims:

The aims of the work placement are to enhance career development and employability by:

1. providing the student with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained in their academic studies;


2. extending knowledge and learning in their chosen discipline(s);


3. gaining knowledge, understanding and skills of working in a relevant work environment.

Assessable learning outcomes:

The student will demonstrate their learning outcomes by delivering an oral presentation that critically reflects on the experiences of the work placement; in particular:

1. demonstrating their developed knowledge and understanding of the relevant aspect of the creative industries, government, research, or other organisations relevant to film, theatre and television;


2. evaluating how the work that was carried out met the needs of the employing organi zation;


3. critically reflecting on the skills and competencies developed during the placement and how these are informed by and may inform their undergraduate studies;


4. analysing the relationship between the placement and the student’s intended career.

Additional outcomes:

The module also aims to encourage the development of the following skills:

1. working with other people;


2. an understanding of the requirements of the workplace;


3. providing regular practical assistance to the employer organisation over an extended period.

Depending on the placement, there may be the opportunity to learn new creative and/or technical skills.

Outline content:

The area of work undertaken on the placement will be related to the students’ overall programme of study. The day-to-day content of the work will be set by the employing organisation and in agreement with the Placement Tutor. The work placement should provide the student with invaluable first-hand experience as well as providing opportunities for independent problem solving and working in a team.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The onus of this module is on independent working, including work experience, learning by observation, training, as well as applying these experiences specifically to an applied project. Training takes place in the workplace, usually including mentoring by a line manager. Actual contact hours will vary according to the placement and employer. Tutorial supervision will be given by a placement project tutor. 

• The Module Convenor must give approval for the placement activ ity that is planned and the project work that will arise out of it.

• The Module Convenor will discuss and agree with the student the level of commitment to the organisation required by the student.

• A Departmental Supervisor will be agreed, who may be someone other than the Module Convenor.

• All students will also be required to attend a placement-preparation session with the Careers Centre.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Placement	400	400	400
Total hours by term	400	400	400
Total hours for module	1200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Oral assessment and presentation	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Following on completion of their placement, the student will deliver an oral presentation directly based on the experiences of the placement. The presentation will enable the student to apply independent research skills to the work experience undertaken, and to develop and deepen a critical analytical understanding of the broader significance of the work undertaken for the placement in conjunction with the practical knowledge acquired on the placement.

The presentation will be delivered during the Autumn term of the year of study following completion of the placement.

Formative assessment methods:

Students receive mentoring and guidance from a local supervisor, and have contact with their personal tutor and the Department's Placement Tutor.

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:

Students must complete their placement and pass all of the assessment with an overall mark of 40%.

Successful completion of a placement does not contribute to the student’s final degree classification.

Reassessment arrangements:

Submission of additional coursework.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

There is a limited placement bursary available for home/EU students with a household income of £42,000 or less.

Last updated: 12 October 2021