PO2PPY-Professional Placement Year

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 120 [60 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Placement opportunity: Maxi placement
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr David Marshall
Email: d.j.marshall@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is a work placement year. The area of work undertaken on the placement will be related to the students’ programme of study in the Department of Politics and International Relations. The day to day content of the work will be set by the placement employer. The work placement should provide the student with the opportunity for independent problem solving and working in a team.

Aims:

The aims of the work placement are to:

• provide the student with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained in the first two years of their undergraduate studies


• extend knowledge and learning in their chosen degree discipline


• gain knowledge, understanding and skills of working in a relevant environment.

Assessable learning outcomes:

This module provides the student with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained in the first two years of their undergraduate studies. It aims to extend students’ knowledge and learning in their chosen degree discipline and gain knowledge, understanding and skills of working in a relevant environment. Assessable outcomes

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

• demonstrate in-depth understanding of their placement organisation, structure and rules of governance and their own role within this structure.


• offer a detailed academic appreciation of the placement by relating the placement role to academic study and demonstrating in-depth understanding of the ways in which theory and practice are linked.


• present material and articulate arguments in both written and oral form.

Additional outcomes:

Students will develop a greater understanding of the requirements of the workplace through experience of full-time employment in a setting with relevance to their skills and knowledge in the field of Politics and International Relations. Through the placement students will build on their experience of team-based work. They will gain experience of planning, organisation, communication and research within the workplace. The experience will be relevant to future career development and employability.

Outline content:

The area of work undertaken on the placement will be related to the student's programme of study in the Department of Politics and International Relations. The day to day content of the work will be set by the student's employer. The work placement should provide the student with the opportunity for independent problem solving and working in a team.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Students will receive guidance on placement planning and remain supported by the School Placement Coordinator throughout their year. However, the emphasis on this module is on independent working, including work experience, learning by observation, training and doing.

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
Report	50
Oral assessment and presentation	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Written report:

Students will write one report of 3,000 word (+/-10%) analysing and evaluating their placement year. The deadline for submission on Blackboard is the first day of the autumn term following completion of the placement year. This report will be worth 50% of the module mark. Students will be expected to outline the nature and structure of the organisation. They will offer an academic appreciation of the placement by relating the placement role to academic study and demonstrate a clear understanding of the ways in which theory and practice are linked. Students will be expected to outline any challenges faced and reflect on the impact of their placement experience on skills development and future graduate destination choices.



Oral presentation:

Students will give one oral presentation to the module convenor and the School Placement Coordinator within the first three weeks of the Autumn term following completion of the placement year. The presentation should last between 15-30 minutes. It will contribute 50% of the module mark. The presentation should provide an overview of the organisation and the student role. It should demonstrate critical engagement and original thought in the application of theory to practice as well as detail the knowledge and skills learnt from the placement experience.

Formative assessment methods:

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:

40%

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-assessment in August.

Coursework:  any formally assessed coursework over the 40% threshold will be carried forward unless a student opts to re-submit this element as well as taking the examination. Any coursework with a mark of less than 40% should be re-submitted. In both cases the deadline for re-submission is 1 August.

Students are allowed to resubmit coursework on the same topic as for a previous attempt, and coursework which had previously been submitted late can be re-submitted for a second attempt.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 8 April 2021