AP2A68-Mini Work Placement and Professional Development for Animal Scientists

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: Part 1 BSc Animal Science
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Placement opportunity: Micro placement
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Rachael Neal
Email: r.a.neal@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 Animal Science, OR, actively network with a range of potential employers and secure and conduct a series of informational interviews with them to aid your careers research. 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

1. develop ‘careers curiosity’


2. gain a range of essential career planning skills


3. network with a range of animal science industry employers to secure and complete either (a) a micro work-placement independently organised by the student and authorised by the University, or (b) conduct a series of informational interviews with potential employers to develop a deeper understanding of animal science careers and the skills and experience required


4. enhance self-awareness and engage with a framework for critical self-reflection and experiential learning in the context of career planning and employability. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By completion of the module students will be able to:

• Identify, assess and effectively articulate their skills, interests, values, personality traits and experience in the context of careers and employability via a portfolio of evidence


• Reflect on their personal career planning journey including through critical reflection on the personal and professional learning gained from either an independently organised micro work-placement in the field of animal science or networking and securing informational interviews with animal science employers.

Additional outcomes:

Students will also gain experience of

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


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


• Networking and approaching potential employers - informed by their understanding of the recruitment and selection processes and networking tools available


• Applying their scientific/technical skills and knowledge, and transferrable skills, to the tasks and responsibilities of the role in which they are working in the micro placement where applicable


• Self-motivation and self-organisation

Outline content:

Seminars and tutorials, starting in Spring and Summer Term Part 1, introduced as part of Animal Science in Practice 1, and continuing into Part 2 will cover topics such as:

• Career action planning


• Careers research tools and opportunities


• CVs and cover letters


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


• Applying for micro work experience placements (including approvals process)


• Informational interviewing techniques


• Applications and job interviews


• Reflective thinking and writing


• One to one tutorials for specific support/guidance about career choice, strategy for the module and reflection

For Route 1 ‘Micro-placement’ the following conditions apply:

A micro work-placement will be independently organised and undertaken by the student. Students are encouraged to apply for a challenging placement aligned to their personal career interests which will afford them quality development opportunities. This placement must be approved by the University and all associated paperwork must be completed BEFORE any placement commences.

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 animal or biological science, for example in the areas of animal health, welfare, nutrition, behaviour, production/agriculture, zoological management, conservation, education, research, 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 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 with 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 the module or if there is time, another placement being fulfilled.

??For Route 2 Informational Interviews the following conditions apply:

1. A series of 4 separate interviews, minimum 30 minutes each


2. Interviews will be independently organised by the student. Students are encouraged to broaden their network and pursue interviews with people in organisations where it otherwise might be challenging to obtain experience or insight.


3. Interviewees should be working in graduate roles or above, in companies or organisations within the animal or biological science field, for example in the areas of animal health, welfare, nutrition, behaviour, production/agriculture, zoological management, conservation, education, research, communication etc.


4. Interviewees are not colleagues in companies/organisations that students have previously worked for, or are currently working for.


5. Interviewees are not members of staff or students in the University of Reading


6. Interviewees must be with representatives from different companies/organisations (i.e. do not interview 4 people all working for same company or organisation)


7. 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 Term Part 1, introduced as part of Animal Science in Practice 1):

• Career action planning


• Research and preparing to obtain work experience placements


• CVs and covering letters


• Applying for work experience

Seminars and tutorials (Autumn Term Part 2):

• Applications and interviews


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


• Reflective thinking and writing

Seminars and tutorials will help students to prepare for placement(s) and develop the skills needed for securing a micro-placement and other future placements/forms of employment. They will encourage effective self-evaluation and reflection during and after the placement. Drop in sessions will be available for support.

Work based learning during a microwork placement:

A micro work-placement will be independently organised and undertaken by the student. Students are encouraged to apply for a challenging placement aligned to their personal career interests which will afford them quality development opportunities. This placement must be approved by the University and all associated paperwork must be completed BEFORE any placement commences.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	4	6	2
Seminars	2	2
Tutorials	1	1
Work-based learning	12	12	11
Guided independent study:	16	24	7
Total hours by term	35	45	20
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 a reflective portfolio divided into two parts (first part, 30%, submitted in Autumn Part 2, second part 70% early Summer Part 2), and containing evidence of their career planning and micro-placement or interviewing activity which may include:

• Career mind map and action plan


• CV and example cover email for a mini placement or interview approach


• LinkedIn profile


• Evidence of attendance at four careers/professional development events


• Placement or interview learning logs, proformas and a critical reflective account


• Critical reflection on overall career planning journey


• Testimonial form from placement provider or email confirmations of interviews taking place (not formally assessed).

Formative assessment methods:

There are regular opportunities for discussion in class sessions and one-to-ones. In addition, students will work through examples of reflective writing in preparation for writing reflectively about their own placement experience.

Students will receive feedback on the first part of their portfolio submission prior to submission of the subsequent part, 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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/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:  Students will need to provide any necessary clothing, footwear or PPE if undertaking a practical based placement, unless these are provided by the employer.

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

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: 22 September 2022