AP2A70-Mini Work Placement and Professional Development in Agriculture

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: Only available to BSc Agriculture
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Placement opportunity: Micro placement
Current from: 2022/3

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 Agriculture, 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 employers in the agriculture sector 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 the sector 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 agricultural science or networking and securing informational interviews with employers in the agriculture sector.

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 Environmental Management in Practice 1, and continuing into Part 2 will cover topics such as:

• Career action planning


• Careers research tools and opportunities


• CVs and covering 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 the agriculture sector, for example in the areas of crop production, animal health, welfare, nutrition, behaviour, production/ 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 agriculture sector as outlined above.


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.

Global context:

Where appropriate for the placement, students will gain a global understanding of their industry and employer.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module is taught by a combination of:

• Seminars and lectures delivered by a Careers Consultant and or the module convenor


• Tutorials/one-to-ones/drop in sessions (making use of online platforms where possible)


• Guided independent work: Either a micro-placement within the Environmental Management industry or active networking and informational interviewing of employers in the Environmental Management industry.< /li>
  

Together, this will provide students with the skills required to explore career options, obtain relevant experience and networks which they can build on as their career journey progresses, and will encourage effective self-evaluation and reflection.

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

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	2	8
Tutorials	3	2
Work-based learning			35
Guided independent study:
Other		30	10
Reflection	10
Total hours by term	15	40	45
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Portfolio	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

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 1000 word 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.  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: 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: 

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

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

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

Last updated: 23 January 2023