ARMREP-Research and Enterprise Placement

Module Provider: Archaeology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: ARMEMP Research and Enterprise Micro-Placement
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Aleks Pluskowski
Email: a.g.pluskowski@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module aims to help students apply their academic training within a research and/or enterprise environment.

Research placements will provide the opportunity of working with a member of staff on a current project based in the UK or internationally. Enterprise positions would allow students to work with a developer-funded archaeological unit/specialist, consultancy or government organisation to gain experience of professional commercial archaeology.

Students will also learn some of the main elements that form part of a grant application or commercial tender whilst creating their own project design.

Aims:
1. To gain relevant research/enterprise placement experience to provide a context for academic studies
2. To increase employability through being able to demonstrate dedicated, project-based experience in industry and the university sector
3. To extend knowledge and learning of degree discipline modules and to help identify future career path(s)
4. To enhance £soft-skills£ such as team-work, communication, time-management and planning.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that the student will be able to: 1. Gain understanding and appreciation of the research/enterprise working environment 2. Think critically and analytically about the work carried out on the placement and how it has contributed to the research/enterprise activity 3. List examples of soft-skills acquired and developed whilst on placement 4. Production of a project design (grant application / tender document) 5. Demonstration of planning, cost & time management soft-skills (all forming part of the project design)

Additional outcomes:

Students may also develop the following:

1. Understand and take part in the job application process (CV, cover letter, interview) 


2. Appreciation of the internal and external factors that impact upon the running of a research/enterprise activity


3. Self-confidence within the research/enterprise working environment


4. Identification of a future career path

Outline content:

Students will be provided with a list of placement opportunities and asked to apply for one or more that meets their interests. Alternatively, the student can select and apply for their own research/enterprise placement position. Once the student has been offered and accepted a placement, s/he will undertake 15 days of work (105 hours). Placements must provide students with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of the research/enterprise working environment, and providethem with situations to develop both the academic/technical expertise and ‘soft-skills’. Each placement must be individually approved by the module convenor, with all necessary legal, health and safety documents in place prior to commencement. During the placement the student must abide by the rules and regulations of the provider.

Students who are unable to secure a placement will be asked to transfer to another 20 credit module instead.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will consist of 15 days (105 hours) of placement experience, the timing of which will be arranged between the student and research/enterprise placement provider. The work content of the placement will be determined by the academic/enterprise organisation with input from the module convenor(s). The placement will be supported by 10 hours of teaching time (in the form of lectures, seminars or tutorials) provided by the module team and placement provider to outline the requirements of the placement and assignments.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	6	4
Placement		105
Guided independent study:	78	7
Total hours by term	84	116	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	20
Project output other than dissertation	70
Oral assessment and presentation	10

Summative assessment- Examinations:
N/A

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1. Students will write a placement report (20%; 1000 words) that outlines the work undertaken during the placement and how it has contributed to their personal development and that of the research/enterprise activity.


2. Students will prepare a project design  (70%; 5000 words) and subsequent presentation (10%; 15 minutes), that provide experience of: (1) undertaking background research; (2) writing aims/objectives; (3) selecting appropriate methods, and (4) time, cost and risk managemen

Formative assessment methods:

Students will be provided with tuition and verbal feedback during the course of their placement position through both formal and informal means

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
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:

Satisfactory completion of the placement, which is determined by the student’s progress during the period of their placement. Submission of placement report, project design and project pitch.

Reassessment arrangements:

Resubmission of coursework in August/September. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Most placements are internal with no additional costs. If a student elects to undertake an external placement, the associated costs will vary according to each student and will be the responsibility of the individual to cover. These costs may include travel, visa, living expenses and in some cases clothing and equipment.

Last updated: 22 September 2022