MA3SPL-Summer Placement

Module Provider: Mathematics and Statistics
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Pre-placement training run in April 2022
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Mrs Claire Newbold
Email: c.newbold@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module gives students an opportunity to do a work placement or an internship with a work based employer broadly related to the general sphere of their degree studies. Based on the work experience gained, the student will deliver a self-reflective report following feedback from their employer and link their new and or enhanced skills to University of Reading graduate attributes. Students will present at a student and employer networking event in October 2022 and to academic staff during week 6 of Autumn term in a more formal setting using slides and projector.

Aims:

To recognise the work-place learning that students complete during a self-organised mini- placement which will take place in their summer vacation. The module is an excellent opportunity for students to:

• complete a work placement in a relevant organisation applying their knowledge and skills gained from their academic studies;


• reflect upon the skills they have and appreciate how these skills match the graduate attributes employers are seeking.

Assessable learning outcomes:

After completing the module, the students will be able to:

• Gain confidence presenting to peers and employers at a networking event held in October  2022


• Gain confidence in their professional presentation skills and utilize their creative skills through producing a presentation that effectively describes their placement and its benefitsto academic staff in week 6 of Autumn term.


• Assess their strengths and weaknesses against the desired graduate attributes employers are seeking


• Develop their reflective skills, written communication skills and resilience in coping with constructive feedback.

Additional outcomes:

Students will gain experience of applying for a work placement or volunteering opportunity, which will prove valuable when applying for graduate jobs. The module also aims to encourage the development of the following skills:

• increased employability by developing their degree discipline knowledge, competencies and skills through the work placement.


• gain confidence and self-reliance, maturity, resilience and sense of responsibility; build networks with professionals in a work  environment;

The overall experience will be potentially invaluable in terms of their future career development and employability.

Outline content:

The area of work undertaken on the placement will be broadly related to the students’ overall programme of study. The day-to-day content of the work will be set by the placement employer  and in agreement with the module convenor. 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.

Students will organise their own mini work-based placement to take place in the summer vacation between parts two and three. This could be a work experience placement, paid work or volunteering but this must be broadly related to the degree subject that student is taking or relate to their future career path.

Please note that the placement must be approved by the module convenor before the placement takes place.

Guidance will be given on effective self-reflection.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

At the beginning of the preceding Spring Term students will attend pre-placement training run by the module convenor to discuss the module aims and the process of finding a suitable placement. Thereafter, 1:1 meetings with the module convenor will be scheduled by the students to ensure:

• the placement is suitable for the degree;


• students understand what is expected of them and attend a pre-placement preparation session given by the module conven or;


• all necessary health and safety, risk assessments and legal agreements are in place; the placement employer has agreed to the terms of the placement.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	2	1	3
Placement			94
Total hours by term	2	1	97
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	60
Oral assessment and presentation	40

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The student will ask their supervisor / manager to provide them with feedback at the end of their placement. This feedback details their strengths and achievements and comments on their overall performance and development of relevant graduate competencies and skills. A template will be provided to the employer. In the Autumn Term following the placement, students will submit a reflective placement report no later than Friday of week 5. The report will enable students to:

• reflect on the feedback from the manager enabling them to assess their competencies and skills


• provide a summary of their experiences of the work placement highlighting how their degree  knowledge, competencies and skills have developed and how these link to the University of Reading graduate attributes.


• Develop an action plan to support them in securing a graduate offer

Students will take part in a timed 1 minute lightning presentation at a placement networking event in Autumn Term for students interested in completing a summer placement. This will enhance the students’ communication skills by confidently summarizing their placement to peers and employers attending the event. They will have the opportunity to talk at length to peers to provide a more in-depth description of their placement and promote placement opportunities to others describing the benefits gained.

Students will give a timed 5 minute presentation with slides to academics during week 6 about their placement.

They will describe the placement industry and role completed, the benefits of the role and how their competencies and skills have improved that meet the graduate attributes sought by employers.

Formative assessment methods:

Formative feedback will be provided by the employers, who must agree that the student can use their placement as part of their degree.

The manager/supervisor of the student will be asked to complete feedback which will form part of the student’s review of their skills. If the feedback is not received by the student by the deadline, then an alternative formative assessment will be considered.

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:
An overall mark of at least 40%.

Reassessment arrangements:

It is not possible to retake the placement element. Re-assessment will be by re-submission of a reflective review (60%) and presentation (40%).

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 22 September 2022