BI2PLA-Summer Placement

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Renee Lee
Email: r.b.y.lee@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
In a competitive job market, understanding how the professional work place functions, along with well developed employability skills are essential to securing future employment. In this module, students will undertake a short placement within a relevant company or organisation. This is an excellent opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience of the working world, improve and diversify their skills as well as enhancing their curriculum vitae. Students will be supported in finding their own placement, a useful skill for seeking out future employment opportunities.

Aims:
This module aims to expose students to the processes involved in securing a placement (or a job) by putting theory into practice. The placement itself aims to familiarise students with the professional work environment, provide the opportunity for students to acquire new skills and to develop an awareness of the job and sector. The associated assessment aims to give students the experience of writing a reflective report and presenting to a large audience.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, the student should be able to:

• Provide an insight of the sector that they are hoping to work in; the employment opportunities and requirements within the sector


• Reflect on their personal growth and professional performance in the work environment


• Demonstrate industry specific and other valuable transferable skills - specifically professional communication, working on own initiative, flexibility, problem solving, punctuality and time management


• Determine the link between theory and real-life, work based learning and application


• Evaluate their own performance and develop their written and communication skills through completion of a report and presentation at the end of the placement.

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:
Summer placements should be organised by students (either independently or with the help of the module convenor). The placement should be a minimum of 3 weeks and will have to take place during the summer vacation, either between part one and two or part two and three. The 10 credits for this module can be taken in the Autumn Term of the subsequent academic year, however, this cannot be done retrospectively. The placement can be paid or unpaid, however it must be relevant to the degree subject that the students are taking. Please note that the placement must be approved by the module convenor before the work-based learning takes place.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
In Autumn, a seminar will be given by the Careers Team to all students in the School of Biological Sciences. This will provide an overview of the module aims and the process of finding a suitable placement. Students will also have the opportunity to attend the presentations of students who themselves have undertaken placements in the previous Summer. Thereafter, students can arrange drop-in sessions with the programme advisor and careers consultant throughout Spring and Summer to ensure that a s uitable placement is secured. During the end of the Summer Term, students who have confirmed a placement will have to attend a compulsory, pre-placement briefing. Upon completion of their placement, students will be required to submit a reflective placement report (no later than week 2 in the Autumn Term) on their work experience, day-to-day activities and skills gained and how they have contributed to the students' personal growth and professional development. Students will also be required to present their experience to the next cohort in a placement event that will take place in Autumn.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	1
Tutorials		1	1
Placement			97
Total hours by term	1	1	98
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	80
Oral assessment and presentation	20

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
In addition to a placement report, the employer/supervisor of the student will be asked to complete a feedback form. This feedback will be taken into consideration when assessing the report.

Formative assessment methods:
Formative feedback will be provided by the employers at the placement.

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:
It is not possible to retake this module in the same format. If a student fails the overall module, the student will be asked to re-submit the report following requested revision but the mark will be capped at 40% according to University rules.

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: 30 March 2023