AD2PSA: Professional Placement with Study Abroad Experience

Module code: AD2PSA

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 120

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Ms Rebecca Jerrome, email: r.m.jerrome@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): This module is only available for students in the School of Agriculture Policy and Development (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: Maxi placement

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

By selecting a professional placement combined with study abroad experience, you'll undertake two compulsory elements:

1. You'll complete a minimum of 20 weeks full time employment to gain relevant work experience in your chosen industry. You'll apply the theoretical knowledge and practical skills gained throughout Part 1 and Part 2 of your degree, benefitting the placement organisation and your own professional development. Placements must be approved by the University before they commence and you will be supported through the application and approval process by a Placement Coordinator.
2. You'll complete a study abroad semester with approval from the Study Abroad Co-ordinator. This will usually be a full semester at an institution abroad, equivalent to 60 credits/30 ECTS, from a list provided by the Erasmus and Study Abroad Office (EASO). A place on one of these schemes is not guaranteed. The deadline to submit your application (in particular for destinations outside of Europe) is usually January in Part 2.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Develop an understanding of, and gain practice in, the application process
2. Gain insight into a course-related industry and apply the knowledge and skills developed in Part 1 and Part 2 to the benefit of the host organisation
3. Further develop the student’s knowledge and practical skills
4. Develop and implement the use of transferable and interpersonal skills
5. Be aware of the aims and goals of the organisation as a whole and relate the outcomes of the placement department with the aims of the organisation
6. Develop a knowledge of a range of subject areas relating to their area of study and to provide students with an understanding of how these subject areas are perceived and taught overseas
7. Develop an awareness of the different methodologies and develop research and writing skills appropriate to their new learning environment

Module content

The nature of the placement will vary widely depending on the host company (and host institution of Study Abroad institution), but students should integrate into the relevant organisation and become a useful asset. See the Blackboard site for this module for further information. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Arrangements in accordance with the standard arrangements in the host university and host company. Students must attend lecture/assessment presentations, before and after the placement year. 

In relation to the study hours table, taught sessions will support you as you prepare to apply for placements and the remaining hours will be incorporated into your placement.  In addition, the number of study hours will be dependent on your host institution. 

Study hours

This module is a placement or study abroad module and therefore the teaching and learning activities will predominantly, or entirely, take place away from the University of Reading. Your host organisation will normally advise you of the associated hours of your placement or year abroad. If the module includes any in-person activities at the University of Reading, these will be confirmed to you before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

50% of the module mark will be derived from assessment completed at the host institution. The marks that students achieve at their host university will be brought back with them to the University of Reading. After translation in accordance with the agreed formula, the marks will be applied to this module and, if applicable, used in the calculation of progression and/or the overall classification.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs