BIMPLA3: Professional Experience Placement

Module code: BIMPLA3

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 60

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2 / Summer

Module convenor: Dr Renee Lee, email: r.b.y.lee@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 6 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is designed to provide students with real-world experience and practical skills in a professional biotechnology or biopharma setting. This module aims to enhance students' employability skills, foster professional development, and enable them to apply theoretical knowledge gained during their academic studies in a practical work environment. Students will apply for placement opportunities from range of options at UK biopharma companies and, if successful in their application, will undertake a professional experience placement for at least three months. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Apply theoretical concepts and practical skills acquired during their academic studies to real-world biotechnology challenges. 
2. Demonstrate competence in professional communication, teamwork, and problem-solving within a biotechnology workplace. 
3. Develop a critical understanding of industry practices, regulations, and ethical considerations relevant to biotechnology applications. 
4. Reflect on their placement experiences, identify areas for personal and professional growth, and strategise career development plans. 
5. Enhance their network of industry contacts and potential career opportunities within the biotechnology sector. 

Module content

As a professional experience placement, module content will vary depending on the nature of the placement and the placement provider. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students will attend pre-placement preparation workshops on the application process for placements and the expectations of employers during the placement. Students who are successful in gaining a placement will gain hands-on experience of working in a biopharma setting during the placement.  

Study hours

At least 4 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered 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 50% to pass this module.

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