GV2PLA: Summer Placement

Module code: GV2PLA

Module provider: Geography and Environmental Science; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1, Semester 2, Summer and Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Nicholas Branch, email: n.p.branch@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: Mini placement

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module gives students an opportunity to undertake a research or professional placement broadly related to the general area of their degree programme, during the summer vacation preceding Part 2 or Part 3 study. Research placements will provide the opportunity of working with a member of staff on a current project based in the UK or internationally. Professional placements would allow students to work with a professional organisation, consultancy or government organisation to gain experience of the professional sector. Students will:

1. Gain experience of the job application process through self-organised placements
2. Gain relevant research/professional placement experience to provide a context for academic studies
3. Increase employability through being able to demonstrate dedicated experience in the university or professional sector
4. Extend knowledge and learning of degree discipline modules and to help identify future career path(s)
5. Enhance ‘soft-skills’ such as team-work, communication, time-management and planning

The placement must be undertaken during the summer preceding the year in which the module is to count towards (i.e. at the end of P1 for it to count towards P2, OR at the end of P2 for it to count towards P3.) The placement cannot be carried out at the end of the year you want it to count towards (e.g. at the end of P2 if you would like it to count towards your P2 modules) due to the mark entry deadline dates from the Exams Office.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Develop an understanding and appreciation of the research/professional environment and will be able to critically evaluate the role they have played in contributing to the activities and tasks undertaken – including showing awareness of external factors that impact the running of a research/enterprise activity.
2. Clearly communicate how their soft skills and relevant experience has developed and progressed over the period before, during and after completion of the role (CV, cover letter, interview).  This will improve self-confidence within the research/professional environment.
3. Describe, analyse and synthesise the skills and experience they have gained in order to communicate this visually (poster), orally (screencast) and via a written article or opinion piece
4. Consider how their experience has shaped their thinking about a possible future career path.

Module content

Students are expected to secure their own placements of at least 20 days, to be completed during the summer vacation preceding Part 2 or Part 3 study. The placement length should be 20 days (140 hours), or part-time equivalent (although longer placements can contribute to this module). Placements may be paid or unpaid. Advice and support on securing placements will be available from the School and the Careers Service. Placements must provide students with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of the research/enterprise working environment, and provide them 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 do not secure placements before the summer vacation will be asked to transfer to another 20 credit module instead.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will consist of at least 20 days (140 hours), or part-time equivalent of placement experience (although longer placements can contribute to this module), the timing of which will be arranged between the student and research/professional 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 tutorials) and 2 hours of demonstrations (poster event) provided by the module team and placement provider to: (1) give advice on how to secure a placement and develop skills for the job application stage, (2) outline the requirements and provide guidance on completing the assignments.

Study hours

At least 10 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 40% 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.

Students will gain feedback during the job application stage on their CV and cover letter. During the placement, students will be provided with tuition and verbal feedback through both formal and informal means. At the end of the placement, the provider will be asked to complete a pro-forma personal skills summary. This summary will detail their strengths, achievements and comment on their overall performance and development of relevant skills whilst on placement (including self-management, professional conduct, communication & technical skills).

Reassessment

Additional costs