PO2WPP: Work Placement and Project

Module code: PO2WPP

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Kenton White, email: kenton.white@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Mrs Purnima Darji, email: p.darji@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: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module gives students an opportunity to do a work placement or an internship with an external organisation broadly related to the general sphere of their degree studies. Based on the work experience gained, the student will deliver an oral presentation directly based on the experiences of the placement including findings from a project undertaken within the placement which develops their capacity for independent, critical research in a specialised domain. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Deliver an oral presentation reflecting critically on the experiences of the work placement and evaluating how the work that was carried out met the needs of the employing organisation
2. Prepare and write a project of 3,000 words which directly relates to, but also builds upon and expands, the work experience by means of situating and contextualising it in a broader scholarly analysis
3. Demonstrate a heightened ability to generate sources of practical information and ideas and combine them in an extensive study project
4. Demonstrate the use of transferable skills from and to the work experience

Module content

The area of work undertaken on the placement will be related to the students’ overall programme of study. The day-to-day content of the work will be set by the employing organisation and in agreement with the Department of Politics and International Relations. 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. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The onus of this module is on independent working, including work experience, learning by observation, training, as well as applying these experiences specifically to an applied project. Students must secure their own work placement, with the support of the Placement Coordinator. The placement (minimum of 120 hours) should be undertaken during the summer holiday between Part 1 and Part 2. All placement hours must be completed by the first day of the Part 2 Semester 1 teaching period. Tutorial supervision will be given by a placement project tutor. 

The Module Convenor must give approval for the placement activity that is planned and the project work that will arise out of it. The Module Convenor will discuss and agree with the student the level of commitment to the organisation required by the student. A Departmental Supervisor will be agreed, who may be someone other than the Module Convenor. All students will also be required to attend a placement-preparation session with a Placement Coordinator. 

Study hours

At least 2 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.

Reassessment

Additional costs