PY2PRP: Professional Placement

Module code: PY2PRP

Module provider: Psychology; School of Psych and Clin Lang Sci

Credits: 120

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Dr Aileen Ho, email: a.k.ho@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): This module is only available to BSc Psychology with Professional Placement students. (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: 29 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aims of this module are for students to:

• Gain insight into a programme-related industry and apply the knowledge and skills developed in Part 1 and Part 2 to the benefit of the host organisation
• Extend knowledge and learning of degree discipline modules, and to help identify future career path(s)
• Enhance their employability through being able to demonstrate significant relevant work experience
• Further develop ‘soft-skills’ (e.g. team work, interpersonal skills, flexibility, initiative-taking, communication (written and oral), decision making, time management)
• Develop an awareness 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
• Develop knowledge and understanding of a competitive application process within the modern working-world

The Module Lead at the University of Reading Malaysia is Jasmine Lee (jasminekarwye.lee@reading.edu.my).

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Critically reflect on their placement organisation, and their contribution to it
2. Critically reflect on the knowledge, skills, abilities and experiences developed and applied whilst on placement
3. Develop some, or a combination of the following:
   • An appreciation of internal and external factors that impact on the running of a company/organisation
   • Self-awareness, and an ability to articulate skills and achievements
   • Awareness of current developments within the placement sector
   • Career-relevant technical skills and competencies
   • Ability to balance competing demands

Module content

The nature of the placement will vary widely depending on the host organisation, but students should integrate into the relevant organisation and become a useful asset.

Clinical placements, within the School
Students taking placements at clinics within the school will typically start by supporting administrative and data work. Direct client contact will be contingent upon the student receiving the necessary clearance (e.g. DBS), appropriate training, and demonstration of the required competencies. The types of activities involved in clinical placements may include: liaison with clients/carers, supporting day-to-day administration of clinic, co-facilitation of treatment groups, transcribing and coding observations and interviews, research and clinical data entry.
 
Research Placements, within the School
Students on a research-based placement will be expected to assist in the daily running of the supervisor's lab, design studies, recruit and test participants, analyse data and write reports, as appropriate to the current research programme of the lab.
 
Public, Private or Voluntary sector Placements, external to the School
Students on placements external to the school will be expected to adhere to the organisations regulations and legal responsibilities as outlined in their contract of employment and associated documents. The Placement must provide students with the opportunity to expand upon their knowledge and understanding of one or more programme-related subject areas and provide them with situations that allow them to develop and enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities.

Some organisations may be required by law to confirm that individuals working within that environment have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

One-year professional placement to gain relevant work experience in a setting related to the student’s degree programme. Students will have regular reviews with their placement supervisor, plus at least one meeting witha member of university staff, to review the students’ progress in the placement environment. Meetings will typically be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams. 

In addition to the hours listed below, you will be required to complete an additional 240 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 1440 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA).

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

This module is marked on a pass/fail basis. Students must pass each item of assessment to pass the 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 receive regular supervision from their placement supervisor, during which goals and targets will be discussed in the context of training, development and performance. Students will be expected to conform to organisation-specific requirements for any formative opportunities to receive feedback, such as performance reviews or oral presentations. 

University based formative assessments will not be employed, however students can discuss their assessments with the course team during the mid-placement meeting, or at other times by arranging ad-hoc meetings. 

Reassessment

Additional costs