Module overview
During the Industrial Placement Year (expected to be of at least 30 weeks in duration), you will apply the knowledge you have gained from the taught elements of the programme, develop a deeper understanding of technical issues from work-related projects, understand the commercial and technical aspects of the sector, and reflect on your developing professional knowledge and skills. You will undertake the IPY after either Part II or after Part III of your studies.
Pre-requisite: If IPY taken after Part II then must pass Part II of all programmes before IPY is possible. If IPY taken after Part III then must pass Part III of all programmes before IPY is possible.
Students are expected to take responsibility for securing their placement. Support and guidance will be provided by the module staff.
Students must register their placement with the University Placement Management System - details available at the Engineering Pre-Placement blackboard module and @ https://placements.soton.ac.uk
Comprehensive information about the IPY can be found at:
https://sotonac.sharepoint.com/teams/EngineeringIndustrialPlacementYearStudent
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Common organisational requirements, e.g. the ability to communicate effectively at the appropriate level, time management appreciation, the advantages and disadvantages of working in a team.
- A deeper understanding of technical issues from work-related projects.
- Undertaking and applying engineering knowledge to tasks and project work under supervision.
- Current practice and new developments within the industry.
- The skills required to work within an organisational context.
- The business practices of your host organisation.
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Carry out engineering tasks to professional standards.
- Understand the different roles within a team and have the ability to exercise leadership.
- Be aware of the new and developing technologies key to the future of your industry.
- Apply engineering techniques taking account of commercial and industrial constraints.
- Evidence continuous professional development by the use of a personal learning log.
- Understand the importance of health and safety in an engineering environment.
- Identify areas for personal and career development and how these can be addressed.
- Demonstrate effective understanding of time management and project management skills.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Analyse and interpret the findings.
- Evaluate the development of your skills, attributes and behaviours over the course of the Industrial Placement Year.
- Review and synthesize professional and technical issues.
- Evaluate information from projects.
- Apply appropriate theories, concepts, methods etc. in unfamiliar situations.
- Exercise professional judgement in a working context.
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Study and learn independently, solve problems systematically.
Syllabus
Within your work placement you will apply knowledge you have gained from the taught elements of the programme. The nature of your experience will depend on the company you are working for and the Programme within engineering that you are enrolled on. You will be applying engineering concepts, developing some concepts further through project-based work, and developing your expertise as a reflective practitioner.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
During your Industrial Placement Year you will fulfil the role of a trainee engineer and work full-time for a period of a minimum of 30 weeks. Depending on how your placement has been arranged (refer to Industrial Placement Year Handbook), either your Personal Academic Tutor (or his/her delegate) from the University of Southampton or a Placement Tutor from the School of Engineering will monitor your progress during the placement period, which may involve visits to your work place and/or a video conferences, and liaise with both you and your industrial supervisor/line manager.
The Industrial Placement Year Report (see also Industrial Placement Year Handbook) should be related to projects in which you have played a significant role during your placement. Where appropriate, your supervisor/line manager will assign a mentor who will be responsible for your day to day learning experience. At the start of your placement you should formulate a learning plan in conjunction with your Personal Academic Tutor, Placement Tutor or your industrial supervisor/line manager, taking into account the expected learning outcomes. In accordance with this learning plan, you will show evidence in your report of the learning outcomes that were weighted high in your learning plan. This should align to the competencies outlined in the UK-SPEC. Outcomes weighted low and medium in your learning plan should also be covered, but to a lesser extent. You should describe the distinctive aspects of your placement and demonstrate your understanding of the technical aspects of your work. In addition, you should indicate your role in the work described and show where you have exercised independent engineering and professional judgement (e.g. by using the STAR method – Situation, Task, Action, Result) The final section of the report should contain a reflective summary of how you think you have developed during the placement.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Placement Hours | 1050 |
Wider reading or practice | 10 |
Completion of assessment task | 24 |
Total study time | 1084 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
There are no generic resources for this module.. However, the following may be useful background prior to the Industrial placement Year: Industrial Placement Year Handbook - see Blackboard Module "Engineering IPY Pre-placement Information" Placement Management System: https://placements.soton.ac.uk
Assessment
Assessment strategy
The assessment will consist of a reflective report (100% weighting). A mark of at least 40% must be achieved to pass the module. The module mark will not appear on the degree certificate or contribute to the degree grade/classification.
No repeat year permitted. Students who do not pass after referral will transfer to the non-placement year version of the equivalent programme.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Report | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Report | 100% |