Module overview
Employers appreciate the skills and knowledge that graduates bring to organisations from academic study. However, employers increasingly value graduates who have undertaken a substantial placement as part of their degree. A structured placement provides students with the opportunity to develop their business skills and to gain valuable work experience in their degree, which ensures that graduates with a placement are better prepared for work beyond the University. This module not only provides opportunities for a placement, but it prepares students for selecting, applying, and working in a placement. It also provides support with a dedicated Placement Advisor, and ensures that students consider their future professional development needs and career path.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- work independently and as part of a team in a professional organisation;
- engage with jobs/processes not easily achievable in an academic institution e.g. latest technology, work behaviour etc.;
- appreciate the atmosphere and pace of industrial practice.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- apply problem solving skills in a business environment.
- perform research and analysis in a commercial context;
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- contemporary business issues relevant to your degree programme;
- how to apply theoretical knowledge into a ‘real world context’;
- critically reflect on personal performance and professional development.
Syllabus
You will be supported in preparation for your placement in Parts 1 and 2 through an additional series of lectures and seminars, and an online placement preparation course. These classes will prepare you in applying for a placement and in working effectively in your chosen organisation. Due to the wide variety of experiences gained on a placement, each experience will be different, but the module content overall will include:
- Choosing an appropriate placement
- Preparation of an individual employability portfolio
- Making placement applications
- Development of a personal development plan
- Teamwork
- Negotiation skills
- Communication skills
- Problem solving skills
- Workload management
- Utilising constructive criticism
- Ethics and responsibility in the workplace
- Placement
- Collecting relevant material to inform the reflective learning report
- Post-placement reflective seminar
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Online course
- Visiting speakers
- Private study through employability portfolio development
- Mentoring from Workplace Supervisor
Learning activities include:
- Development of individual employability portfolio
- Critical reflection on personal workplace performance
- Development of employability skills
- Advancement of critical thinking through business practice
- Placement
- Enhancement of communication skills in a business context
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Completion of assessment task | 40 |
| Tutorial | 10 |
| Placement Hours | 1120 |
| Wider reading or practice | 30 |
| Follow-up work | 50 |
| Project supervision | 2 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 12 |
| Lecture | 6 |
| Total study time | 1270 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
On-line Resources. On-line Resources Up-to date resources can be found on www.soton.ac.uk/FBLAplacements and a dedicated online jobs portal. The placement module is a practically-orientated course. You will be directed to relevant resources and materials in preparatory classes and the online course to assist you in the development of your employability portfolio and reflective learning portfolio. You will be provided with a placement handbook and a blackboard site.
Assessment
Formative
Formative assessment description
PortfolioSummative
Summative assessment description
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Report | 100% |
Referral
Referral assessment description
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Report | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External