FAS5002 - Volunteering

Objectives:

NOTE: Registration on this module is limited to those able to provide evidence at an interview that they are currently doing volunteering activity and able to continue next year.

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

(1) reflect upon the skills, attributes and requirements for the specific volunteering activity and undertake an preparation deemed to be necessary for their specific voluntary role;
(2) demonstrate critical understanding of the underlying concepts and principles associated with voluntary serive, from both a public policy and organizational perspective and evaluate these in relation to their volunteering activity;
(3) demonstrate satisfactory completion of the volunteering activity or programme requiring the exercise of some personal responsibility.
(4) Evaluate the contribution they have made through their voluntary activity and demonstrate understanding of the limits of their knowledge and skills in this context.
(5) Demonstrate qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and decision-making.

Content:

The detailed nature of the voluntary activity will be the subject of a learning agreement between the student, the ‘host’ organization or project, and the college. Volunteering may take many forms and may be organized by the student, subject to that agreement, or by the College. The voluntary activity will be required to meet a specific set of criteria relating, for example, duration, type of activity, relevance to programme of of study, supervision.

Students will undertake a professional preparation programme, together with any specific training, selection or security checks (such as CRB).

The preparation programme will include theoretical perspectives on citizenship, social responsibility and social enterprise, notions of graduateness and employability, and career development workshops. It will also include any specific training required for the specific volunteering opportunity.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The exact pattern will vary depending upon the nature of the activity and whether this occurs as a black or over an extended period. Within the parameters of a 20 credit/200 hour, and given contact time (below), private study, assessment, and specific training, the expected minimum volunteering time is around 60 hours. This could take the form of half day per week, a block, or a series of activities of varied duration. Evidence of attendance will be required.

Students will be supported and required to use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis; effectively communicate information, arguments, and analysis, in a variety of forms, to specialist and non-specialist audiences, and deploy relevant techniques to solve problems; undertake further training, develop exisiting skills, and acquire new competences that will enable them to assume appropriate levels of responsibility within the organization.

Lectures
Contact hours 7
Number of groups 1

Tutorials – module co-ordinator
Contact hours 1.5
Number of groups
Tutorial volunteering supervisor
Contact hours 0.5
Number of groups

Workshops/presentations
Contact hours 11
Number of groups

Assessment: