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On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Use industry specific data to identify and analyse social, organisational or business problems related to the subject of their programme.
Critically evaluate the experience of working within a team in relation to the subject of their programme.
Demonstrate the development of graduate skills outlined in the Graduate Attributes and Skills Framework.
This module allows students to develop, practice and demonstrate skills relevant to their programme of study in a professional work environment. This may be demonstrated through an external placement in industry or through an internal placement based at the University, which is equivalent to and replicates an authentic professional or research environment.
Students will develop their understanding of professional work practices relevant to their programme of study. Students will normally research, secure and undertake a period of project work experience in a team appropriate to the field of study but may also undertake a specified project placement at the University.
The placement period should normally cover a minimum of 30 weeks full-time throughout the course of the module and a maximum of 40 weeks.
Pending discussions with tutors, the placement could span multiple locations. Students will be expected to produce output(s) relevant to their placement in addition to reflecting upon this work experience critically and to apply their experience to theoretical and conceptual elements of their course.
The Placement
The professional placement can only be undertaken once students have studied all 180 credits of the ‘taught stage’ of the programme and achieved a minimum of 120 credits at this ‘taught stage’. The normal length of the placement period is 30-40 weeks.
A single, uninterrupted placement at one location is favoured, although extraordinary situations may require a change in placement. The suitability of each placement is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
The work undertaken by the student must be of an appropriate professional standard in an area of work strongly related to their field of study.
Work Placements will either be undertaken:
• In an appropriate professional context provided by an external organisation. These may be self-sourced by the student, or University-promoted placements.
• University-based placement, which may be based in a professional service.
Pre-Placement Process
Students are required to attend a series of compulsory workshops/lectures in the first year of their Masters programme which will prepare them to: undertake their work placement search, identify employers to approach, write competitive applications, develop a strong CV, prepare them for interviews and manage their placement search effectively. They will also be made aware of professional employment expectations and the requirements of the module both in terms of the placement and the assessment.
The student will engage in all required pre-placement due diligence processes and sign the University Placement Agreement, as well as providing a comprehensive job description for the role they are undertaking. This will all be used to consider approval of the placement and ensure that it meets the module and programme requirements. This will ensure that the placement is of an appropriate professional standard (i.e. skill level) and that it fits the subject of their programme. It will also outline anticipated/planned work-related outputs that will be produced as a product of/while on the placement.
No placement activity will be approved or able to commence until the due diligence process has been satisfactorily completed by the student and host.
During the Placement
Students will be required to provide regular reports and complete monthly logbooks and will need to meet the requirements of the placement as set out in the Placement Agreement and Student Work Placement Handbook. Students will meet with their placement tutor on a monthly basis and will be monitored for successful performance on placement by their placement tutor through placement visits (both online and in person). Placement provider feedback will also be sought on a regular basis.
End of Placement Reporting
Students’ monthly logbooks contribute to a wider portfolio of work for assessment by the placement tutor. This will include evidence of the production of work-related reflections and outputs during the placement, as set out in the placement agreement.
Workshops/seminars
Hours: 10
Intended group size: cohort
Guided independent study
Hours: 1190
Further details relating to assessment
The assessment is centred around a real-world scenario where students will need to apply their knowledge of the topics covered to data from a specific application area to solve given problems.
The portfolio of work-related reflections and outputs (including monthly logbooks) must evidence engagement with the required workplace weeks and hours and a suitable level of performance when in the workplace.
Both components must be passed in line with University requirements.
Module Coordinator - PRS_CODE=
Level - 7
Credit Value - 120
Pre-Requisites - STUDENTS MUST HAVE STUDIED ALL 180 CREDITS OF THE ‘TAUGHT STAGE’ AND ACHIEVED 120 CREDIT MINIMUM
Semester(s) Offered -