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On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Investigate possible job opportunities and analyse job specification requirements (knowledge, skills, and experiences).
Appraise personal strengths and weaknesses (knowledge, skills, and experiences) in employability, prepare a career and study plan for the future, and further their employability skills.
Develop further employability skills, employ their knowledge and skills in the workplace and perform to a satisfactory standard during their placement.
The preparation course will guide students through searching for job opportunities, preparing career and study plans, and undergoing a typical Graduate Trainee recruitment process through an Assessment Centre experience. Workshops will encourage students to analyse their professional development and personality, and recognise the importance of effective interpersonal relationships and team work in an organisation. Reflective diaries will help students to select employability criteria and develop professional skills though reflective learning.
Elements of group work are built into the Assessment Centre exercise, and trailed throughout the workshops in order to prepare students for the modern workplace.
The first phase of delivery of this module will take place during three preparation workshops and full day conference providing an Assessment Centre experience. The three preparation sessions shall be delivered weekly and will use lecture and workshop formats to teach the various skills in preparation for the placement. These sessions include information about volunteering options, and will involve meetings with the Employer Partnership Office and the progress tutors. The placement component of this module takes place over 6 weeks in semester 2.
The work placement should be organised in line with selected area of specialism: for Accounting & Business students within accounting or financial function, for Business & Marketing - marketing, advertisement or sales function, Business & Management - any managerial, customer service or other relevant (e.g. HR, sales, logistics, etc.) function, International Business - generic choice, but ideally abroad or in a company with international contacts, and Business & Economics, and Economics - ideally in government departments, local councils, think tanks and educational establishments.
Day conference
Contact hours: 6
Intended Group size: 90
Workshops x3
Contact hours: 9
Intended Group size: 90
Individual meetings with placement/personal tutor
Contact hours: 3
Placement (40 hours) x 6 weeks
Hours: 240
Further details relating to assessment
Day conference: the day conference will be assessed through a typical, industry-standard assessment centre scorecard measuring student performance against employability standards and readiness for graduate level positions.
Report: this assessment tests students' ability to reflect effectively on their placement performance and its impact on their career plans and professional skills development.
Placement: an overall pass mark and passing the placement are required for progression to Level 6.
Alternative assessment: any students who defer or re-sit the day conference component of the assessment will be assessed by a written report with equivalent pro-rata loading.
Other relevant matters
Students with special needs will be advised to seek support from the Disability Co-ordinator.
Normally a student will be ineligible to undertake the placement without completion of the pre-placement programme and the required communication of placement details to the Employer Partnership Office.
The practical element is normally of 6 weeks' duration. If a full six week placement is not possible, an alternative project, which meets the module learning outcomes and involves an equivalent workload, will be agreed between the student, the placement coordinator, and the Employer Partnership Office.
There is an opportunity of volunteering within work placement experience - taking a work placement (L5) as a volunteer in a charity or not-for-profit organisation - this option is particularly relevant for international students.
001 Conference; full day event participation; mid semester 1 50%
002 Placement; pass/fail; end of semester 2 0%
003 Report; 2,000 words; end of semester 2 50%
200 Personal career plan totalling 2;500 words 100%
Module Coordinator - Mark Sebright
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 5YL