12 month Undergraduate Placement. Student Handbook 2015/16

Transcription

1 12 month Undergraduate Placement Student Handbook 2015/16

2 DISCLAIMER The School of Management has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained within this publication is accurate and up-to-date when published but can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. The School of Management reserves the right to revise, alter or discontinue degree programmes or modules and to amend regulations and procedures at any time, but every effort will be made to notify interested parties. You are advised to contact the School of Management directly if you require further information. 1

3 Introduction What is a work placement? A work placement is a learning programme that is specifically designed for students to enhance their employability. The placement schemes are embedded within the undergraduate programmes at the School of Management and are created to equip students with new skills and experiences of real world work environments. The 12 month placement scheme is a credit-bearing, assessed part of a 4 year degree programme. This means that a student s performance on the assessment and completion of the placement will have an impact on the student s final degree classification, just as a year of taught modules would. Objectives of a work placement Students will get to gain knowledge and understanding that will equip you for future employment and for modules that you will study as part of your course. You will also be able to put into practice what you have learnt during your studies. Placements provide you with an insight into the area you wish to work in which can help you make decisions about the career path you would like to follow. A placement will strengthen your CV by providing you with relevant experience(s) when applying for future jobs and can help you develop a range of transferable skills. Work placements give you the opportunity to network with local professionals and seek their advice on career decisions and opportunities. On completion of their placement, students will be able to: apply relevant business skills and knowledge in a work context; demonstrate use of initiative in dealing with issues/problems in the working environment; reflect on learning experiences and how they influence future career choices; be able to critically evaluate their learning from the placement; identify and act upon personal strengths and weaknesses with relation to the working environment. What types of placements could you do? As part of the 12 month placement scheme, students are required to complete a minimum of 40 weeks on work experience. There are several types of placement available to our students: Pre-existing schemes are advertised by the Placements team. These are work experience opportunities that companies already offer and advertise nationally or internationally. The Placements team advertises many of these opportunities on the Student Information Office website, blackboard, noticeboards, s, on social media and through one-one meetings. Bespoke placements are work experience opportunities that are for School of Management students only and that are only advertised here at the School via the website, s, social media, noticeboards and blackboard. The placements team can also discuss these opportunities during one-one meetings. Bespoke places means the pool of prospective candidates competing for a position is a lot smaller, some larger corporations have been known to receive over 15,000 applications! This is a great opportunity to work with SMEs and have an impact on the local industry. Self-sourced placements are work experience opportunities where students have approached companies themselves and acquired a placement. Some students wish to utilise their own existing business network to seek opportunities for work experience. 2

4 Timeline Please find below the structure of the 4 year degree programme with the embedded 12 month placement: Semester 1 Semester 2 Year 1 Taught Modules Taught Modules Year 2 Taught Modules Taught Modules Year 3 12 month placement Year 4 Taught Modules Taught Modules Please find below the structure* of identified key opportunities during the lead up to your placement year, and during: *Subject to change Year 2 Aug Lots of companies open placements to apply for around now! Oct Nov Jan Apr May 1-1 meetings will be conducted by the Placements team with all students who are due to go on placement in the next year. The recruitment period begins Students should have their CV signed off and checked by the Careers team by this point in order to send off applications. Some of the bigger placement recruiters close their places around now (e.g. IBM) There are placement fairs and seminars available to find out more information about what placements are available. The recruitment period ends Some closed positions are known to re-open through spring, so keep an eye out! De-brief session will be available to all students that have confirmed places, discussing the assessment, support available and top tips for whilst you re on placement. 1-1 meetings will be conducted with students who have not yet received confirmation of their place, offering advice and guidance. Jul Placements should begin between July and Mid-September. Did you know over 50% of placements are secured between April and June? Year 3 May June Make sure you have had your final meeting with the Careers team before the assessment is due in June. Contact somcareers@swansea.ac.uk to book an appointment. Assessment will be due during the first 2 weeks of June, the deadline will be confirmed at the start of the year. July Placements should end before the start of the final year of study. 3

5 How to find a placement Placement opportunities will be advertised via , Blackboard, social media and noticeboards. Make sure you regularly check your student inbox for the latest opportunities or Placements of the week. is the best way for the School to contact our students, keep an eye on this regularly. If you re interested in a placement you have seen advertised, you should arrange a meeting with a member of the placements team to discuss further. Each student should have a one-to-one meeting with a Placements Coordinator prior to applying for placements. The placements team can offer assistance and guidance on how to source places and can also make appropriate recommendations on a tailored, case-by-case basis. Students are encouraged to look at alternative search options, including contacting the company directly or using internet searches. If students find their own placement, it is important they inform the placements team as contracts and relevant documents are required to be completed asap. Students are required to have a CV signed off by a member of the Careers team before it is sent off to companies when applying for placements. It is essential that as an ambassador for the School of Management that your CV is seen by our in-house careers service prior to completing applications. In addition, if you are successful and invited to an interview, please see our Careers team for a mock interview beforehand. This is for your benefit to ensure you have the best chance at the position you are going for. somcareers@swansea.ac.uk to book an appointment with the Careers team. The placement application process will be competitive and businesses will make the final decision about which student they wish to employ. Therefore, securing a placement is not guaranteed and depends on the quality of applications. Our careers team will provide support and guidance to assist with this process. If a student is unable to secure a placement, they will be able to transfer to the three year variant, please somplacements@swansea.ac.uk for more information. 4

6 Finance & Funding Tuition Fees A reduced rate of 20% tuition fees for the year will be payable to Swansea University, and students will not normally be required to pay any fees to the placement provider. Some international summer internships require a fee and in return offer accommodation, allowances for food and travel money. For more information, somplacements@swansea.ac.uk. Students are responsible for paying accommodation and travel fees for the duration of their placement. Beyond these expenses students will also need to budget for daily living costs etc. Some companies will offer coverage for travel expenses. Salaries/Coverage of Living Cost expenses The size of the company and the type of work that will be undertaken as part of the placement means that salaries vary from placement to placement. Typical placement salaries range from 10,000 up to 25,000, most often reflected in the size of the company and the location. For example, London-based employments will tend to offer a higher salary to accommodate the London living-costs. Not all placements are paid (both nationally and internationally), it is key that such opportunities are not dismissed. You should ensure that money is not your primary goal for choosing a particular placement; your decision should be based on the experience you will gain and the relevance of the placement to your future career. Student Finance According to our records* from 2014 from the Student Loan Company for Wales, England, Scotland and N. Ireland, students are entitled to some form of maintenance support and tuition fees, although it is dependent on whether the placement is paid, unpaid or whether the placement is based in the public sector. Information on student loans for 12 month placements can be obtained from the placement team, somplacements@swansea.ac.uk for more information. *Subject to change Grants and further financial support The International Development Office at Swansea University has a variety of financial support available to students who are working or studying internationally. The Global Opportunities and the Erasmus bursaries are dependent on whether the placement is conducted within or outside of Europe and are also considered on a case-by-case basis. For more information about the IDO s financial support, please studyabroad@swansea.ac.uk. Accommodation One of the most important things to factor in is where you may be living on the placement and how much it will cost. It is primarily your responsibility to find suitable accommodation within reasonable commuting distance of your place of work. We recommend that if you are unsure; ask your placement provider whether or not they can offer some guidance regarding accommodation in the area. If you are to be based in Britain, try to visit the area you want to live in before you start to source accommodation. If you are going abroad, you could ask the placement provider whether or not they can arrange for some short term accommodation for your arrival until you have a chance to find your own place. Alternatively, you could ask the placement provider for guidance on trusted letting agents. 5

7 Monthly Contacts As part of the credit-bearing placements programmes monthly contacts are a requirement. The placements team are available to support and guide students through any issues that may occur with a view to ensuring the best possible experience for both the students and placement providers. Contacts are conducted via , phone call or face-face through a meeting or Skype. This ensures you are fully supported through your transition into industry, it also provides a regular updates for the team to monitor our students on placement as part of our duty of care. Please find further information below: 1. All contacts will be initially conducted via the telephone, if there is no answer a message will be left if possible and a follow up will be sent to your student account. It is essential that the placements team are provided with your mobile number and kept up-to-date with any changes. 2. Students have 2 working days to respond to the , letting us know how the placement is going or to arrange a telephone call to discuss further. s will be sent to your student account, make sure you regularly check these as this is the primary method of contact between the University and students. 3. If a student does not reply to the within 2 working days, the Student Experience team will be notified and will also attempt to make contact. The student experience team usually get involved at this stage. Similarly to if a student has poor lecture attendance or consistently achieving poor marks, to find out if there are any underlying issues and how the School can assist. 4. If after the Student Experience team has attempted to make contact, the School has still not received any response, we will proceed and contact the placement provider to check you are attending your placement and to find out how it is progressing. Following this, the students should get in contact with the team via telephone or to update them. 5. The purpose of contacting the employer is to ensure you are actually attending your placement, this is also particularly important for students on an international visa. If the employer confirms the student is not attending further action will be considered, such as removal from the scheme. 6. If a contact is missed completely, it will be logged as unattended - if 2 contacts are missed in a row, further action will be considered such as removal from the placements scheme. If a contact is missed and you are on an international visa, this will be reported to Academic Registry. 6

8 Support Available Placements Team The Placements team are available to offer support before, during and after your work placement. Throughout the work experience students will have a monthly contact with a member of the placements team via , phone call or face-face through a meeting or skype. In addition to this the placements team have an emergency contact number that is available outside working hours: Students are asked to ensure that the placements team is made aware of any changes that may occur in any contact details, including postal addresses at home and abroad during the period of placement. The placements team should be informed immediately of any difficulties being encountered so that assistance can be provided quickly and effectively. For more information you can somplacements@swansea.ac.uk. Student Experience Team The Student Experience team are available to provide support and guidance. Any student experiencing difficulties with their studies, placement or personal lives and don t know what to do, their door is always open. Their role is to listen to your concerns, to help you navigate the School s and University s systems to find information, or to liaise with Personal Tutors, other university staff and external bodies. For more information you can somexperience@swansea.ac.uk. Mentoring Scheme The placements Mentoring Scheme is an informal way of getting additional support whilst applying for placements and during the work experience. The scheme is an opportunity for previous placement students to support and advise students who are currently applying for and going out on placement. Having already been through the process themselves, the placement mentors can tell you all you need to know about the process from the initial application stage, the interview process and starting your job. VocalEyes VocalEyes is a digital tool that provides a transparent, democratic and engaging process for improving your organisation or local community. With VocalEyes, you set some topics and provide a space for people to share their ideas. It allows us to hear your views; we want to know how you feel about a variety of topics. In order to participate, join below and add your own ideas or vote on existing ideas: Others There are many central support services available to all students at Swansea University, below are some examples and the accompanying addresses: Support Services: Student Services: student.services@swansea.ac.uk Disability Office: disability@swansea.ac.uk International Student Advisory Service: isas@swansea.ac.uk Money advice: moneydoctors@swansea.ac.uk Student Well-being: wellbeing@swansea.ac.uk English Language Training Services: elts@swansea.ac.uk Accommodation: accommodation@swansea.ac.uk 7

9 Assessment To ensure the placement is meaningful, it is a credit bearing module and you will be expected to carry out assignments during this time. We are aware that the demands of a full-time job will be great and so the work you will be expected to do during the placement will be linked to your employment activities and offer you the chance to reflect on what you are learning. The assessment for the placement is structured as 2 parts: Part 1: Learning log and review a) Company report on student 40% This is to be completed by the company and to be sent directly to the placements team before the deadline for the assessment is due in June. b) Target setting and activities review (including weekly log) 40% This is to be completed during the course of the placement; together you and your supervisor should work on setting regular targets. This also includes a weekly log to be completed by you; no more than a couple of paragraphs should easily summarise and reflect on each week. Part 2: Reflection and future planning a) Skills reflection on placement (1000 words) 10% This is to be completed towards the end of the placement, reflecting on the skills you have obtained during the work placement and discussing any cultural differences or experiences you may have had, particularly if on an international placement. b) Career planning and final CV 10% Each student on placement must meet with one of the Careers team before the deadline. The purpose of the meeting is to review your learning from the experience and address future career planning. You must take a copy of your CV to this meeting; the careers team will go through this with you and discuss any recommendations for improvement. somcareers@swansea.ac.uk for more information or to book and appointment. More info can be found in the assessment schedule document (Appendix 1). Note: The placement team and the mentor/supervisor appointed by the placement provider will monitor the student s performance during the course of the placement, and will be involved with the final assessment of the student s placement. 8

10 What happens next? Meet with the Placements Team Each student on a placement scheme (or interested in undergoing a placement and not yet enrolled on a 4 year course) should have a one-to-one meeting with a member of the placements team. This meeting will discuss what you are looking for from a placement and the type of placement you want, as well as the industry you are hoping to go into. The more information the placement team has about what you are looking for, the more they can help. Get your CV signed off with the Careers Team The Careers team is there to ensure you have the best possible transition in to employment, offering support and guidance during studies and during your work experience. Your CV or job application is your opportunity to stand out in amongst all the other candidates interested in a position. Our Careers team can help you promote your skills and experience and ensure you are getting the best chance at the position you desire. They will help you put together a comprehensive CV, and give advice on general techniques. Mock interviews and assessment centers If you are successful and are invited to interview, see our Careers team for mock interview practice or for more information about how assessment centers work and what would be required of you. Let the team know To go on placement as part of the credit-bearing 12 month scheme, certain documentation needs to be completed. This includes an employer contract, student contract and due diligence checklist. These documents ensure that all parties are agreeing to University and workplace policies and procedures and that students going out on placement are protected. It is essential every student with a confirmed place informs the placement team and provides information about the place including contact details, location and supervisor details. The deadline for your placement provider to sign the employer contract will be the 7th September, the week before enrolment. If we do not receive a signed employer contract from your placement provider before this deadline, you will need to either suspend your studies to complete your placement or end your placement and return to university for your final year of studies. Please note, it is your responsibility to provide us with the contact details of your work place supervisor and to assist us in acquiring the required completed documentation. Pre-Placement Briefing Once your placement has been confirmed around April/May before you go out to start your placement, there will be a briefing lecture where you can find out more information about how to conduct yourself professionally, what is required of you as an ambassador for the School of Management and information about the assessment to be completed. You will also be issued a handbook, travel wallet with key information in and a top tips guide to aid you during your work experience. 9

11 Swansea Employability Award (SEA) The Swansea Employability Award (SEA) is a scheme run by the University, designed to help you explore who you are, gain experience and develop skills. By completing the SEA it will be recorded on your degree transcript (Higher Education Achievement Report HEAR). To be awarded the SEA you must complete two modules. The first module is all about planning your future and you will need to look into what jobs might suit you, then market yourself by creating a CV and covering letter. Finally you will need to have a meeting with a Careers Adviser. The second module is all about gaining experience. You will need to have two 'employability' experiences; these can include work experience and volunteering positions that have to run for a minimum of 3 full days. Following the completion of these experiences you will have a mock job interview. As a placement student the work experience conducted through the placement scheme can be counted towards this award (the minimum requirement is 3 full days or more). Other ways of gaining the second employability experience are as follows: Student Ambassador Discovery Student Volunteering Student Union Executive Officer Course Representative (including completing training) Reaching Wider Volunteer Officer Training Corps SU Society Committees Club Captains and Committees International Ambassador Programme Week of work (WOW) Swansea Paid Internship (SPIN) GoWales placement (or other paid work) Enterprise (e.g. SIFE, Bright Futures) For each element of the two modules you need to record your experiences and thoughts in relation to your career. If you feel that you do not have time to complete all of the SEA, you can complete one element of the award which will be recorded as a BRONZE level of SEA on your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). If you complete two elements; this will be recorded as SILVER and if you complete all three elements this will be recorded as GOLD. For more information and to sign up for the SEA, please go to: 10

12 We re here to help Please find below key contacts within the Student Information Office that can offer support and guidance. The Placements team are responsible for sourcing, advertising and supporting students before, during and after a work placement. The careers team are available to assist with student employability, including CV and interview practice. Placements Team Sophie Lacey Student Mobility Officer Room 138, Haldane Building s.l.lacey@swansea.ac.uk Rhianne Reid Student Mobility Coordinator Room 138, Haldane Building r.e.g.reid@swansea.ac.uk Amy Jones Student Mobility Coordinator Room 138, Haldane Building amy.e.jones@swansea.ac.uk Chris Bailey Student Mobility Coordinator Room 138, Haldane Building c.j.bailey@swansea.ac.uk Nikki Boniwell Student Mobility Coordinator Room 138, Haldane Building N.R.Boniwell@swansea.ac.uk Careers Team Emma Evans Student Mobility Officer Room 117, Haldane Building e.l.evans@swansea.ac.uk Hannah Johns Student Mobility Officer Room 117, Haldane Building h.johns@swansea.ac.uk Stephanie Meyer Student Mobility Officer Room 117, Haldane Building s.l.meyer@swansea.ac.uk Jessica Loomba Student Mobility Officer Room 117, Haldane Building j.m.loomba@swansea.ac.uk Morwenna Tyler Student Mobility Officer Room 117, Haldane Building m.e.tyler@swansea.ac.uk 11

13 FAQs 1. Can I study abroad instead of conducting a work placement? The 12 month placement scheme cannot be replaced with a study abroad opportunity. If this is something you wish to consider, the 2 x 6 months placement scheme offers an opportunity to replace one of the semesters of work experience with a semester abroad. The first of the two 6 month placements can be swapped for a study abroad semester in one of our partnering Universities; you will then conduct the normal semester of work placement for the second of the 6 month placements. This scheme begins at the start of your 2 nd year, so in order to swap courses you must still be within the 1 st semester of your 1st year at university. 2. What is a suitable placement? Your placement should offer the opportunity to apply and develop the knowledge skills you have already acquired from your studies within a business environment. You would be expected to actively seek and acquire an understanding of the operations and management of an organization in order to develop your work related and interpersonal skills. 3. What sort of work will I be doing? A wide range of job opportunities are available to you, depending on your course of study and the needs of an organization. Check each job description carefully to ensure that the placement is suitable for your chosen career; if you aren t sure please don t hesitate to contact somcareers@swansea.ac.uk for further guidance. 4. What is the role of the employer? Your employer will assign you a supervisor for the duration of your placement. This person will be able to induct you into the company, outline your role in more detail and be available for any questions you may have. You may also be provided with a mentor to set and review your work targets some companies may combine these 2 roles together. At the end of the placement, the company will complete the report and send it to the placements team. 5. What is the role of the School of Management? The School will ensure that all students on placement will be visited at their place of work at least once by a member of staff. The purpose of this visit will be to discuss progress, meet supervising staff and to offer help and support to the student. Skype is an alternative form of communication if the placement is based overseas. The School will aim to perform monthly contacts with the students and contact the company every 2 months. 6. What is my role as a student? You will be expected to adhere to the conditions in your contract of employment and also to complete the assignments set during the placement. Please contact the Placements team for a copy of the student contract. 7. How much is the placement year worth to my final degree? A placement year is Band S, which has a weighting of I m not currently on the work placement programme. How do I transfer? This is a very simple process, contact the placements team and they will guide you through which form to fill in and how. The transfer forms can be collected from Room 117 or from Room 138, once completed please return to the Student Information Office in Room

14 9. As an international student, can I undertake a work placement on my current visa? This will depend on the type of visa that you have and we strongly recommend you seek advice and support from the International Student Advisory Service (ISAS). Applications will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, but the team within ISAS will be able to advise you on how to obtain a visa allowing you to conduct a placement within your chosen organisation. 10. I m a Tier 4 student, how are my contacts monitored during a placement? All students on placement will receive a monthly contact, it is important the Placements team have upto-date contact details for you in order to achieve this. Any Tier 4 students who fail to engage with their work placement will be sent a warning letter and reported to the Academic Registry if they fail to respond. Employers will be made aware that absences of five consecutive working days without explanation need to be reported to the Student Information Office. 11. I haven t confirmed a placement yet, but we need to pick modules for next year, what should I do? If you haven t confirmed a placement by the time module selection is due, we recommend you pick your modules whilst still trying to secure a placement if you don t manage to secure a place atleast you will be able to study towards the modules you want. The transfer process is simple and can be completed with help from the placements team if you wish, somplacements@swansea.ac.uk for more information. 12. Do I need to enroll at the start of year 3 if I am going on my placement? Each student on placement is required to enrol during the first week of the academic year. As the placement is a credit-bearing assessed module, it is essential that you enrol. T4 International Students have to complete their enrolment within the first week of the academic year to ensure that they are complying with their visa requirements in relation to re-engaging with their academic programme. The Student Information Office will stress to all International Students in particular, the importance of completing on-line enrolment at the earliest opportunity to avoid the potential problems for both the students and the employers if they fail to comply with this requirement. 13

15 WORK PLACEMENT AGREEMENT (the Agreement ) BETWEEN SWANSEA UNIVERSITY AND [ ] (the Student ) This Agreement should be read and signed by all students who will undertake a Work Placement arranged by any College or Department at Swansea University. It sets out the General Obligations on Swansea University and on the Student arising from the Work Placement. It also gives information on what has been agreed between Swansea University and the Work Placement Provider concerning the Work Placement. Before the Work Placement Starts Before the Work Placement starts Swansea University and the Provider will discuss, and agree as appropriate, arrangements for: Supervision, Location, Duration, and hours, Dealing with disputes, Expenses (these are normally the responsibility of the Student), Anticipated duties, Anticipated outcomes. Students will be notified in advance of commencing a Work Placement what has been agreed with the Provider concerning any or all of the above. These agreements may be subject to change during the course of a Work Placement. The Student will be notified of any changes. In the case of Credit Bearing Work Placement where the Work Placement Provider has a role in assessment, there will be an agreement about how the Provider will be involved in the assessment. Students will be notified about these arrangements in advance of commencing a Work Placement. Before a Work Placement commences we will have agreed with the Work Placement Provider that they should: Comply with all relevant law and regulations, in particular the Equality Act 2010 and the Health and Safety at Work Act Take reasonable steps to ensure that the Student is safe from harm whilst undertaking the Work Placement. 14

16 Ensure that all appropriate insurance coverage is in place for the benefit of the Student whilst the Student is on the Provider s premises or elsewhere when Student is engaged in Work Placement activities. If relevant, provide the student with a contract of employment, Swansea University s Obligations If Swansea University is responsible for arranging the placement, and where there is an agreed Work Placement Swansea University will: 1. Enter into an agreement with the Provider. 2. Allocate an academic tutor who will provide academic supervision and act as the contact person for the Student and the Work Placement Provider. 3. Ensure that due diligence has been given to arranging the Work Placement, including an appropriate risk assessment. 4. Take reasonable steps to ensure that the Student is safe from harm whilst undertaking the Work Placement. 5. In the case of Credit Bearing Work Placement, arrange for a suitable academic assessment and notify the Student of the assessment method for the module. 6. In the case of Credit Bearing Work Placement, ensure that the Student receives appropriate academic credits on successful completion of the assessment, and notify the Student in advance of the module s academic credits. If Swansea University is not responsible for arranging the work placement, or if the placement is arranged through an agency, Swansea University will: 1. Approve the relevance of the Work Placement for the programme. 2. Allocate an member of staff who will act as the contact person for the Student and Work Placement Provider. 3. Take reasonable steps to ensure that the Student is safe from harm whilst undertaking the Work Placement by advising them on Health & Safety expectations. 4. In the case of Credit Bearing Work Placement, arrange for a suitable academic assessment and notify the Student of the assessment method for the module. 5. In the case of Credit Bearing Work Placement, ensure that the Student receives appropriate academic credits on successful completion of the assessment, and notify the Student in advance of the module s academic credits. The Obligations of the Student If the placement is to be undertaken overseas students must ensure they have applied for, and received, the correct visa and insurance cover required before they begin their work placement. Failure to obtain the correct visa will prevent the student from completing the work placement overseas and will result in them being transferred from the placement programme to a suitable alternative programme of study at Swansea University. Whilst undertaking a Work Placement a Student will: 1. Comply with the Provider s policies and procedures and carry out the duties and tasks of the Placement in a conscientious manner. 15

17 2. Refrain from doing anything to bring Swansea University into disrepute. 3. Maintain regular contact with the academic tutor on matters related to the Work Placement, and submit any report or record required by the Provider or Swansea University connected to the Work Placement. 4. In the case of Credit Bearing Work Placement, meet any assessment requirement. Students should also remember that whilst undertaking a Work Placement they remain a student at Swansea University, this means Students will continue to be under an obligation: To meet the academic requirements imposed by the University. To pay the University relevant tuition and other fees. To meet academic requirements imposed by the University. To disclose to the University any health conditions or disability requirements. Dispute Resolution (re conduct of work placement) Disputes concerning the conduct of the Work Placement will in the first instance be resolved on the basis of any agreement reached between Swansea University and the Work Placement Provider. In the absence of an agreed process for resolving disputes concerning the Work Placement the academic tutor will try and resolve the dispute. However, if the dispute cannot be resolved the Work Placement Provider has absolute discretion to terminate the Work Placement (see next section). Terminating the Work Placement We have agreed with the Provider that it may terminate the Work Placement at any time but reasons must be given. If the Work Placement is terminated early Swansea University will assess the reasons given for termination. Termination for no good reason If Swansea University considers that the Provider did not have good reason to terminate the Work Placement we will use reasonable efforts to find an alternative Work Placement, or take other reasonable actions to mitigate the effect of the termination on the Student, such as offering the student the opportunity to select a replacement module. Termination for good reason If Swansea University considers that the Provider had good reason to terminate the Work Placement due to the Student s failure to meet your obligations or unsatisfactory performance it is under no obligation to provide an alternative Work Placement. Assessment Assessment will only apply to Credit Bearing Work Placements. Assessment of Credit Bearing Work Placement will be in accordance with the assessment criteria established for the module concerned. Assessment will be governed by Swansea University s assessment regulations and procedures. 16

18 Assessment and early termination for good reason If the Work Placement is terminated early and Swansea University considers that the Provider had good reason to terminate the Work Placement the student is likely to fail the module. Due to the nature of a Work Placement module the Student will normally be expected to pursue a replacement module, either during the following semester, or possibly in the next academic year. Failure to complete a credit bearing Work Placement is likely to have an impact on a Student s progression. Assessment and early termination for no good reason If the Work Placement is terminated early and Swansea University considers that the Provider did not have good reason to terminate the Work Placement we will, depending on the circumstances of the case: Make alternative arrangements for the Student to pursue another credit bearing placement. Make arrangements for assessment based on the Work Placement completed to the date of termination. Make arrangements for an alternative set of additional assignments. Arrange for the Student to undertake a replacement module. Any appeal against any decision made concerning assessment of a Credit Bearing Work Placement module will be conducted in accordance with Swansea University s academic regulations. Employment Contracts Some Work Placements will involve the Student entering into contract of employment with the Provider. A contract of employment provides rights to both the employer (Provider) and employee (Student) which are unaffected by the obligation set out in this document. SIGNED: Swansea University signature: Print Name Date Student signature: Print Name Date 17

19 Undergraduate Placement Assessment 2015/16 Part 1. Learning log and review A) Company report on student 40% B) Target setting and activities review (including weekly log) 40% Part 2. Reflection and future planning A) Skills reflection on placement (1000 words) 10% B) Career planning and final CV 10% Contact us: Phone: Facebook: Note: The following doc needs to be completed and submitted via Blackboard through the placement module you are enrolled on. The company report will be completed by the company and sent on to the Placements team separately. 18

20 PART 1: LEARNING LOG AND REVIEW Student name: Student ID number: Programme of study: Placement company name: Role in placement company: Line manager while on placement: Section A: Company report on student This is to be completed by the employer at the end of the placement exit interview and will be submitted directly to the placements team for assessment purposes. As a student on placement, this is here for your reference so you are aware of what criteria your employer is assessing your performance on. You are not required to complete Section A yourself. Rating: 1 Far short of expectations 2 Short of expectations 3 Neutral 4 Exceeded expectations 5 Far exceeded expectations Attribute Rating Comments Punctuality Personal appearance Attitude to health and safety Written communication skills Verbal communication skills Non-verbal communication (body language/etc) Enthusiasm Initiative Self-motivation Commitment Relationship with other members of staff Team-working Adaptability Professionalism Self-confidence IT skills 19

21 Were a suitable job available, how likely would you be to permanently employ this student (please circle)? 1 Would not employ 2 Unlikely 3 Possible 4 Likely 5 Very likely Comments: Overall, how satisfied are you with the performance of this student in your company (please circle)? 1 Very dissatisfied 2 Dissatisfied 3 Neutral 4 Satisfied 5 Very satisfied Comments: Are there any further comments you would like to make about the student. Were any disciplinary procedures necessary during the placement (please circle)? Yes No Comments: 20

22 Section B: Target Setting and Review of Activities Undertaken This is to be completed by yourself and your employer; this is to be submitted by you on Blackboard. Activity Several should be agreed at the start of the placement, but others can be added at any time. Actions required by company to support realisation of activity To be completed by the employer. Progress made half way through placement (or agreed review period) To be completed by the employer. Student evidence on completion of activity To be completed by the student at the end of placement. Employer activity completed To be completed by the employer at the end of placement exit interview. 1 Very satisfactorily 2 Satisfactorily 3 Unsatisfactorily 4 Very unsatisfactorily 5 Not achieved 21

23 Section B continued: Weekly log of activities undertaken Complete the log below, adding weeks according to the length of placement. As your placement progresses, use the log to note activities undertaken. This is beneficial to put towards your reflective assignments in addition to noting key skills obtained in order to include in your CV. Week 1 Substantive activities

24 PART 2: REFLECTION AND FUTURE PLANNING Section A: Skills reflection on placement An individual assignment reflecting on the skills obtained throughout the placement experience words limit. 23

25 Section B: Student reflection Identify from your Part 1 learning log, your key strengths and weaknesses (below). You will meet with a School of Management careers officer to discuss your strengths and review supporting mechanisms to improve weaknesses. Strengths How have you demonstrated these during your placement? To be completed prior to meeting with Careers Weaknesses 1 Actions to be taken to improve your identified weaknesses? To be completed after meeting with Careers

26 Section B continued: Career planning Prior to the placement, what area did you want to work in? What area was the placement in? Following the placement, do you still want to work in the same area if not, what area are you now interested in? What actions are you going to take to identify and gain a job in your desired work area? 25

27 Section B continued: Careers officer meeting Each student is required to meet with a careers officer to review their learning during the placement and address future career planning. This may be to provide advice on changing careers or to identify routes to graduate employment with the careers team. You will be required to bring an up-to-date CV with you to the session for the Careers team to go through with you. Careers Officers: Hannah Johns h.johns@swansea.ac.uk Morwenna Tyler (from July 2015) m.e.tyler@swansea.ac.uk Emma Evans e.l.evans@swansea.ac.uk Jessica Loomba j.m.loomba@swansea.ac.uk Stephanie Meyer s.l.meyer@swansea.ac.uk Note: After the meeting students should submit a final post-placement CV to the careers team. 26

28 Assessment Deadlines Work should be submitted in full by Friday 3rd June 2016 via blackboard. This may be before the end of the placement, so students and employers should be aware of this deadline and make provision for completion of assessment in work plans and target setting. Students will be expected to attend their compulsory Careers Officer meeting in advance of this date which may involve them travelling to Swansea prior to the placement finishing. In exceptional circumstances, it may be possible for a careers officer to travel to the placement location for the meeting. If you are currently conducting an international placement and are unable to travel before the deadline, skype is also available to have a face-face meeting with our Careers Officers, somcareers@swansea.ac.uk for more information. In this instance, you will be required to forward a copy of your up-to-date CV beforehand. Please find the marking grid for reference during your assessment on the following page. Contact us: somplacements@swansea.ac.uk Phone: Facebook: 27

29 Marking Grid 28