School of Science and Technology. Guide to Sandwich Work Placements

Transcription

1 School of Science and Technology Guide to Sandwich Work Placements

2 Contents Working together 2 What happens next? 3 What makes a successful placement? 4 Giving students the experience they need 5 Support from NTU during the placement year 6 The small print 7 Appendix 1: Key Responsibilities 8

3 Working together Thank you for deciding to use NTU to recruit for your placement position. We look forward to working with you to ensure that you and our students both get the most out of the sandwich placement year. The placement process is a developmental one which requires your support and commitment and we appreciate your time and effort. In this guide you will find information about what happens during the recruitment phase and once the placement has started. Helping you every step of the way The Placement Office is available to offer advice and answer any queries that you may have. We can help with your advertisement and can assist you in the placement selection process. We are here to make the whole process as easy as possible for you. Throughout the placement we will continue to work with you to ensure that both you and the student have a rewarding placement experience. Science placements: Kate Lucas Placements and Employment Co-ordinator Tel: +44 (0) kate.lucas@ntu.ac.uk Dr Ray Wallace Professional Placements Manager Tel: +44 (0) ray.wallace@ntu.ac.uk Computing and Technology placements: Kamni Sood Placements and Employment Administrator Tel: +44 (0) kamni.sood@ntu.ac.uk Dr Pauline Smith Professional Placements Manager Tel: +44 (0) pauline.smith@ntu.ac.uk School of Science and Technology Placement Office Nottingham Trent University Clifton Lane Nottingham NG11 8NS UK 2

4 What happens next? The first step is to let students know about your The Placement Office can help you develop an advertisement about your placement position and make it available to students. Recruiting your placement student Liaising with the Placement Office, you can arrange presentations, interviews and assessments if you want to, and discuss how applications are progressing. Interviews can be held in your workplace or at the University whichever suits you best. Once you have selected a candidate that you would like to offer the position to, you will need to confirm the placement offer you are making, including start/end date and terms and conditions of employment. This is usually done via a letter from your company to the student. Preparing for the placement Health and Safety Before our students can embark on their placement with you, we need to ensure that they will be working in a safe environment. For this reason all placements must be approved by NTU on an annual basis. The enclosed letter asks you for formal assurances about health and safety. Health and Safety arrangements require no additional provisions to those already being made for regular employees in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act Please read the letter carefully and then send a completed copy back to us for our records. Student supervision As well as a member of staff to whom the student is responsible, we ask you to identify someone they can turn to for help and support (mentor). Just as you would with any new member of staff, students should be provided with a workplace induction and introduced to the appropriate personnel at the start of the During the placement The Placement Office and a Placement Contact Tutor will provide support to both you and the student during the The Placement Contact Tutor will ask to meet with the student and his or her supervisor. We will ask you to provide feedback on this occasion, as well as directly to the student during and at the end of the The student s progress will be monitored throughout the Students may be asked to complete NTU project work or reports as part of their placements so we ask that you provide the appropriate support and opportunities for them to do so. During the placement students may need time off to attend a University callback event and in some cases students may have to re-sit exams. For more information about the responsibilities of students, NTU and employers please refer to Appendix 1: Key Responsibilities on page 8. 3

5 What makes a successful placement? There are many elements that go into highly successful placements. Below are some of things our students tell us they felt contributed to a successful and rewarding placement experience: Having clear goals and objectives. Receiving frequent feedback from their employer. Working in an area of specific interest or building on specific skills. Having the right level of responsibility. Having an awareness of the organisational culture and ways of working. My placement was aligned to my course... My placement was superbly aligned to my course and has made me more focused on what I want to get out of my degree. I was given a lot of responsibility during my placement and my biggest challenge was giving a presentation to 200 people about the launch of our new touch-screen laptops. It was quite nerve racking but it has given me valuable experience in public speaking and looks excellent on my CV. Dominic Smith, BSc (Hons) Information Systems, Debenhams I was given increasing responsibility... Work placements for my course are optional but highly recommended. My job was labbased; I was doing organic synthesis for the Intermediate Department. I had a certain amount of orders with deadlines and had to organise my work around these. For the first month I was highly supervised to make sure that I met the requirements for working safely in the lab. This supervision decreased with experience and at the end I was almost independent. Everyone in the company was really friendly and helpful. My NTU supervisor regularly checked my situation. He was really helpful and understanding concerning various problems. My placement fitted exactly into my studies and it enabled me to see the application of Chemistry and realise that it is, above anything else, a practical science. I really enjoyed my work, especially the project that I undertook over six months. It was a great opportunity for me to see how a chemical company is run and also a great place to meet people who did the same degree and followed different paths after. My placement really helped me see how much I really enjoy Chemistry and I can see myself working in this field, perhaps more in the research and development department. I think a placement is a great opportunity to find out what you want or don't want to do. It helps you to gain skills but also to recognise the ones you already have. It enables you to have an insight into the field you want to work in and also to make contacts that can be useful after your graduation. Muriel Funck, MChem Chemistry with Professional Practice Key Organics Ltd 4

6 Giving students the experience they need The best sandwich placements provide students with the opportunity to boost the skills that employers are looking for. These skills can be encouraged by offering situations where a student can: identify, analyse and solve problems; apply technical knowledge, tools and methods; gain an understanding of how the business operates; communicate to a range of audiences in the workplace; use initiative individually and as part of a team; manage their time and prioritise tasks. What do placement employers say? Find out what the following company has to say about the calibre of our placement students. A Physics undergraduate from NTU, Ty, has spent his placement with E.ON Engineering this year, and this has been a resounding success. His attitude towards improving the efficiency of our systems, his ability to learn independently, and his high level of problem solving skills are all characteristics of a good Physics undergraduate. David Futter, E.ON Engineering What should you expect from the student? All students are briefed on what is considered to be acceptable behaviour in the workplace. We encourage them to: be punctual and observe the norms of conduct (politeness, confidentiality, dress, smoking etc) expected by the host. obey rules and protocols established by the employer concerning health and safety at work. behave in as open manner as possible, asking questions to avoid misunderstandings and being honest about problems. be prepared to accept a growing level of responsibility. notify you of any referrals / re-sit requirements and discuss the arrangements for this with you. notify you promptly of any call-back dates and request permission to attend. 5

7 Support from NTU during the placement year During the placement, you and the student will have the support of the Placement Office and University tutors. We monitor the student s progress at three key points during the placement, checking that it s going as well as it should be. The student will receive a call from the university shortly after they start to ensure they have settled in. You will receive two visits from a member of our academic staff, the first within three months of the start of the placement (UK placements only). These contacts provide an opportunity for all parties to raise any issues or concerns which they might have. In the unlikely event that a serious problem arises, or if for any reason an earlier or additional visit is needed, this can be arranged via the University s Placement Office or Course Tutor. There will normally be a call-back event at the University for students during their Assessment Placement students work towards an additional qualification: a Placement Diploma in Professional Practice. To achieve this award, they are required to undertake a minimum of 36 weeks on placement for computing and technology placements and 43 weeks for science placements, complete a log book and prepare a report. Science students are required to give a seminar presentation when they return to NTU. Students are expected to keep a weekly log / journal of work in order to trace their growth in skills and knowledge and also to show how they have bridged the gap between their academic study and the practical use of the subject. Students are expected to be able to give an overview of their work during the year, focusing on key episodes and activities that reflect the change in their skills and knowledge. Assessments are designed to meet set learning objectives which are assessed on their return to NTU. The Placement Office helped me when times got tough... I began my placement with Lehman Brothers in 2008 but unfortunately while I was on placement, the company filed for bankruptcy. The Placement Office was brilliant, securing me a placement with the organisation who took over the company. The experience has made me stronger and I believe I now have a through understanding of working in the real world. Sharna Peach, BSc (Hons) Mathematics, Lehman Brothers 6

8 The small print Here is the other information you need to know about placements at NTU. Intellectual Property Work performed by students on placement may give rise to intellectual property. Ownership of any intellectual property rights created will be determined by the employment contract, and would normally be expected to reside with the employer unless a specific agreement exists or a placement is unpaid. In the case of unpaid placements, a student will normally own the intellectual property rights in any intellectual property he or she creates during the placement, unless agreed otherwise in writing. Equality and diversity Nottingham Trent University is committed to challenging all forms of discrimination and creating a fair, open and inclusive learning and working environment. The University aims to promote equality of opportunity for all regardless of age, disability, childcare responsibilities, gender identity (transgender), marital status (including civil partnerships), sex, sexual orientation, social class, religion or beliefs. This commitment applies to all individuals and all aspects of the University s life, including students on We expect our placement providers to have in place policies and guidelines to support equality and diversity and prevent discrimination against our students. Complaints by students about discrimination, harassment or bullying will be treated fairly and investigated in a timely manner. Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) You should consider whether the nature of the placement that you are offering will require you to perform a CRB check. 7

9 Appendix 1: Key Responsibilities Sandwich placement year key responsibilities: for you, your placement student and NTU. Successful work placements are all about teamwork, and it s important to know who s responsible for what. Here s a guide to understanding what s required of you, and what you can expect from your placement student and NTU. Arranging sandwich work placements You will need to Provide a detailed, accurate job description at the start of the recruitment process. 2. Liaise with the Placement Office to arrange presentations, interviews and tests. 3. Keep the Placement Office informed of progress towards selection. 4. Let the placement student know whether their application is being taken further and whether they ll need to come to an interview. 5. Inform the Placement Office and students about your expenses policy for off campus interviews. 6. Clearly explain your employment terms and conditions in writing to placement students that you make an offer to. 7. Let students know quickly if their application hasn t been successful. Students will Have overall responsibility for securing a 2. Keep the Placement Office informed about their applications and how they re going. 3. Reply quickly when you or the Placement Office contact them. 4. Let you and the Placement Office know if they can t keep an appointment, or if they decide to withdraw their application. 5. Where applicable, claim expenses for off campus interviews in line with your policy. 6. Recognise that the offer of a placement, and their acceptance of it, form a contract which must be honoured, unless conditions are attached. 7. Decline any other placement offers and applications as soon as they accept an unconditional offer. 8. Let the Placement Office know about the offer they re accepting. NTU will Liaise with you to find out about placement opportunities and make sure they meet the University s standards. 2. Clearly advertise your placement opportunities to our students. 3. Help students make their placement applications. 4. If required, help you arrange presentations and interviews and keep you informed of what s happening. Before the sandwich placement starts You will need to Give the University formal assurances about health and safety. 2. Agree a start date with your placement student. Please be aware, the academic year may affect the earliest start dates. 3. Explain who and where your placement student should report to on their first day and outline induction arrangements 4. Designate someone to be their supervisor. This person will need to take responsibility for the student s progress towards the objectives set by you and their course. 5. Let your placement student and the Placement Office know if anything changes. Your placement student will Send you and the Placement Office any paperwork asked for. 2. Attend NTU briefings they re invited to, including the mandatory health and safety session. 3. Let you know if they ll need time off to take any re-sits. 4. Understand the expected learning outcomes for their 5. Prepare for the transition to the world of work. 6. Organise their accommodation and travel arrangements. 7. Let the Placement Office know of any changes relating to their placement or contact details. 8. Pay their fees and enrol online for their placement year. 9. Arrange visas, travel and medical insurance if they re going on an overseas NTU will Make sure you know about the requirements of an NTU placement year, including health and safety standards. 2. Make you aware of the University s equality and diversity obligations. 3. Advise students on getting ready for their 4. Brief them on health and safety in the workplace. 5. Let you and the student know about the support that will be provided by NTU during the placement, including visits, other catch ups and any call back events. 6. Make the student aware of other types of support available to them as an NTU student while on 7. Let them know about the assessment requirements relating to their placement year. 8

10 During the sandwich placement year You will need to Give your placement student suitable induction training so that they get a good understanding of their role in your organisation, as well as any health and safety issues. 2. Give them opportunities in the workplace that will enable them to achieve their own goals and the objectives of their course. 3. Support them and give them access to the resources needed to help them complete their assessments. 4. Recognise that although first and foremost they re an employee of the organisation, they re still a student too and will have some obligations as part of their course. 5. Where possible, give them time to take any re-sit exams they might have. 6. Allow them to attend their University callback event wherever possible. 7. Allow the University s placement contact tutors to have access to them and their supervisor to discuss how they re getting on. 8. Let the placement contact tutor know about any potential problems or serious issues. Your placement student will Work hard and make a positive contribution to your organisation. 2. Undertake the work you set down in their job description, and keep to the terms and conditions of their employment. 3. Complete the number of weeks on placement that you ve agreed with NTU. 4. Complete their course-related assessments. 5. Hand in any paperwork the Placement Office asks for, like the health and safety induction checklist. 6. Let the Placement Office know if anything changes, like their circumstances, location or contact details. 7. Let their placement contact tutor and the Placement Office know if they run into any problems on placement which can t be resolved locally. 8. Be available and prepared for visits and other conversations with their placement contact tutor. 9. Let you know about their call back event and ask for time off to go along. 10. Let the University know if they re ill and absent from their work placement for an extended period of time. 11. Make sure they ve spoken to their placement contact tutor, placements manager or course leader first if, for some reason, they need to give you their notice. The NTU Placement Office will Contact the student during their first few weeks on placement to make sure they re settling in well. 2. Make sure the placement student has regular catch-ups with placement contact tutors. 3. Make sure their progress is being monitored by their allocated supervisor and course tutor. 4. Keep track of the key placement documents they hand in, including the health and safety induction checklist. 5. Keep a record of all contact with the student during their Your NTU placement contact tutor will Act as a point of liaison with you. 2. Highlight any health and safety issues relating to the placement to both you and the Placement Office. 3. Keep in regular contact with you and the student, having at least two catch up sessions or visits, or three if the student is unable to come to the call back event. 4. Visit you and the student for the first time within the first three months of their placement (if they re on placement in the UK). 5. Monitor the quality and progress of the 6. Assess and record the students progress on 7. Liaise with the programme leader or placements manager if there are any problems. Once the sandwich placement s finished You will need to Give the University feedback on your placement students performance during the 2. Give the University feedback on how the placement process has been managed. 3. Make sure any necessary paperwork is completed and returned to the University on time. Your placement student will Complete their assessments and submit them to their School. 2. Provide feedback on their placement experience to NTU. NTU will Monitor and record their assessed work. 2. Give them feedback on their assessments and what they ve learned on placement, so they can build on and make the most of their experience. 9

11 School of Science and Technology Placement Office Nottingham Trent University Clifton Lane Nottingham NG11 8NS UK Tel: This leaflet can be made available in alternative formats Please note that, while the University has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of this leaflet at the time of printing, the information contained within this leaflet may change from time to time. While the University undertakes to take all reasonable steps to provide education services in the manner set out in this leaflet, it does not undertake any obligation to do so. 5590g/07/10 Nottingham Trent University and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the prior written consent of Nottingham Trent University. *5590*