How do I support a student during the placement?

It is beneficial to the student and placement host alike for there to be a well-defined induction programme to allow the student to get up to speed quicker and feel supported from the outset.  

Before the first day of the placement, we would recommend the student is sent clear joining information via an appropriate communication channel (e.g. email or letter.) This may include where and when to report for work, dress code, any orientation material they can refer to beforehand, and some details on what they will be doing on their first day.  

We then recommend that the first day covers the following aspects: 

First line management meeting 

An initial meeting where a line manager or supervisor shares with the student key information on the organisation, including core values, organisational structure or any specific targets.  

This will also be an opportunity to define any expectations for the student including a clear description of their role and responsibilities.  

It is crucial to manage expectations from the outset, as the student may have limited workplace experience and could therefore be feeling anxious or make assumptions about their role.  

Workplace induction 

If the student is working in-person, it is recommended that they be given the same induction as any other new starter. This would include a tour of the office or workspace that covers security procedures, fire exits, evacuation procedures, first aid arrangements and information on specific hazards. The student may also have specific access requirements, and any arrangements made on this basis should be covered on the first day.  

Students working remotely should also be given an induction but elements only applicable to an office-based/on-site role would not be required. 

Introduction to other colleagues  

You may wish to invite the student to a team meeting or briefing, where colleagues and team members can introduce themselves and briefly explain their role in the organisation and how this relates to the student’s work.  

It is also advisable to include the student on relevant mailing lists, SharePoint sites (where appropriate) or other communication/information channels/sites.   

One of the key pieces of feedback we receive from organisations is that hosting a placement student can inject new energy and purpose into the workplace and offer a way for newer colleagues to gain supervisory or mentoring experience.  

You may therefore wish to consider setting up a ‘buddy’ system where an appropriate member of staff can act as a secondary point of contact for students to express any concerns or seek guidance on a particular task.   

As students may have limited work experience and/or want to grow it, they particularly value regular opportunities to develop their personal and professional development and therefore we recommend they be treated like any other member of staff as far as practicable. 

Personal and professional development ideas may include:  

• Ongoing feedback in the form of weekly or fortnightly 1:1s with a mentor or line manager, particularly if the placement is more than four weeks. 
• Peer feedback from other new members of the team especially if there are other students on placement at the organisation). 
• Opportunities to learn specialist skills e.g. use of specific software, event planning, marketing, sales, data analysis.
• Networking opportunities both inside and outside the organisation. 
• A formal mid-placement review to allow open, two-way discussion on progress or any issues arising. If the placement is longer than six months, you may consider offering a number of these reviews to help guide the student across the employment period.  

All our placement students will be registered onto specific credit-bearing modules or programmes. This means their work placement is a compulsory part of the module/programme and they will be required to complete academic assessments, many of which will require them to reflect on their placement experience. 

Assessment types may include:  

• a reflective journal or essay.  
• a business report.
• an updated CV. 
• a set of recorded video interview answers.
• a career action plan.   

The student will find great value in any support offered by the placement host to complete these assessments e.g. time to work on elements of assessments, logging their experience, creating presentations and seeking feedback, and opportunities to gain sector-specific insight by meeting with relevant colleagues.   

Any student that undertakes a placement as part of their degree programme remains registered to the University of Exeter i.e., they are still considered a student.  

This means that they retain full access to university events and resources, including the careers service, library, student services, student finance etc. 

Most importantly, the student retains full access to the university’s Wellbeing Services.  Visit the Wellbeing Services pages if you would like further information on how the university support students’ wellbeing during placement or if you have a student who requires wellbeing support, 

On year-long placement programmes, students are also invited to monthly check-ins that are facilitated by a member of the Placements Team. These check-ins bring together all students undertaking their placements in a given academic year and offer a crucial opportunity to share key achievements, to discuss challenges and to sustain a positive peer network with other University of Exeter students. 

Students can also contact their Employability and Placements Adviser or module convenor on their placement programme during normal office hours. They can find contact details for them on the ELE page for their programme/module. 

On the student’s last day, we recommend a few strategies to ensure a positive ongoing relationship between the placement host and student following the placement:  

• We encourage a two-way review of the placement experience, where the line manager offers an honest appraisal of the student’s progress over the course of the placement, this could be in the form of a PDR.  
• You could invite the student to give a short presentation on their experience during their final review/1to1 to gather feedback and any fresh insights into the business or organisation to carry forward. 
• You may be able to discuss further opportunities with the placement student e.g. work during vacation time or graduate roles. 
• We particularly encourage students to keep in touch with the organisation post-placement via a range of appropriate channels, including email, LinkedIn or other social media. 

The University would be pleased to stay in touch with the organisation following the placement and can help to develop and advertise further roles.  

You may also consider becoming involved in promoting your organisation or your placement opportunity at one of our Careers Fairs. We also regularly invite representatives from organisations to give recruitment presentations, or to get involved in our Professional Pathways or Access to Internships (A2I) schemes. 

You may be interested in advertising a Student Business Partnership opportunity, available to students from any discipline and degree stage. The scheme connects employers operating in the South West with talented and motivated Exeter students to undertake paid work.  
Please see the Employer Engagement and Student Employment page to find out more about the above.