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Communications in the Workplace

Module description

In this module, you will secure and undertake one or two work placements, totalling at least 80 hours. The module will allow you to develop an understanding of how the skills and knowledge acquired as part of a Communications degree are applicable to the workplace and to extend relevant work-based skills and knowledge in a reflective way. The module provides an opportunity for you to develop an understanding of a business or work environment through practical activities and to gain experience in the use of technologies and applications commonly used in organisations.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to prepare you to undertake a work placement, paid internship, volunteer position or other vocationally-relevant activity.

Career Zone Workshops: you are required to attend a series of workshops, co-ordinated by the the University’s Careers Consultants. Sessions may include: Career decision-making, CV and application writing; Recruitment and Selection (including interview experience); sourcing work placements.

One-to-one consultations: you will be able to have a consultation with the Employability and Placement Advisor to discuss how you secure and make the most of your placement.

Seminars: These sessions will enable you to understand employment-related issues from a range of theoretical and disciplinary perspectives. 

Independent work experience and study: with the assistance of the Employability and Placement Advisor, you will be required to organise your own placements, including preparing appropriate CVs and written applications, and to successfully navigate interviews and employment tests. You will work in an agreed professional setting and will reflect on that experience within the context of the module's assessment. It is your responsibility to keep the Module Leader and Employability and Placement Advisor informed of progress in the workplace and of problems that have arisen.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an ability to reflect critically on practical experiences gained, and the impact they may have on your views and actions.
• 2. Establish connections between the skills acquired as part of a degree in Communication and the skills required in the workplace.
• 3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the social, cultural and political considerations which influence employment settings, using appropriate discipline-specific theoretical perspectives to analyse those settings.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Demonstrate your ability to use appropriate discipline-specific critical approaches to evaluate the social and cultural and political aspects of an employment setting.
• 5. Demonstrate an ability to communicate (in writing and in speech) in a manner appropriate to the particular workplace context.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Develop/enhance practical work-based skills and experience.
• 7. Negotiate the different types of working relationships with staff within the workplace, and others – directly or indirectly – relevant to the placement.
• 8. Demonstrate the ability to identify and reflect on personal challenges and to learn from your resolution.
• 9. Demonstrate the ability to use a range of technologies and applications relevant to most workplaces

Syllabus plan

Placements are complex and their suitability needs to be agreed by both the Module Convenor and Employability and Placement Advisor. You must complete the necessary ‘paperwork’ no later than three weeks before the placement begins. Placements should be completed by the beginning of Term 3 in Year 2.

Work experience can take place at various points in the year, in one or two blocks or continuously (full time outside of term time or maximum 15 hours/week during term time). The module is designed to enable the work placement(s) to take place at any point before Term 3 of your second year. We strongly encourage you to undertake your work placement over the summer between your first and second year.

The Career Zone run a range of workshops and can provide one-to-one support and guidance for placements.

The lectures for this module will feature a range of guest speakers who will provide insights into the media and communications sector.

The seminars will introduce you to histories and theories of work, equipping you with key concepts that you can apply to the analysis of your work experience.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

• To be provided in consultation with the Module Leader regarding the specific placement.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/ 

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• Preparatory materials provided as part of the workshops, including guidance on writing a CV, application letters and an occupational profile. Facilities available in the Employability and Graduate Development Service in Reed Mews. Discipline-based supervisors will provide bibliographical guidance

Key words search

Work, experience, placement, communications