Employment Experience (UK and Abroad)
| Module title | Employment Experience (UK and Abroad) |
|---|---|
| Module code | SSI3020 |
| Academic year | 2021/2 |
| Credits | 120 |
| Module staff | Dr Jack Tagney () |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 | 7 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
Module description
When taking this module you work in the UK or abroad for the whole academic year (a minimum of 28 weeks). You will use one or more work placements to gain skills that equip you to work in the employment market and environment and, if you choose to go abroad, to improve your knowledge of foreign cultures. You are encouraged to think about the intercultural competence and the employability skills that you acquire during their year abroad.
You will need to have gained an overall average mark for the year of 50% or above at Level 1 your first year of studies) in order to participate in the work abroad programme.
If you choose to go abroad, and the operational language of the work placement organisation is not English, you must have obtained an Advanced Level module via the Foreign Language Centre at the University of Exeter (in your own time outside of your programme requirements*), or be able to demonstrate the equivalent level of language acquisition.
Please note that it is your responsibility to find a suitable work placement or placements for you to undertake as part of this module.
*Please note there may be a charge for attending these courses.
Module aims - intentions of the module
1. To increase your employability skills in an increasingly competitive market through
- seeking and successfully gaining a work placement
- being in a workplace for a significant period and reflecting on that experience
2. To develop your intercultural awareness and competence through reflection on the experience of employment.
3. To enhance your capacity for self-assessment through structured reflection on your experience
4. Where employment is abroad to enhance your awareness of the process of foreign-language learning and to develop strategies for more effective language learning
5. Enhance key transferable skills through the managing of your learning in an independent context. i.e. working with others; problem solving; communication, building resilience; leadership skills
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. produce job applications that represent the students' strengths and target specific employers in an appropriate manner;
- 2. demonstrate knowledge and application of the attitudes and qualities that are required to function well in a work environment;
- 3. demonstrate an ability to communicate (in writing and in speech) in a manner appropriate to the particular workplace context;
- 4. where study has been outside of the UK, demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the host country and a sensitivity to its culture so as to function as an integrated member of its society.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. demonstrate skills in the research, selection and evaluation of specific jobs and the structural context of those jobs;
- 6. demonstrate a critical understanding of the social, cultural and political considerations that influence employment settings, using appropriate discipline-specific theoretical perspectives to analyse those settings.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. develop or enhance practical work-based skills and experience;
- 8. negotiate the different types of working relationships with staff within the workplace and others relevant to the placement;
- 9. demonstrate the ability to identify and reflect on personal challenges and to learn from their resolution;
- 10. demonstrate the ability to use a range of technologies and applications relevant to most work places.
Syllabus plan
Work placement(s) UK or abroad for the full Academic year (minimum of 28 weeks) in one or more placement approved by the University of Exeter.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 1200 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Work placement | 1200 | Work placement undertaken with an organisation(s) approved by the University of Exeter. The hours are approximate and may vary on an individual basis but are to include all assessment and study time. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Vitae | 750 words | 1; 2; 3; 5; 6; 7 | Written and Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | 0 | 35 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective Essay | 50 | 2,000 words | 2;4;9 | Written and Oral |
| Recorded Interview Responses | 35 | 10 mins | 2; 9 | Written and Oral |
| Updated Curriculum Vitae and/or Linked-In profile | 15 | As required | 1; 2; 3; 5; 6; 7; 9; 10 | Written and Oral |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective Essay | Reflective Essay, 2000 words (50%) | 2;4;9 | referral/deferral period |
| Recorded Interview Responses | Recorded Interview Responses, 10 minutes (35%) | 2;9 | referral/deferral period |
| Updated Curriculum Vitae | Updated Curriculum Vitae and/or Linked-In profile (15%) | 1; 2; 3; 5; 6; 7; 9; 10 | referral/deferral period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Cottrell, S. (2003), Skills for Success: The Personal Development Planning Handbook. Palgrave Study Guides. London
Fanthorne, C. (2004), Work Placements – A Survival Guide for Students. Palgrave Study Guides. Macmillan, London.
Kolb, D. (1984), ‘Experiential Learning: Experience as a source of Learning and Development.’ PHI, New Jersey.
Longson, S. (1999), Making Work Experience Count. How to Books.
Moon, J. (1999), Learning Journals: A handbook for academics, students and professional development . Kogan Page, London.
Turnock, C. & Mulholland, J. (2007), Learning in the Workplace. A toolkit for placement tutors, supervisors, mentors and facilitators. Kingsham Press.
Williams, Woolliams, and Spiro. (2012). Reflective writing. Palgrave Macmillan.
| Credit value | 120 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 60 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 11/03/2021 |
| Last revision date | 04/10/2021 |
