Business Internships and Placements
| Module title | Business Internships and Placements |
|---|---|
| Module code | BUS2004 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Ms Emma Wood (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
Module description
This module is designed to encourage you to enhance your employability through a guided programme of study and practical business experience. Guidance is provided through subject based seminars, interactive electronic resources and personal guidance. An understanding of the key elements of the selection and recruitment process, raising self-awareness of key skills and competencies and developing the reflective skills required for Continuous Professional Development and future career management will be provided.
You are required to participate in an approved work placement, organised by yourself, for a minimum of 140 hours (4 weeks). This can be undertaken during or after the taught element of the module. Ultimate responsibility for finding and scheduling a placement lies with you; however there will be advice and support from the module team, particularly on how to approach employers and identify suitable opportunities. International placements are acceptable but will still need to be approved by the employability adviser prior to starting the placement. It is important that all placements are deemed of ‘degree’ level, in order for you to gain useful experience for the future. Low level part-time jobs will not be approved.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MODULE IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO SECOND YEAR STUDENTS AND IS NOT AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS ON A WITH INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE PROGRAMME
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will enable you to study a dedicated career management module whilst benefiting from the experience of a degree level work placement or internship (minimum 4 weeks). The module aims to
• Define the core elements of the recruitment and selection process
• Identify personal competences and work related skills
• Develop and extend relevant work-based skills and knowledge
• Provide the opportunity for students to develop an understanding of a business environment through practical experience, to encompass non-government organisations (NGOs) and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Review and evaluate theories learned in relation to practical experience gained
• Gain experience in the use of technologies and applications commonly used in organisations
• Develop a reflective approach to personal performance and continued professional development
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Define the process of job acquisition, with specific regard to the range of processes and assessments that may be involved in securing a job at graduate level
- 2. Identify services and resources that will assist in your placement search and subsequent graduate job search
- 3. Demonstrate an ability to reflect critically on practical experiences gained, and the impact they may have on your views and actions
- 4. Demonstrate an ability to compare theory with experience
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Understand the social, economic, cultural and administrative considerations which influence employment settings
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. Demonstrate the ability to identify and reflect on personal challenges and to learn from their resolution
- 8. Demonstrate ability to use a range of technologies and applications relevant to most workplaces
- 9. Negotiate the different types of working relationships with staff within the workplace, and others - directly or indirectly - relevant to the placement
Syllabus plan
Core topic seminars will be supported by practical workshop sessions.
• Start with you (identifying personal skills, core competencies and unique selling points)
• Placement search and signposting to the employability team support services
• CV and cover letters
• Application forms
• Psychometric Testing
• Assessment Centres
• Interview techniques
•• Next steps (placement paperwork, final assessment, workplace skills)
Please note: Although all taught content will be delivered in Term 1, students will need to ensure they have enough time in Term 2 to source and apply for relevant internships and complete the required paperwork.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 140 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 6 | Blended online and face to face delivery |
| Career workshops | 4 | 2 x 2 hours blended online and face to face delivery |
| Approved work experience | 140 |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feedback on activities in workshops | During workshops | 1-5 | Verbal |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online career action plan | 10 | 10 MCQ quiz on ELE (1 hour) | 1,2,3,6,7 | Automatic written feedback provided on ELE |
| CV and cover letter | 40 | 1500 words | 3,5,7,9 | Written feedback |
| Written report | 50 | 2000 words | 1-9 | Written feedback |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career action plan | 10 MCQ quiz on ELE (1 hour) (10%) | 1,2,3,6,7 | Relevant ref/def assessment period |
| CV and cover letter | Resubmission of CV and cover letter (40%) | 3,5,7,9 | Relevant ref/def assessment |
| Written report | Resubmission of written report | 1-9 | Term 1 of subsequent academic year |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
The Business School’s online careers management skills page on the ELE: ‘Your Employability Skills’ YES pages: ex.ac.uk/yes
Career Zone on-line careers resources:
Deciding: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/research/careerplanning/deciding/
Planning: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/research/careerplanning/planning/
Competing: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/research/careerplanning/competing/
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=8847
Career Zone: Business School - Placement preparation & workplace skills
Prospects website www.prospects.ac.uk
Inside careers website www.insidecareers.co.uk
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module co-requisites | WYA students can defer the BIP placement and written report until after the year abroad but before their final (4 th ) year. Students on the split work/study abroad must secure a different placement for BIP, as we will not count the WYA placement towards BIP. WYA students need to be aware that the normal rules of progression will still apply and they may be removed from the WYA programme if they do not meet all the necessary requirements. Cannot be taken by students on the 'With Industrial Experience' programme. |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 22/08/2018 |
| Last revision date | 21/01/2022 |
