HI2J4-120 Work Placement / Volunteering Year
Introductory description
The Work Placement / Volunteering module will give you the chance to gain and/or to build on your existing experience(s) of the world of work and of the voluntary sector. You will spend a year in a professional environment, learn from non-academic professionals in the commercial, industrial, not-for-profit, or voluntary sector.
This is an opportunity to develop new skills, to define or consolidate your professional project, and to grow as an individual.
This module will reinforce your employability and prepare you for the next stage of your career after graduation.
Module aims
To provide students with the opportunity to
- Complete an undergraduate work or volunteering placement
- Develop experience of, and confidence in, essential workplace skills.
- Develop in a commercial, professional, industrial or other environment skills previously pursued in an academic setting.
- Improve foreign language skills [in placements where the language is not English]
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
The Work Placement / Volunteering module will focus on the acquisition of key professional skills, such as planning and time-keeping, decision-marking, team-working, etc. It will enhance and consolidate the knowledge and skills developed through your studies. It involves a collaborative partnership between the student, the placement Host, and the Department of History.
The syllabus will vary as each placement may be different. A job description should be provided by the placement provider. The syllabus will comprise undertaking the approved work placement and maintaining a monthly summary whilst on placement. The workload must be a minimum of 1,200 hours to maintain equivalence with that expected for a 120 credit module.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Apply in a non-academic environment of critical, analytical and interpersonal skills developed in pursuit of their disciplinary studies.
- Understand the work environment and their contribution to it.
- Develop high level transferrable skills such as confidence, communication, flexibility, time management, team working.
- Where appropriate, the development of social and cultural sensitivity and ethical awareness.
- Understand how to apply work-based learning to other areas of personal development.
- Reflect on personal and professional progress, cogently and judiciously.
- Decide, plan and thrive in the world of work.
International
When students undertake a work or volunteering placement abroad, they develop their intercultural as well as their linguistic skills.
Subject specific skills
Critical and analytical thinking
Communication skills
Presentation skills
Transferable skills
Critical and analytical thinking
Communication skills
Presentation skills
Professional behaviour
Positive citizenship
Employability skills
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Work-based learning | 480 sessions of 2 hours 30 minutes (100%) |
| Total | 1,200 hours |
Private study description
No private study requirements defined for this module.
Costs
| Category | Description | Funded by | Cost to student |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field trips, placements and study abroad | Student |
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| Reflective Learning Diary | 80% | Yes (extension) | |
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Students will be assessed by a reflective learning diary recording the student’s experiences of the placement year and a 3,000 word written summary related to the stated outcomes of the module. The summary should contain contextual information on the host organisation, a description of and reflection on the process undertaken to secure the placement, its development, any reports submitted by the placement provider, the skills developed and how they relate to personal, academic and career development. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Reflective diary/blog entry | 5% | Yes (extension) | |
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Students will be expected to produce and submit a first reflective diary entry or blog post. This will be submitted by the end of Week 5, Term 1. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Reflective diary/blog entry | 5% | Yes (extension) | |
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Students will be expected to produce and submit a first reflective diary entry or blog post. This will be submitted by the end of Week 10, Term 1. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Reflective diary/blog entry | 5% | Yes (extension) | |
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Students will be expected to produce and submit a first reflective diary entry or blog post. This will be submitted by the end of Week 5, Term 2. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Reflective diary/blog entry | 5% | Yes (extension) | |
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Students will be expected to produce and submit a first reflective diary entry or blog post. This will be submitted by the end of Week 10, Term 2. |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Students will normally receive at least one work place visit by a placement tutor. Students will be required to record their experiences and progress through a monthly summary which will be read by the work placement tutor. Feedback will be provided by the workplace tutor who will also provide assistance if required.
Pre-requisites
- Students must have completed levels 4 and 5 of the course for which this is an approved module with an average mark of 58%.
- Students must have secured a placement or placements (maximum 2) amounting to a minimum of 7 months in duration.
- If placements involve work with children or vulnerable adults students must comply with any requirements for CRB and Enhanced Disclosure checks.
- If placements are to take place in counties where the language is not English, satisfactory completion of appropriate courses offered through the Language Centre or submission of proof of language certification.
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 3 of UHIA-V103 Undergraduate History (Renaissance and Modern History Stream) (with Year Abroad)
- Year 3 of UHIA-V101 Undergraduate History (with Year Abroad)
- Year 3 of UHIA-V1V8 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of UHIA-V1V6 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad)
- Year 3 of UHIA-VM14 Undergraduate History and Politics (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of UHIA-VL16 Undergraduate History and Sociology (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of UHIA-VL14 Undergraduate History and Sociology (with Year Abroad)
This module is Core optional for:
- Year 3 of UHIA-VM12 Undergraduate History and Politics (with Year Abroad)