AR2PPY-Professional Placement Year

Module Provider: Archaeology
Number of credits: 120 [60 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Placement opportunity: Maxi placement
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Duncan Garrow
Email: d.j.garrow@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to explore a placement year within a professional environment of their choice.Ìý The placement year will give students the opportunity to build on and develop their transferable skills and personal and professional portfolio which is essential to securing graduate employment. Students enrolled on the professional placement year will be provided with specialist training and dedicated support to assist them in securing their own placement through a competitive process

Aims:

1. To gain experience of the job application process through securing a self-organised placement


2. To familiarise students with the professional work environment, provide opportunity for students to acquire new skills and to develop awareness of the sector/industry they are working in


3. To increase employability through being able to demonstrate dedicated experience.


4. To enhance ‘soft-skills’ such as team-work, communication, time-management and planning.


5. To provide the student with the opportunity to contextualise and apply knowledge and the skills gained in the first two years of their undergraduate degree.


6. To enhance personal self-awareness and reflection, self-efficacy, adaptability, resilience.

Assessable learning outcomes:

1. Have an understanding and appreciation of the professional environment including the employment opportunities (career paths) and requirements within the sector/industry.


2. Think critically and analytically about the work carried out on the placement and how it has contributed to the activity of the placement provider.


3. Reflect on their personal growth and professional performance in the work place; demonstrating industry specific and transferrable skills.


4. Apply the skills and knowledge acquired in their taught courses to tasks in the work place whenever possible.


5. Be familiar with the health and safety regulations relevant to the field in which they have been employed.


6. Maintain a weekly learning log during their period of employment.


7. Prepare a written report of up to 2500 words outlining the company and placement role; providing an account of the activities and tasks undertaken,and critically reflecting upon the placement experience.


8. Create an A3 poster providing an outline of the placement role & responsibilities, their experiences and benefits of the work placement. The poster will be presented at a networking event with those of other placement year and summer placement students. Other students, academic staff and placement providers will be invited to attend the event.

Additional outcomes:

1. Understand and take part in the job application process (CV, cover letter, assessment centre interview).


2. Understanding of the internal and external factors impacting on the running of an organisation.


3. Understand and build the key attributes and skills required of a graduate level role.


4. Identification of future career path(s).

Outline content:

Students are expected to secure and organise their own placement; each placement must be approved by the module convenor, with all necessary legal, health and safety documents completed before commencement.

The placement should be of a minimum of 9 months (40 weeks) with the content of the placement determined by the placement provider.

The placement must provide the student with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of the working environment, and provide them with situations to develop their ‘soft-skills’ (such as working on own initiative, flexibility, problem-solving and time-management). Students will receive advice and support on securing a placement from the placement coordinator, the module convenor and the wider Careers team.

During