This module provides you with an insight into future careers and an introduction to work based skills and competence development and critical reflection whilst contributing to the work of the placement employer. Ideally your placement should be with a social responsible employer to allow you to identify how the organisations minimises its impact on environmental issues such as climate change. You will be required to complete a minimum period of 5 weeks work placement before you commence your final year of study.

You will work with their academic placement mentor to plan for the placement using a Placement Planning Document (PPD) which will support discussions around choice of placement, industry knowledge, specific role information, and employability behaviours. The PPD will be completed before the placement commences and will provide the framework for individualised learning and employability outcomes. You will be supported throughout the process by their mentor and will be provided with an induction and ongoing support.

You will be expected to complete an online Reflective Learning Log to provide evidence of skills and competences outlined in the PPD.

Completion of a Placement Planning Document (500 words) (20%) (LOs 1-4)

Completion of a Reflective Learning Log based on real-life placement or where a student is unable to engage in a placement a simulated case study, the focus of which is to be agreed with the student and module tutor. (2,500 words) (80%) (LOs 1-4)

This module is designed to allow you to put into practice some of which you have learnt throughout your studies so far. It is designed to support your employability and to undertake a `graduate` type job.

You will undertake ‘formative’ assessments during the module to help you monitor your learning and provide you and us with ongoing feedback on your progress, that helps you prepare for the ‘summative assessment(s) during or at the end of the module.

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

Apply discipline related methods and techniques in a work-based setting.

Reflect on the environmental issues identified throughout your studies and critically evaluate what the organisation is doing to minimise its impact on the environment.

Demonstrate a systematic understanding of organisations and industry in context.

Demonstrate and apply relevant employability skills in the context of a business organisation.

Employer workplace and systems
Blackboard : VLE, Webinar (Collaborative), Blogs, Discussion Boards, Online Tests
Linked-In
Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
Microsoft Office Suite
Microsoft 365
Padlet
Guest Speakers
Annual entrepreneurship festival
Lynda.com training tools
Staffordshire University Work Based Learning - Placement Planning Guide (2018)
Staffordshire University Work Based Learning - Work Experience Guide for students (2018)
Staffordshire University Work Based Learning - Work Experience Guide for employers (2018)

Ruth Helyer, (2015) "Learning Through Reflection: The Critical Role of Reflection in Work-Based Learning (WBL)", Journal of Work-Applied Management, Vol. 7 Issue: 1,pp.15-27, https://doi.org/10.1108/JWAM-10-2015-003

Staffordshire University Work Based Learning - Placement Planning Guide (2018)

Staffordshire University Work Based Learning - Work Experience Guide for students (2018)

Staffordshire University Work Based Learning - Work Experience Guide for employers (2018)