This module aims:

To provide practical experience of working within and for an organisation.
To experience at first hand the practical application of some of the computing theory and methods taught in the first two-years of study.
To develop appropriate behaviour attitudes within the work environment.
To provide practical experience in the legal, social and ethical issues of working within an organisation.
To apply and further develop communication and decision making skills.



SPECIFICALLY IN RELATION TO THE EMPLOYABILITY FRAMEWORK, this module covers:



Personal Development Reflection (Personal Development Planning)

Professional CV development and presentation

Personal skills of evaluation and reflection

Determining life goals and developing a career plan.

Career Planning – students to book in with a career advisor for 1-2-1 to discuss their career plan and skills audit

The need for skills currency. Students will self-assess themselves to produce a skills audit to provide a foundation for growth. Identifying skills deficits and action planning.

Understanding personal strengths

Identification of an organisation’s ethos, working, and expectations, and how an individual learns and adapts to these

The need for professional competencies

Identification of potential barriers and organisational restrictions to career paths



Coaching and mentoring approaches

Strategies, efficiencies, and lifelong planning. Students will be introduced to the University Peer and Professional Mentoring Scheme

University Life Mentor – new students have the opportunity to receive a peer mentor to support them in settling into university life.

Giving back to place and society - Continuing students can sign up to become a Life Mentor to support new students.

Professional Mentor - Continuing students have the opportunity to receive a professional mentor from the industry of their choice to support them in their career journey

Working in teams / becoming a team player

Shining a highlight to personal attributes



The University Careers team will input directly to provide sessions on:

Start Where You Are Workshop – assists students in completing self-analysis and reflects on their current position

Career Planning Workshop – students will learn how to create an effective career plan and generate SMART Targets

To successfully complete the placement the student must fulfil:



WORK EXPERIENCE – Completed, normally, a minimum of 24 weeks of relevant work experience and a maximum of 52 weeks

WORK EXPERIENCE - EMPLOYER REPORT - A template form completed by the employer to act as a report on the students exit achievement from the placement period (Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6).
VISIT REPORT – A template form that gives a mark from the industrial supervisor who visits the student (Learning Outcome 1 to 6).
WRITTEN REPORT – The student will prepare a report to summarise their experience. The report should contain an introduction, a summary of the company, their role, achievements, and exit learning (Learning Outcomes 1 to 4, and 6).

This is a placement undertaken in a company where the student will report to a line manager. The placement year is supported by an industrial supervisor based at the university.



Besides undertaking their agreed work students will develop their learning from:

General relevant technical material.
The use of various software packages, programming languages, equipment and software technologies relevant to the company and job role.
The experience emanating from their colleagues/managers.

1. UNDERSTAND AND APPLY THE METHODS EMPLOYED IN, AND THE CONSTRAINTS AND REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED ON, THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF COMPUTING SYSTEMS WITHIN AN ORGANISATION.

APPLICATION, LEARNING, REFLECTION

2. APPLY CRITICAL AND PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT BASED ON AN UNDERSTANDING OF BOTH TECHNICAL AND NON-TECHNICAL ISSUES RELEVANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF COMPUTING BASED SYSTEMS IN AN ORGANISATION.

APPLICATION, REFLECTION

3. UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR, AND DEVELOP PROPER, PROFESSIONAL INTER-PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

COMMUNICATION

4. RELATE THE PRACTICES OF A REAL ORGANISATION TO THE PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS OF COMPUTING.

LEARNING

5. COMPLY WITH THE WORK DISCIPLINE AND LEGITIMATE EXPECTATIONS OF AN ORGANISATION.

APPLICATION, LEARNING

6. METHODICALLY EVALUATE THE WORK EXPERIENCE PERIOD UNDERTAKEN, IDENTIFYING AREAS OF PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

REFLECTION

Not applicable as provided by the employer

Placement Handbook issued by the Department

In undertaking this module students will work in a real company in order to put into practice the skills they have learned on the course. The placement is a real job and will be governed by company needs and business requirements in day to day operations. The experience gleaned from a role in industry on return to the university will often help guide and scope a dissertation title.