GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

Dave Passmore (School of Geography, Politics and Sociology)

With thanks to:Darrin BeattieGillian Mabbitt

Jim WoodJessica Jung

GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

Context: Stage 3 optional module, available across the School 20 credits (10 credits in each semester), with c.70

hours of contact with the host organisation Commenced in 09-10 Module aims, learning outcomes and assessment

shadow NCL3002

GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

Origins: Student / staff engagement with Careers Service

NCL modules Employability agenda / Graduate Skills Framework /

student ‘demand’ Regional employer links

GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

Intended knowledge outcomes: To acquire relevant, timely new knowledge that ensures

effective personal performance in a work-related context; To become aware of and to consciously use explicit

performance criteria to successfully reflect on and develop own skills of self-awareness, planning & organising, personal enterprise, communication and teamworking;

To analyse, integrate and apply knowledge and skills to help to achieve the aims of the organisation hosting the work-related learning.

GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

Intended skills outcomes: manage own time, workload and personal development to

achieve the learning outcomes for this module; use reflexive learning to systematically improve on personal

contribution to a work situation; use existing and new knowledge to perform effectively in

this work situation; collect, analyse, critically evaluate and present appropriately,

evidence relating to the competence of own skills performance which resulted in outcomes that benefit the organisation hosting the work-related learning.

GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

Sem 1 timetable / academic contact (repeated in S2) Module introduction (2 hrs) Skills workshop (2 hrs) Individual tutorial meeting (plus office hours) Assessed interviews workshop (2 hrs) Assessed interview for each student

(plus on-line skills audit and study aids)

GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

Student take-up: 09-10: 10 students (pilot year)

o 7 Geography, 1 Politics, 2 Sociology

10-11: 27 studentso 26 Geography, 1 Politics & Economics

11-12: at least 20….

GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

School-organised placements / employers: Newcastle City Council (4 per year) Great North Museum Northumberland National Park Northumberland Coast AoNB Policy, Ethics and Life Sciences Centre Note – all placements configured as voluntary

GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

Self-organised placements – some examples: Environment Agency (Cumbria) Bradford City Council Enterprise Car Hire (Newcastle) Newcastle Dance City Newlyn Surf Centre (Cornwall) Boots Ltd (Nottingham) Various SME’s & voluntary bodies / charities

GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

Employer links: Staff research projects – small projects, pilot

studies, etco Northumberland National Parko Northumberland Coast AoNBo Landscape modelling (with Computing Science)

Regional employer forums / advisory groups

GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

Assessment and student performance (10-11 model): Assessed 20-minute interview (2 markers): 50%

o 10-11: average mark = 65.3%

Personal Development Plan / Action Plan: 25%o 10-11: average mark = 63.5%

Host evaluation: 25%o 10-11: average mark = 68.5%

10-11 module marks: average = 65.8% (range 76-58)

GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

Issues: Staff resistance to implementing work experience in

the curriculumo Can be offset by developing discipline-related

placementso Some (limited) resistance to placements in non-graduate

jobso Limited take-up in Sociology / Politics

GPS3001: Work Experience Placements

Issues (cont): Workloads

o Needs a pool of second markers

Semester 2 - Easter / dissertation deadline overlapo Most placements configured for Semester 1 only