RESEARCH PLACEMENTS (WITH AND WITHOUT WORK BASED LEARNING) - RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL
This document is intended to assist First Supervisors and Heads of Department identify the level of scrutiny at both initial approval of a research degree programme
and where a modification involves establishing or extending programmes to include a placement1. It is also intended to be of use during ongoing operation of such a
programme and provide guidance where work based learning in any environment might be involved. It will be helpful to revisit this document at consideration of the
Annual Postgraduate Research Student Report (Form UPR8).
The form should be completed by the First Supervisor, endorsed by the FRDC and Associate Dean (Academic) and considered with Item 9 of the Postgraduate
Research Degree Student Interview Checklist’.
1
http://www.port.ac.uk/accesstoinformation/policies/academicregistry/filetodownload,10440,en.pdf
See Code of Practice for definition “Placement normally excludes Field trips, educational visits and short periods of data collection outside the University (no more than five days in any one year) for research purposes”
Characteristic
Reputation of provider
Feature
Internationally recognised research Institution or organisation
Nationally recognised research Institution or organisation
Not a research institution
Status of provider
Higher Education Institution
Research Institute
Government department/agency
Other, publicly funded
Other, privately funded
Unknown
UK
Europe
North America
Commonwealth
Elsewhere
Large - well resourced
Small - well resourced
Any size - with limited resources
Unknown
Routine with current supervision of other researchers
Routine, no current supervision of other researchers
Has not supervised other researchers in last year
Has not supervised other researchers in last 3 years
Unknown
0
1
2
3
4
5
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
4
5
0
1
2
3
5
Significant experience in organising research placements
Significant experience of placements but in a different context
No / very limited experience / unknown
0
3
5
Location of provider
Size of provider
Experience of placement provider in
postgraduate research supervision
Experience and expertise of placement
provider staff organising placements
Risk score
0
2
4
Comment
If in doubt about the provider’s reputation, consult the Associate Dean (Research)
and/or Chair of Faculty research degrees Committee
Many providers could fall into more than one category, this relates to the predominant
role of the provider e.g. University of Portsmouth includes research institutes but is
predominantly an HE provider
You might consider the boundary between large and small as 50 research-active
staff. In considering resources take into account not only the specific resources for
the research to be undertaken but also other resources that contribute to the resource
environment
The threshold for significant might be taken as organising placements on an annual
basis
Provider’s experience of supervision of
researchers from Portsmouth University
Provider’s previous collaboration with
Portsmouth University
Language at placement
Staff and student welfare
Political climate
Staff and student welfare
Health and safety (locality)
Staff and student welfare
Equal opportunities
Indemnity and insurance
Duration of placement
Contract – Is there a contract in place
between the University and the placement
provider
Financial commitment
Feedback from students/ staff contacts on
previous placements with provider
Overall UoP School / Department’s
experience of organising research
placements successfully
Within last year
Within last 3 years
Never / Unknown
Research within last year
Research within last 3 years
Non-research within last year
Non-research within last 3 years
Never / Unknown
English – first language
English – second language
Not English
Unknown
0
1
3
0
1
2
3
5
0
2
4
5
Very stable
Less stable
Unstable /unknown
Very safe
Safe
Unsafe / unknown
Fully meets UK and EU legislation
Does not meet UK and EU legislation / unknown
0
3
5
0
3
5
0
5
Already in place
Will be arranged and confirmed
Placement does not have indemnity and insurance cover with
respect to placement students / unknown
Up to 1 week p.a.
Up to 1 month p.a.
Up to 6 months p.a.
Longer / unknown
Yes – legally binding eg Contract or Memorandum of Agreement
Yes – not legally binding eg Memorandum of Understanding
No / unknown
No costs to UoP
Costs shared with placement provider
All costs borne by UoP / unknown
Positive feedback with no major issues
Positive feedback but with some concerns
Poor feedback / no feedback / unknown
Has experience relevant to proposal
Has experience but more limited than proposal
No experience / unknown
0
2
5
0
2
3
5
0
2
5
0
2
5
0
2
5
0
2
5
Based on Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice and UoP officer input
Based on Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice and UoP officer input
Based on Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice and UoP officer input
Academic registry can advise
If in doubt about the provider’s reputation, consult the Associate Dean (Research)
and/or Chair of Faculty research degrees Committee
If in doubt about the provider’s reputation, consult the Associate Dean (Research)
and/or Chair of Faculty research degrees Committee
University of Portsmouth research
supervisor’s experience of organising
research placements successfully
Will the student be visited by University of
Portsmouth staff at the placement
Induction
Mentorship - will the student meet with a
named mentor from the placement
Health and Safety – will the student
undertake work that would require a COSHH
assessment if conducted at Portsmouth
University?
Health and Safety – will the student
undertake work that would require
Independent Safeguarding Authority/Criminal
Records Bureau (ISA/CRB) clearance if
conducted at Portsmouth University?
Overall Risk Scores:
Signed .......................................
Visit:
Has experience relevant to proposal
Has experience but more limited than proposal
No experience / unknown
Yes, at least monthly
Yes at least 6-monthly
Less frequently
No / unknown
Student will be sent induction information in advance and have
formal induction at placement
Student will have formal induction at placement
Informal induction
Unknown
At least weekly
At least monthly
Less frequently
No mentor / unknown
No
Yes – COSHH assessment or equivalent has been undertaken
Yes - COSHH assessment or equivalent will be undertaken
Yes – unknown whether COSHH assessment or equivalent will
be undertaken
No
Yes – clearance or equivalent has been undertaken
Yes - clearance or equivalent will be undertaken
Yes – unknown whether clearance or equivalent will be
undertaken
<20 = Low
........................................
First Supervisor
Faculty Research Degree Coordinator
Required/Not Required
Signed .......................................
Associate Dean (Academic)
0
2
5
0
1
3
5
0
If not arranged within the last 3 years, this would be limited.
2
5
0
1
3
5
0
2
3
5
0
2
3
Consult your Health and safety Officer if necessary.
Consult Academic registry if necessary
5
21 to 50 = Medium
>50 = High
Date of Interview ........................................