Agri-food and Land Use
David Keir building
Queen’s University
Work placement
ALU2012
Module handbook
0910
Module co-ordinator:
Dr Karen King
G102, IALFU, David Keir Building
E-mail:k.king@qub.ac.uk
Careers Advisor:
Mark Gallagher
Careers, Employability and skills,
E-mail: m.gallagher @qub.ac.uk
1
This module is only available to students registered in the School of Biological
Sciences
1. Course content:
1. Pre-placement preparation including, the selection of placement, application forms,
CV's and interviews. Evaluation of placement by student, including potential to relate
academic theory to the work place and skills development
2. On Placement work including relating academic theory to the workplace, recording
activities and reflection in a log book.
3. Post placement reflection of learning and career prospects.
2. Contact hours:
Lectures/tutorials will be held during the first and second semesters as indicated in the
timetable below. Compulsory sessions, in bold in the table below, must be
attended by all students. During second semester there are 2 compulsory 3 and 2
hours workshop which all students must attend. Other sessions where placement
hosts give talks are optional. You should attend those related to your interests/subject
area.
This programme is preliminary and the programme order may change as speakers are
identified and confirm. The programme will be regularly updated as speakers become
available and you must check this on QOL
2
WK DATE/TIME
1
SEP 28
TH
SESSION TOPIC
Introduction to the module
(Compulsory)
(10-11) FQSN and LUEM students
DELIVERED
BY
PREFERRED
LOCATION
TIM
E
1
Dr Karen King
DKB LG111
1
OCT 1ST (10-11)
OCT 2ND(1.30-2.30)
BS
AT
Dr Karen King
ELTC Seminar Room
2
1
Dr Karen King
Greenmount
10-11
Q/A session – How am I going to
secure placement?
FQSN and LUEM
OCT 8TH
10-11
OCT 5TH
2
Mark Gallagher
PFC210
1
BS CV/cover letter Workshop
Compulsory
Mark Gallagher
ELTC Seminar Room
2
1
OCT 6TH (10-12)
OCT 8TH (11-1)
LUEM
FQSN
Mark Gallagher
Mark Gallagher
MBC TR1
ELTC Independent
Study Room 1
2
2
OCT 12
Student Placement Presentations :
FQSN
LUEM
Year 3 students
Year 3 students
PFC210
Guidance Centre
1
1
3
10– 11 for BOTH
LUEM /FQSN
2
OCT 14TH
Mark Gallagher
10.30-12.30
CV / Cover letter Compulsory AG
TECH
OCT 15
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 1
Mark Gallagher
Greenmount
1
10.00-11.00
ELTC Seminar Room
7
EMPLOYER WEEK 1
OCT 19TH
11.00- 12.00
4
10 – 11
FQSN - Food industry NI
LUEM - Overview of Environmental
sector
Invest NI
ASH 34
NI Environment Guidance Centre
Link
1
1
CV/ Cover letter Compulsory
BS 2
Mark Gallagher
ELTC Seminar Room
7
Alison Cowen
RPS Group
ASH34
Guidance Centre
1
Mark Gallagher
PFC 307 (2.00 – 5.00)
2/3
hours
1
OCT 22ND 10-11
EMPLOYER WEEK 2
OCT 26TH
11.00 -12.00
5
10.00 – 11.00
6
WED NOV 4TH
2-5
Working as a Dietitian - (FQSN)
Working as an Environmental
Consultant / EIA’s. LUEM
FQSN - Looking for Placement
workshop
3
7
8
9
10
WED NOV 11Th
2-5
LUEM – Looking for Work Placement
workshop
Mark Gallagher
PFC 307 (2.00 – 5.00)
2/3
hours
THURS 12TH
BS - Online Applications and
Employability Skills.
Mark Gallagher
ELTC Seminar Room
7
1
NOV 16TH
10 –11
FQSN/ LUEM Online Applications
and Employability Skills .
Mark Gallagher
PFC 210
1
NOV 23RD
11.00-12.00
EMPLOYER WEEK 3
FQSN - Roles within a Food Business
Kerry Group
ASH34
1
1
10–11
LUEM – Environmental Management
Systems (ISO 14001)
ARENA
Network
Guidance Centre
NOV24th 9.30/11.30
AGTECH Interview Skills /
Approaching employers
Mark Gallagher
Greenmount
2
NOV 30TH
EMPLOYER WEEK 4
11.00 -12.00
FQSN Trends within the Retail sector
LUEM – Areas of outstanding Natural
beauty in NI and placement roles
Sainsburys
Lagan Valley /
Causeway
Coast AONBS
ASH34
Guidance Centre
1
1
Interview skills Compulsory
FQSN/LUEM
Mark Gallagher
PFC 210
BS
Mark Gallagher
ELTC SR 7
1
1
9.30-1030
Work Placement Documentation
Compulsory AT
Dr Karen King
Greenmount
1
DEC 14TH 10-11
Work Placement Documentation
Compulsory
FQSN and LUEM
Dr Karen King
PFC 210
DEC 17TH 10-11
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Dr Karen King
ELTC SR7
10.00 – 11.00
11
DEC 7
TH
10-11
DEC 10TH 10-11
DEC10TH
12
1
1
4
SEMESTER 2: PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE
WK
DATE /
TIME
1
2
Feb 1st
TBC
TBC
Feb 8th
3
Feb 15th
4
Week starting
22nd
5
Week starting
29nd
TBC
6
7
Week starting
March 1st
SESSION TOPIC
Work Placement next steps
compulsory
FQSN and LUEM
BS
AT
FQSN and LUEM
Project and Ethics
A Career in Teaching
FQSN, LUEM and BS
Queens Employability and Skills
Workshop 1
FQSN and LUEM
Queens Employability and Skills
Workshop 1
BS
AT
Queens Employability and Skills
Workshop 2
FQSN and LUEM
DELIVERED BY
LOCATION
Dr Karen King
Dr Karen King
Dr Karen King
Dr Brian Green /
Prof
George Hutchinson
ASH 612
TBC
1
Greenmount
ASH 612 + TBC 1
Mark Gallagher
Mark Gallagher /
Careers service
Mark Gallagher /
Careers service
ASH 612
1
TBC
3
TBC
2
Greenmount
Mark Gallagher /
Careers service
TBC
2
TBC
ASH 612
1
1
Julie McConkey
March 15th
BS
Health and safety Compulsory
FQSN, LUEM and BS
Work experience Documentation
Compulsory
TBC
FQSN, LUEM and BS
Dr Karen King
ASH 612
AT
Dr Karen King
Greenmount
March 8th
8
TIME
YOU MUST ATTEND THE COMPULSORY SESSIONS AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.
FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE MODULE.
Students must complete at least 560 hours ( i.e. 16 weeks x 35hours) of work
placement. Students not completing the required hours will have their placement
portfolio mark reduced proportionately.
If you complete a shorter placement with longer hours submission of the assessed
elements will be at the proportionate time.
Students undertaking the placement module will also be assessed for the Queen’s
Employability and Skills award.
Placement will take place during the summer at the end of Stage 2. Students who
have examinations during the normal second semester period in May, should
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consider starting their placement on a part time basis during the second
semester in order to achieve the required hours by early September.
You are required to submit your final report in early September and should have
completed your required hours of placement by this time. There will be no
extensions for submission except in extenuating circumstances.
All students are responsible for attaining their work placement.
The work undertaken must be a ’job of work’ not just project work. However, the ‘job of
work’ must allow for higher level skills development [problem solving, evaluation, idea
creation etc.] as would be appropriate for an Honours degree placement such as project
management/ personnel management.
All templates referred to below are available from QOL.
i. Assistance in securing a placement:
Sessions on CV’s, covering letters and interview techniques will be held in first
semester by staff from Careers, Employability and Skills. First impressions are very
important in securing a placement and these sessions are to help with these key
aspects.
The initial impression you create through your CV, Cover letter and in person at
interview are very important to your potential placement employer, and these sessions
will help you create that positive impact.
The Careers Advisor, Mark Gallagher, will assist students seeking placements and will
seek placement opportunities. Opportunities for placements will be posted on QOL.
A list of work placement sources and additional information will also be made available
through QOL.
Students will also be able to avail of individual interviews with Mark Gallagher to discuss
their placement. These are planned for late in first semester and during second
semester as required.
ii. Application stage:
During the application stage, students should keep a record of their applications using
Template 1 (available on QOL) and submit this to QOL. This enables the placement
team to monitor regularly throughout the year the types of placement students are
seeking and their progress towards securing a placement.
Students are encouraged to seek their own placements. These must be approved by Dr
King before you start the placement.
It is advised that students commence the application stage as early as possible in
the academic year to help secure employment. Many of the larger employers will
close their programmes early in the year and the process is a competitive one.
The procedure for approval of placements is described in Appendix 1.
It is a requirement that students engage fully in the placement process, make an
appropriate number of applications and of an appropriate quality.
iii. Pre-placement submission:
Once a placement is secured and approved, students should complete their preplacement submission, described in Appendix 2, and submit it via QOL.
The pre-placement submission is worth 20% of the module mark.
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iv. Prior to departure pack:
Prior to departure on placement, students should collect a pack of forms/information
from the School Office. Some of the forms in the pack should be completed and
returned ASAP to the office. Other forms need to be completed by the student whilst on
placement. This pack is described in Appendix 3.
Students must make sure they complete and return these forms – if they are not the
placement will not count and the university will not accept any liability for you whilst on
placement.
v. During placement:
a. Weekly log book:
During the placement students must complete a weekly log book and submit it at the
end of each week to QOL. An example log book sheet is given in Appendix 4. This is
available from QOL. The placement team will use the log book submissions to ascertain
how students are doing, whether they need any help and also to ensure students are
doing appropriate work on which they can reflect on their learning.
b. Work based learning elements:
Additionally during the placement students will be required to submit 2 work based
learning elements of max 1000 words on aspects of the organisation they are working
for which are not directly related to their daily activities. More detail and acceptable
topics are given in Appendix 5.
These must be submitted to QOL by the end of weeks 8 and 12 of the placement or
after 280 and 420 hours of work where a shorter more intensive placement is
undertaken.
c. Visits by staff and assessment:
During the placement you will be visited by a member of staff who will ask your
placementprovider to give an assessment of your work and your employability skills.
You will also be asked to complete the same assessment as a self assessment. Details
of the assessment and visit are given in Appendix 6.
vi. Completion of placement:
On completion of your placement you will be required to submit a placement portfolio
and give a presentation. More details of these are given in Appendix 7.
The placement portfolio and presentation will also be assessed for the Queen’s
Employability and Skills Award.
You should understand that this module is similar to any other academic module
in that the pre-placement submission and WBL elements equate to coursework;
the weekly log book to your module notes and the placement portfolio to the final
submission/exam.
3. Learning outcomes of the module:
At the end of the module students will:
 have increased their ability to relate academic theory to the work environment:
 have developed identified work related skills:
 be able to critically evaluate their learning from the placement:
 have enhanced their career knowledge.
4. Skills developed:
7
At the end of the module students will identify and evaluate the knowledge and
understanding, cognitive skills, subject specific and transferable skills which they have
developed during the placement as described in the Programme Specification and in
the skills evaluation template completed as part of the pre-placement submission.
5. Compulsory elements:
Attendance at all compulsory preparation seminars. Submission of pre-placement
submission, placement portfolio and delivery of presentation.
6. Assessment:
i. Pre-placement submission
ii. Placement portfolio
iii. Presentation
20%
60%
20%
i. Pre-placement submission: (20%)
Template 1
Cv
Covering letters
Refection on applications
Forward assessment of skills
50%
50%
ii. Placement portfolio: (60%)
Work based learning element 1
Work based learning element 2
Placement provider assessment
Reflective report
Log book
10%
10%
10%
60%
10%
iii. Presentation: (20%)
For more detail see Appendix 8.
Submission dates:
 The pre-placement submission should be submitted within 1 week of starting
your placement.
 Work based learning elements should be submitted by the end of weeks 8 and
12 weeks of your placement. [ or 280 and 420 hours]
 The placement portfolio should be submitted by 4pm on Friday 2nd September
2010.
 The presentation slides should be submitted by 4pm on Sunday 4th September
2010.
 The presentation will take place on Monday 5th – Wednesday 7th September
2010.
Templates 2 and 3, the 2 WBL elements and the reflective report should be submitted
to the Turnit in software to pick up similarities.
Class id: 135125
Password: alu2012
8
REMEMBER - PLAGIARISM IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
All file submissions to QOL must include your name in the title i.e ‘J Bloggs WBL
1’
Where multiple copies of forms are used [ templates and log books] these should
be loaded as 1 document only. i.e. not multiple copies.
7. Failure in a module:
This module counts as a level 2 module and when taken in Stage 2 of a programme is
considered in the same way as any other Stage 2 module. As such students are only
able to carry 1 module (conditional on programme regulations) into Stage 3. If you fail
this module and already have a failed taught module, you will not be able to progress to
Stage 3. For these reasons it is important that the module result is known before the
start of your Stage 3 year and hence the need to complete all assessments by early
September.
Students who fail to gain a placement will be ’referred’ in the module and be
required to retake their placement following final year and before graduation.
8. Late Submission
Work submitted after the deadline and without adequate explanation or prior
arrangement with the Lecturer concerned, will be subject to a penalty. In accordance
with University regulations, the mandatory penalty for late submission of work is a
deduction of 5% of the total available marks (100%) for each working day late (during
term and non-teaching term), up to a maximum of 5 days late, after which a mark of 0
will be recorded. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES can work be accepted and a mark
awarded once submissions by other students have been marked and returned to them.
Work submitted late will be considered for an exemption of the late-submission
penalty only if accompanied by a completed late-submission form. This form is
attached and an electronic version is available in each ALU module handbook on QOL.
Normally acceptable extenuating circumstances include the death of a close relative
(parent, sibling, child), serious illness of a close relative placing additional family
responsibilities on a student, serious illness of student, accidental or criminal actions
affecting student (assault, burglary, fire etc), or other serious disruption affecting student
progress (e.g. divorce, protracted jury service). Written evidence is required of student
illness (self-certification is NOT adequate) and difficult personal circumstances must be
corroborated by a letter from a senior family member, minister of religion, GP or other
reputable source.
Students unsure of their position with regard to late submission should contact Dr King
to discuss their position.
9. Information:
Information will be posted on Queen’s on line and includes the following:
i. Sources of placements, including placements available through School and Careers
contacts.
ii. Procedures for the approval of placements .
9
iii. Templates for the pre-placement submission.
iv. Advice for students seeking placements abroad.
v. Pre-placement pack – forms to be completed prior to placement.
vi. Health and safety forms.
v. Cover sheet for all coursework.
vi. Information on work based learning elements.
vii. Details of the Queen’s Employability and skills Award.
viii. Details of the placement portfolio and presentation.
Mark Gallagher will support students in searching for placements.
Julie Boyle in the School office will co-ordinate all administration related to the
module.
Her contact details are:
e-mail: j.boyle@qub.ac.uk
Tel: 0289097XXXX
10
THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST
AGRI-FOOD AND LAND USE
School of Biological Sciences
Application for Exemption from Late Coursework Marks Penalty
NB
This form must be submitted within three working days of the stated deadline for the
coursework submission.
Student Name:
Student No:
Course:
Level/Stage:
Module Title:
Coursework Item:
Stated Deadline Date for Coursework Submission:
Number of Working Days Late:
Coursework submitted after the published deadline will be automatically penalised at the rate of
5% marks for each day late, up to a maximum of 5 working days late, after which a mark of zero
will be awarded. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES can work be accepted and a mark
awarded once submissions by other students have been marked and returned to them.
NB:
Exemption from late penalties will be the exception rather than the rule.
Please submit originals of supporting documentation, eg. medical certificates, etc with this
form. Copies of supporting documentation and a copy of this form should be kept for your own
records.
Mitigating Arguments (detail below - additional sheets may be used).
Signed:
Date:
This form should be returned to the IAFLU Office within 3 working days of the stated
deadline for the coursework submission.
Students unsure of their position with regard to late submission should refer to the student
handbook or contact Dr King to discuss their position.
PTO
11
Staff name:
Comments:
Decision:
Signed:
Date:
Copies to:
Staff member:
Student:
Student file:
12
Appendix 1
Placement approval procedure
Students are responsible for securing their placement.
Students who have applied for/obtained a placement not offered through the module,
should ask the placement provider to complete the Employer details form including the
Health and Safety checklist. (available from QOL)The form must be fully completed and
returned to Mark Gallagher, Careers advisor .
Students must ensure that the appropriate level of higher skill development is included
in the placement , such as problem solving, evaluation and idea generation through
activities such as project management. These skills are given under the’ cognitive
skills’ section in the programme specification and are included in template 4.
Students should seek advice for Mark Gallagher if they have any queries on completing
the form.
Dr King will make the final decision regarding suitability of each placement..
Where the placement is deemed suitable it will be approved and a placement
agreement set up which includes the job description as approved on the Employer
details form, the learning outcomes of the module and the academic requirements for
the student during placement ( i.e. log book, work based learning elements and project,
where applicable). The student, module co-ordinator and the placement provider are all
required to sign this agreement and keep a copy. The student is responsible for getting
the placement host to sign the placement agreement and returning it to the School
office.
Where there is a query regarding the suitability of the placement, the student will be
informed and it is the student’s responsibility to negotiate with the placement provider.
For example the description of the placement may be judged not to enable the student
to achieve the learning outcomes for the module and more higher level work is required.
This will be explained to the student, who will then negotiate a revised placement
description with the placement host, followed by a resubmission of the placement
approval form.
Where a placement is deemed unsuitable, the placement will not be approved and the
student informed. The student is responsible for informing the placement provider.
No credit will be allowed for any work placement undertaken by a student which
has not been approved prior to the student commencing the placement.
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Appendix 2
Pre-placement submission: 20% of module mark
The pre-placement submission should contain information relating to applications for
placement and reflection on the outcomes of these applications.
The submission should contain:
i. Example CV/application form used.
ii. Example Covering letter/email used .
iii. Summary of applications made.
iv. Reflection on each application (Template 2). (50% of submission mark)
v. A forward analysis of the skills you will be using on placement (Template 3)
(50% of submission mark)
and must be submitted through QOL.
i. Your CV/application forms used
You should include an example of your CV used for applying for a placement.
Remember your CV should be tailored for each application you make. If you use
specific application forms, you should keep a copy, preferably electronically.
Help will be provided through the compulsory sessions on CV’s and covering letters.
The powerpoint slides from these will be available from QOL and Mark Gallagher will
give individual feedback on these. Details of his availability will be provided.
ii. Covering letter/emails used
An example covering letters or covering e-mail used in your applications should be
included. If you apply by email, even an exploratory enquiry, this can be treated as a
covering letter.
iii. Summary of applications made (Template 1)
This table show the applications you have made, when and the outcome. This is good
practice for keeping track of all your applications.
This should be updated on a regular basis and submitted to QOL. It will be used by the
placement team to monitor the types of placements students are interested in and also
their progress towards securing a placement.
iv. Reflection on each application (Template 2)
In order to improve your job application record, it is important to reflect on each
application and what you have learnt from it. This will help you as you apply for more
placements and also on graduation. If you do not do this reflection, you may find you
are applying for numerous placements without success. i.e. there are reasons why you
are unsuccessful which you need to identify in order to succeed.
A reflection template must be completed for each work placement application
submitted. If you make a number of applications which are all immediately
unsuccessful, these can be combined on one template.
v. A forward analysis of the skills you will be using on placement (Template 3)
This template is based on the 4 skills areas identified in your programme specification.
These are Knowledge and understanding, cognitive skills, subject specific skills and
transferable skills. This will help you to identify the relevance of your placement to
achieving the learning outcomes for your degree.
14
The pre-placement submission should be submitted to QOL by the end of the first
week of your placement.
Assessment criteria:
i. CV – max 2 A4 sides; layout appropriate; personal details; course; education; skills –
all clearly shown and in particular skill should make clear what the owner of the CV can
bring to the organisation; as in CV tutorial. Application forms – same as above.
ii. Covering letter – appropriate length, language, shows enthusiasm for placement and
promoting self, related to specific placement.
.
iii. Application reflection sheets – complete for each application. Evidence of appropriate
reflection and evaluation, including changes to CV, interview techniques etc. The
quality of reflection is more important than quantity.
iv. Forward skills analysis – Evidence of reflection and evaluation of placement in
terms of Knowledge and Understanding, Cognitive skills, Subject specific skills and
transferable skills. . The quality of reflection and evaluation is more important than
quantity.
iii. and iv. Each contribute 50% towards the mark for the pre-placement submission.
I and ii will not be marked but must be submitted.
15
Template 1: Placement summary sheet
Placement
provider
Job title
Location
Dates of
employment
Date of
application
Type of application
(CV/form)
Interview
date
Outcome (Successful/
unsuccessful and date)
Accept/reject
and date
16
Template 2: Placement application reflection
Name:
YOU NEED TO COMPLETE ONE OF THESE TEMPLATES FOR EACH JOB APPLICATION. MAKE
AS MANY COPIES AS YOU NEED BUT UPLOAD AS ONE FILE.
1. Placement organisation
2. Location
3. Title of job
4. Role/description of job:
5. Why did you apply for this placement?
6. What research did you do about the placement provider?
7. If you had an interview:
What preparation did you do for the interview?
17
8. Were the questions asked at the interview as you expected?
9. How well do you think you did in the interview?
Reflection on the outcome of your application
10. What feedback on your application/interview did you get from the placement provider?
11. Why do you think you were successful/unsuccessful?
18
12. What would you change for the future in your:
CV/application form?
interview preparation?
interview technique?
13. What have you learnt for this application to consider for other job applications?
19
Template 3 Forward assessment of skills and learning from placement
Name:
Based on the Learning outcomes described in the Programme Specification for your degree.
1. Knowledge and understanding
Identify the subject content from the modules you have studied which you think you will be using during
your placement. Indicate how you think your placement will enhance your understanding of these areas.
2. Cognitive skills
Indicate what activities you think you will be carrying out on placement which will enhance your cognitive
skills.[problem solving; evaluation; idea generation; using discipline theories, concepts and principles;
testing hypotheses; critical analysis, synthesis and summarising of information; dealing with incomplete
information and the provisional nature of facts and principles; understanding risk; evaluating own
performance; moral and ethical issues]
3. Subject specific skills
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Indicate which subject specific skills you think you will be developing whilst on placement and how. [
technical skills; application of policies; planning etc. investigations in a safe and responsible manner (risk,
access, health and safety, legal, impact and sensitivity issues); collecting and summarising qualitative
and quantitative information; using qualitative and quantitative techniques; use of financial and other
management information in decision making]
4. Transferable skills
Indicate which transferable skills you think you will be developing whilst on placement and how. [
Numeracy (data handling, sampling issues, solving numerical problems); ICT (critical use of Internet for
communication and information sourcing, information and data processing tools, communicating
information);
Communication ( receiving, evaluating and responding to information; accurate, clear
concise, confident and appropriate communication in written, oral and graphical forms; contributing to
group discussions); Interpersonal and teamwork (for self, individuals and teams/groups: planning,
allocating and evaluating work; recognising, respecting and evaluating views and opinions; reflecting and
evaluating performance);
Self management and professional development (skills ( working independently, adaptability, time
management and organisational skills); identifying and working towards targets for personal, academic
and career development; professional competence, behaviour and attitudes including initiative,
leadership, team skills and need for professional codes of conduct)]
21
Appendix 3
Prior to departure pack:
This pack contains a number of forms which you need to complete or ensure that your
placement provider completes.
These are:
 Confirmation of arrival form – includes address details.
 Conditions of participation declaration form
 Confirmation of work placement completion
 Health and Safety checklist for students ( this is not the health and safety form
completed by the employer)
22
Appendix 4:
During placement:
Weekly log record sheet:
The weekly log record must be completed and uploaded onto QOL each week during
your placement. This is essential, as the placement team will use these to assess if you
are doing appropriate level work to enable you to achieve the learning outcomes and
that you are reflecting appropriately to identify what you are learning.
During your tutor visit, the member of staff who visits you will discuss your weekly log
returns with you. You can amend these up until you have submitted your placement
portfolio.
It is essential that you complete the ‘What I have learnt’ column fully. It is this
information which you will need to complete your reflective report.
Examples of good weekly log submissions will be given in the final tutorial in second
semester and lodged onto QOL.
Remember to consider aspects of each of the learning outcomes:
 ability to relate academic theory to the work environment:
Knowledge and understanding – application of knowledge gained in course.
 developed identified work related skills:
subject specific skills: cognitive skills :transferable skills
 critically evaluate their learning from the placement:
how will what you are learning benefit you and how?
 enhanced their career knowledge.
career aspirations/work environment
Assessment criteria : Log book
Appropriate forms completed for number of weeks worked, showing hours worked, what
activities carried out and what learnt.
Evaluation of what learnt in terms of subject knowledge and application and skills –
including personal development.
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Week Log sheet:
WEEK NUMBER:
Day/date
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
TOTAL Hours worked
Activities
DATES:
From/to (eg 9am-5pm)
Hours worked
What did I learn or gain from these activities
/critical incidents (a)?
Relate this section to the forward skills analysis in relation
to knowledge and understanding; cognitive skills;
transferable skills and subject specific skills.
Any other comments
24
Appendix 5:
Work based learning elements (WBL elements)
The aim of the work based learning elements is to enable you to get the most learning
from your placement. The elements should be based on a general aspect of the
organisation for which you are working, not directly related to your daily work.
You must complete 2 elements which can be in any appropriate format – essay or
report.
The elements must be submitted to QOL by the end of the weeks 8 and 12 of your
placement. [or after 280 and 420 hours]
Example titles are given below. If you do not wish to use the titles given below, the title
and a brief summary should be e-mailed to Dr K King for approval before starting your
report. Your placement provider should also approve your topics.
Each report should be of 1000 word maximum on the area you have selected. It should
be an account of the situation and not offer any evaluation. (unless requested by your
placement provider) Your placement provider should agree your submission as
accurate.
You should gather information using organisation documents and discussion with key
personnel (with agreement of the placement provider)
Example titles:

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Management structure of the company.
Health and safety procedures and legislation.
Marketing policy and strategy.
Personnel policy.
Business strategy of the company.
Customer base.
Franchise arrangements.
Funding.
Audit procedures.
Raw material and supplies procurement contracts.
Microbiological and other product testing.
Product development policy.
Product packaging design and type.
Labelling of products.
Processing methods used.
These are example titles and students can choose another topic, provided it is
approved by Dr King.
Assessment criteria:
Title - appropriate for content
Content - No assumptions made of reader knowledge.
- comprehensive in aspect covered; i.e. does not leave the reader
asking further questions
- well explained and shows understanding of relevance/importance of aspect
to organisation
- shows balanced independent view if comments made on organisation.
Structure – appropriate for topic – can be essay or report.
- Leads reader through submission, i.e. intro, indicates what report
about and summary/conclusion.
- Correct referencing of sources of information.
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Appendix 6:
Staff visit:
You are responsible for arranging a visit from a member of the placement team whilst
you are on placement. The visit must take place between weeks 3 and 12 [or 105 and
420 hours] of your placement and your supervisor must be available to talk to the
visiting member of staff.
You should contact Julie Boyle in the School office to arrange the visit.
During the visit there will be a discussion with yourself and your placement supervisor to
outline the structure of the visit and then separate discussions with your placement
supervisor and yourself.
Your placement supervisor will be asked to score your performance in the job that you
are doing and in a range of employability skills as listed below:
Knowledge and understanding
Problem solving/thinking
Evaluation and ideas
Numeracy skills
Communication skills - oral
Communication skills - written
ICT skills
Interpersonal and teamwork skills
Self management
Professional attitude
Organisation
Time management
Adaptability
Project Management
Personnel Management
Management of Change
You will also do a self assessment on the same basis.
The placement supervisor scores will contribute 10% of the portfolio mark.
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Appendix 7
Placement portfolio (60% of module mark)
The placement portfolio is designed to meet the requirements of both the module
and the Queen’s Employability and Skills Award. (QESA) i.e. only one submission
is required for you to be assessed for both.
The Placement portfolio comprises :
i. Work based learning element 1
ii. Work based learning element 2
iii. Log book
iv, Placement provider assessment
v. Reflective report
10%
10%
10%
10%
60%
As you will have submitted all the elements i to iii, and the placement provider
assessment [iv] will have been completed during the visit by a staff member, you only
have to complete the Reflective report [v] and submit to QOL at the end of your
placement.
You should submit your reflective report to QOL by 4pm on Friday 2nd September
2010.
1. Reflective report:
Your reflective report MUST relate to each of the 4 learning outcomes for the module,
demonstrating how you have achieved each learning outcomes through your placement
experience. You should indicate what you have learnt whilst on placement and give
evidence of what you did on placement which supports your learning for each learning
outcome.
Please note – we are interested in your leaning from the activities you did whilst
on placement, not the actual placement work itself. You should discuss this with
the staff member who visits you on placement so that you are clear about what is
required.
The learning outcomes are:
On completion of the module students will have:
1. increased their ability to relate academic theory to the work
environment;
2. developed identified work related skills;
3. the ability to critically evaluate learning from the placement;
4. enhanced their career knowledge.
In your essay, you should consider what you have learnt through reference to your:
 application process reflection.
 pre-placement skills analysis.
 Your weekly logs – particularly ‘what I have learnt’.
 Your WBL elements.
Drawing on these documents you should be able to complete your reflective essay.
For 3, indicate how what you have learnt re 1 and 2 will be of use to you in the future –
at university, home and in your career.
For 4, indicate not only specific careers/job titles, but also the types of work environment
your would like or not like and whether this has changed following your placement.
Your essay MUST be REFLECTIVE and EVIDENCED to your existing information –
weekly log book, pre-placement portfolio and WBL elements.
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Assessment criteria:
Must give evidence of how the student has met the following learning outcomes from
their experience in placement:
i. increased their ability to relate academic theory to the work environment:
ii. developed identified work related skills:
ii. the ability to critically evaluate their learning from the placement:
iv. enhanced their career knowledge.
What you submit in your placement portfolio will also meet the requirements for the
Queen’s Employability and Skills Award.
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Appendix 8
Presentation ( 20% of the module mark)
Your presentation will be 15 minutes with an additional 5 minutes for questions.
The presentation should include:
1. A short profile of the organisation and details of the work you have undertaken for
them.
2. Reflection on your application process.
3. What you have learnt in relation to each of the 4 learning outcomes.
It is acceptable to select ~5 key aspects for each learning outcome.
A suitable presentation would include 5 minutes for 1 and 2 and 2-3 minutes on each of
the 4 learning outcomes.
Copies of your powerpoint slides for your presentation should also submitted to QOL by
4pm on Sunday 4th September 2010. These will be loaded on to the computer for
your talk the following week. You will not be able to change this unless requested by Dr
King.
If you do not submit your presentation at this time you will be awarded a mark of 0 for
the folio and presentation.
Presentations will take place on Monday to Wednesday 5th to 7th September 2010..
The location and timetable will be e-mailed to you at the time. Every effort will be made
to group presentations in subject areas and you should attend all presentations related
to your area.
The presentations will be given to an audience including fellow students, staff from the
School of Biological Sciences, senior staff in Queen’s, placement providers and
members of the relevant Curriculum boards. These latter 2 groups are both external to
Queen’s and potential graduate employers.
Remember:
1. You are the expert on what you have done.
2. Do not be carried away with detail.
3. Have a clear message for each area.
4. Do not read from notes. You can have prompt cards/notes, but DO NOT read
from them.
5. Look at the audience – they are friendly and are interested in what you have to
say.
6. Project your voice and speak clearly and at a sensible pace.
7. Convey enthusiasm for your placement. You will have had a great time and
learnt a lot!
8. DO NOT criticise the organisation – the presentation is about what you have
learnt, not about your host organisation.
9. Remember to thank the organisation and in particular you placement
supervisor/tutor.
10. PRACTICE YOUR TALK AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE WITHIN THE ALLOTED
TIME.
Assessment criteria:
 Application process.
 Placement work – relating theory to practice/work.
 Skills developed on placement – expected and unexpected.
 Learning from placement and how it will be useful in the future.
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

Effect on Career aspirations.
MUST BE REFLECTIVE
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