School of Social Sciences and Humanities Professional Placement Scheme
Employer Information Pack www.lboro.ac.uk
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Sarah Lafferty Placements and Study Exchange Officer
Kelly Bramley Placements and Study Exchange Administrator
Dr Helena Pimlott-Wilson Placements and Study Exchange Director
The Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS)
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What we ask of the employer
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The Placement Visit Contact Information
Thank you Thank you for offering our student(s) a placement with your organisation for a period of professional training during their next academic year. The School of Social Sciences and Humanities is made up of five divisions: Communication and Media; Geography and Environment; International Relations, Politics and History; Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy; and English. The professional placement that you are offering our student(s) is an integral element of our courses within the School and is something we believe is of particular benefit to our students and the organisations in which they work. Over many years, Loughborough University has earned a high reputation for producing graduates who are well-suited to the demands of modern businesses. Our professional placement scheme will lead to the award of the Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) for our students and aims to further equip them with the skills needed to succeed in the current, rapidly changing job market. While on placement, our students are supported by an academic member of staff who will act as the students Visiting Tutor. The Visiting Tutor will hold two placement visits during the course of the year, the first being a virtual visit, the second will be an in-person visit (wherever possible). Finally, the recruitment process for next year’s placement students will commence shortly and second year students will begin looking for a placement from October. We would be grateful if you could send us the details of any placements you may be offering next year. We hope that the year ahead goes well for you and for the student(s). Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance at any stage. Helena, Sarah and Kelly
The Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) What we require from the student Our placement scheme leads to the award of the Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) on successful completion of the student placement.
To obtain the DPS on graduation, the student must satisfactorily complete: 1. 45 weeks on placement (excluding holidays) wherever possible. However, in these exceptional circumstances, 25 weeks of employment alongside additional academic activity or other work-based activity will be sufficient. 2. A series of four, 250 word, reflective STAR diary entries on the placement experience (two diary entries to be submitted two weeks before the second visit, and the two remaining entries are submitted after). 3. An essay of 10 pages/3,500 words (excluding bibliography and appendices) linking theories and concepts appropriate to the students’ discipline to a placement work-related topic (or topics). A proposal of 1½ pages/750 words should be submitted to the Visiting Tutor two weeks before the second visit. This essay is submitted on the student’s return to University. 4. A short oral or poster presentation to first and second year students providing information and reflection on the work placement experience upon return to University.
Student Responsibilities • It is the overall responsibility of the student to ensure that they receive a suitable professional experience; to maintain satisfactory communication with the University; and to ensure that the requirements for the award of DPS are met. • Students are to complete their DPS assessments outside of their working hours. • Students are equipped with all relevant information that they need for successful completion of their placement year, as well as the award of the DPS. This information is held on LEARN, the School’s virtual learning environment (VLE). Please ask the student to access this information if and when you need it.
5. A competent performance of duties whilst on placement; maintaining good conduct and upholding the reputation and standards of both the company and the University. This is evidenced through two employer appraisals during the placement, one to be completed and discussed with the Visiting Tutor at the second visit, one to be submitted at the end of the student’s placement. Students undertaking the ‘6+6’ who are combining a professional placement with a single semester of study exchange will have different assessment criteria. Please contact the Placements and Study Exchange Team if you require more information about this.
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Prior to the placement
What we ask of the employer 1. Prior to the placement
Start of the placement
• A link to an online Host Declaration Form should have been sent to you by the student to be completed and returned to the Placements and Study Exchange Team. The placement cannot be approved for the purposes of DPS until we receive this.
2. At the start of the placement • Assign a workplace supervisor to the student. • Draw up a programme of work for the student, including suitable relevant experiences, which requires a level of intellectual participation appropriate to a recent graduate.
Visiting Tutor
• Complete an induction programme with the student.
3. The Visiting Tutor
Prior to the meetings
• An academic member of staff will be assigned to the student as a Visiting Tutor. The allocated Visiting Tutor will hold two meetings with the student and employer. The first meeting will typically be within three months of the placement starting and will be a virtual visit and the second will be an in-person visit (wherever possible) before the end of March 2022. More information on the visit is included later in this pack.
4. Prior to the Visiting Tutor meetings • Before the first meeting, ensure the student is settling into the workplace and has an appropriate plan of work. • Before the second visit, assist the student in selecting a suitable work-related topic for their essay. • Complete the first appraisal for the student ahead of the second meeting.
The meetings
5. The Visiting Tutor meetings • Please meet the student’s Visiting Tutor and review the student’s progress. Adjust the programme of work as necessary.
6. Before the end of the placement • Complete the final appraisal form and ensure the student has a copy for their DPS.
End of the placement
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• Approve the students essay by signing and returning the Employer DPS Sign-Off Sheet. This is to confirm that any information or data students may use within their report is permitted. The Employer DPS Sign-Off Sheet has been sent with this information pack and needs to be emailed by you directly to us at Loughborough.
The Placement Visits Two placement visits will take place, the first typically within three months of the placement start date and the second before the end of March 2022. The purpose of both visits is for the student and their Visiting Tutor to meet and discuss the progress of the placement and the requirements of the DPS. In the second meeting, the Visiting Tutor will also meet the student’s line manager to discuss their progress and to address any queries you may have. The first meeting is typically shorter and between the student and Visiting Tutor only. For the second visit, which will be in person where possible, there will be a meeting between the Visiting Tutor and the student’s line manager; and a meeting of all three parties. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange the visit to suit all parties involved. The Visiting Tutor will have a checklist to work through to ensure that they have gained all the information they need from the visit.
Should it be required, further contact or even a further meeting, can be arranged on a needs basis.
Contact Information • The first point of contact for a student with academic queries is usually their Visiting Tutor • For all other queries students and employers should contact the Placements and Study Exchange Team: sshplacements@lboro.ac.uk Placements and Study Exchange Officer
Placements and Study Exchange Administrator
Placements and Study Exchange Director
Sarah Lafferty
Kelly Bramley
Dr Helena Pimlott-Wilson
T. +44 (0)1509 228329 E. S.Lafferty@lboro.ac.uk
T. +44(0)1509 223672 E. K.Bramley2@lboro.ac.uk
T. +44 (0)1509 222789 E. H.Pimlott-Wilson@lboro.ac.uk
@LboroSSHplcmnt
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79514/CPS/June21
LboroSSHplcmnt