Department of Geography Professional Placement Scheme
Employer Information Pack www.lboro.ac.uk/geography
Contents 2
The Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS)
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What we ask of the employer
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The Placement Visit & Contact Info
Sarah Lafferty Placements Officer
Dr Helena Pimlott-Wilson Placements Director
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 professional placement you are offering our student(s) is an integral element of our Geography courses and 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 placement programme 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. This information pack gives you an overview of the requirements needed for the student to qualify for the award of DPS, as well as a summary of what we ask of your organisation. It also gives you details of the students’ online placement information; key information on the placement visit; and contact details you may need for the Placements Team. While on placement each student will be visited by a member of academic staff. This member of staff will act as the students’ Visiting Tutor. More details about this visit can be found in this information pack. 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 and Sarah
The Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) What we require from the student Our placement programme 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. A minimum of 45 weeks (excluding holidays) in a suitable and relevant placement. 2. A series of five, 250 word, reflective STAR diary entries on the placement experience (two diary entries to be submitted before the placement visit and three after). 3. An essay of up to 10 pages on a placement workrelated topic agreed in consultation with the students’ line manager and Visiting Tutor. The essay should establish links between geographical theories and work-related topic(s). A proposal for a suitable essay should be submitted to the Visiting Tutor two weeks before the visit commences. The essay should be signed off by the students line manager to confirm that the student is permitted to use the Company information or data in their report. This essay is submitted to the Geography Department on the students 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 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.
4. A presentation to current second year students providing information and reflection on the work placement experience upon return to University. 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.
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Start of placement
What we ask of the employer 1. Prior to the placement
Nov – Jan
• A Host Declaration Form should have been sent to you by the student to be completed and returned to the Placements Officer as soon as possible. The placement cannot be approved for the purposes of DPS until we receive this.
2. At the start of the placement • Assign a supervisor to the student. • Draw up a programme of work for the student, including suitable relevant experiences, which require a level of intellectual participation appropriate to a recent graduate. • Complete an induction programme with the student.
Dec – Feb
3. The Visiting Tutor • An academic member of staff will be assigned to the student as a Visiting Tutor. The allocated Visiting Tutor will usually visit the student on site on one occasion, typically around December/ January. More information on the visit is included later in this pack.
4. Prior to the Visiting Tutor meeting May – June
• Assist the student in their selecting a suitable work-related topic for their essay. • Complete the first appraisal of the student. The appraisal documents have been sent with this information pack. If you would rather use your company’s own appraisal forms, please do so but ensure the student has a copy for their DPS.
5. The Visiting Tutor meeting End of placement
• 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. • Approve the students essay by signing the cover sheet. This is to confirm that any information or data students may use within their report is permitted. The cover sheet has been sent with this information pack.
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The Placement Visit The placement visit typically takes place in the months of December and January but this can be flexible as needed. The purpose of the visit is for the student and their Visiting Tutor to meet and discuss the progress of the placement and the requirements of the DPS, and also for the Visiting Tutor to meet the student’s line manager to discuss their progress and to address any queries you may have. A placement visit usually lasts up to 90 minutes and typically comprises a meeting between the student and the Visiting Tutor; 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, in order 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 visit, can be arranged on a needs basis.
Contact Information • The first point of contact for a student on placement is usually their Visiting Tutor • For all other queries please contact Sarah or Helena Placements Officer
Placements Director
Sarah Lafferty
Dr Helena Pimlott-Wilson
T. +44 (0)1509 228329 E. S.Lafferty@lboro.ac.uk
T. +44 (0)1509 222789 E. H.Pimlott-Wilson@lboro.ac.uk
@LboroSPGPlacements LboroSPGPlacements
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