Department of Social Sciences Professional Placement Scheme
Employer Information Pack www.lboro.ac.uk/socialsci
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The Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS)
Sarah Lafferty Placements Officer
Dr Thomas Thurnell-Read, Placements Director
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Thank you
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Thank you for offering a placement to one (or more) of our students in your company/ organisation for a period of professional training during their next academic year.
What we ask of the employer
The Placement Visit & Contact Info
The professional placement you are offering our student(s) is an integral element of our courses and something we believe is of particular benefit to our students. 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 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 company/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 Office. Each student will be visited on placement by an academic member of staff allocated as the student’s Placement Supervisor. More details about this visit can be found in this information pack. Finally, the recruitment process for next year’s placement students will begin shortly and second year students will start 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, please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance at any stage.
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 four, 250 word, reflective STAR diary entries on the placement experience (two diary entries to be submitted before the placement visit and two after). 3. A project report of 5,000 words on a placement workrelated topic agreed in consultation with the students line manager. The report should establish links between social scientific theories and the vocational experience. 4. A short presentation to current 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.
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.
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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 appropriate to a social science degree and which require a level of intellectual participation appropriate to a third year undergraduate student.
Dec – Feb
• Complete an induction period with the student.
3. The Placement Supervisor • An academic member of staff will be assigned to the student as a Placement Supervisor. The allocated Placement Supervisor 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.
May – June
4. Prior to the Placement Supervisor meeting • Assist the student in selecting a suitable work-related topic for their project report. • 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 please do so but ensure the student has a copy for their DPS.
End of placement
5. The Placement Supervisor meeting • Please meet the student’s Placement Supervisor 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.
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• Read and approve the students project report by signing the cover sheet, the student will provide you with the cover sheet from the university VLE.
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 Placement Supervisor to meet and discuss the progress of the placement and the requirements of the DPS, and also for the Placement Supervisor to meet the student’s line manager to discuss the student’s progress and to address any queries you may have. A placement visit typically comprises a meeting between the student and the Placement Supervisor; a meeting between the Placement Supervisor and the student’s line manager; and a meeting of all three parties. The Placement Supervisor is responsible for arranging the visit in conjunction with the student to suit all parties involved. The Placement Supervisor 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 their Placement Supervisor • Please contact Sarah or Tom if you have any queries Placements Officer
Placements Director
Sarah Lafferty
Dr Thomas Thurnell-Read
T. +44 (0)1509 228329 E. S.Lafferty@lboro.ac.uk
T. +44 (0)1509 223881 E. T.Thurnell-Read@lboro.ac.uk
@LboroSPGPlacements LboroSPGPlacements
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