School of Social Sciences and Humanities Professional Placement Scheme
Employer Information Pack www.lboro.ac.uk
Contents 2
Sarah Lafferty Placements and International Opportunities Officer
Kelly Bramley Placements and International Opportunities Administrator
Dr Helena Pimlott-Wilson Placements and International Opportunities 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 study streams; Communication & Media, Geography & Environment, Politics & International Studies, Social & Policy Studies and Humanities. 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, the vast majority of students will be visited by a member of academic staff. Those overseas may have a Skype meeting instead. 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, 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. A minimum of 45 weeks (excluding holidays) in a suitable and relevant placement. This can be completed across a maximum of three different placement providers. 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 placement visit and two 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/750words should be submitted to the Visiting Tutor two weeks before the visit commences. 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 when they 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 International Opportunities 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 Host Declaration Form should have been sent to you by the student to be completed and returned to the Placements and International Opportunities 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 require a level of intellectual participation appropriate to a recent graduate.
Visiting Tutor
• Complete an induction programme with the student.
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 between December and February. More information on the visit is included later in this pack.
Prior to the meeting
4. Prior to the Visiting Tutor meeting • 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.
The meeting
5. The Visiting Tutor meeting • 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 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.
End of the placement
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The Placement Visit The placement visit typically takes place between December and February 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 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 with academic queries is usually their Visiting Tutor • For all other queries students and employers should contact the Placements and International Opportunities Team: Socsci.Placements@lboro.ac.uk Placements and International Opportunities Officer
Placement and International Opportunities Administrator
Placement and International Opportunities 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
LboroSocSciPlacements
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75508/C+P/June19
@LboroSocSciPlacements