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University of Exeter Business School

Business School Industrial Experience

Module titleBusiness School Industrial Experience
Module codeBUS3002
Academic year2023/4
Credits120
Module staff

Mrs Nicky Thomas ()

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

120

Module description

Summary:

This module allows you to undertake and to learn from an extended work placement during the third year of a four year “WIE” programme.  To progress to this module, you will completed BSD2002 and BSD1002 employability skills modules and will have found a suitable placement for a minimum of 33* weeks (*26 weeks for 2020/21 placements).

Having developed the careers management skills necessary for a competitive graduate labour market, this is an invaluable opportunity to put the theory learned into practice in the workplace and to focus on your professional skills development.

During your “industry” year you will be supported by an academic WIE tutor and the Employability team.

The module assessment structure provides opportunity and support for you to evaluate your skills and achievements using personal development techniques.  You will also write a Business Report to showpiece the culmination of your academic and business skills.

 

Additional Information:

Internationalisation

You can undertake a work placement in the UK, Europe or elsewhere in the world. Overseas placements will be considered on a case-by case basis.

External Engagement

The placement provides the chance for you to develop professional relationships with new colleagues, and connections within your placement organisation and with other stakeholders.  You will have the opportunity to research and examine the context of your placement organisation in assignment 2.

Employability

Through your workplace activities and module assessment, you will apply and continue to develop your employability skills.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module will allow students to work on a minimum 33* week placement during the third year of a 4 year programme. (*26 weeks for 2020/21 placements)

Placements are organised by the students, with School support, and must be approved by the Business School Careers Team in advance of placement start date

The aims of this module and the placement are to support students to develop:

  • Relevant work-based skills and knowledge;
  • An understanding of work-place competencies and their significance in personal career development/progression;
  • An appreciation of a business environment through practical experience; to encompass NGOs, SMEs etc.
  • Business/industry awareness and acumen;
  • Academic skills to research and evaluate key issues relevant to the placement.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Analyse the political, legal, ethical, social, economic, cultural, sustainability, technological and/or operational considerations which influence the workplace/industry;
  • 2. Link real-life situations/problems to subject specific knowledge obtained through previous modules, relevant theory and academic literature;
  • 3. Professionally present research, findings and recommendations in appropriate business report format;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 4. Identify, develop and extend practical work-based skills, competencies and experience;
  • 5. Effective time management to meet work and academic commitments;
  • 6. Build beneficial relationships/networks within the employer organization and with an academic tutor;

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 7. Develop/enhance techniques for gathering evidence to support self-promotion during appraisals/job applications/interviews;
  • 8. Critical reflection of practical experiences gained to analyse the impact they may have on your career development/progression;

Syllabus plan

The day to day experience of the student will depend on the placement.  Students will have two key summative assignments in the second half of their placement and will be responsible for managing their academic workload across the placement to fit around work commitments.  Student will have a range of contact and support points with other students and University staff, together with formal meetings/review sessions with designated staff within the placement organisation.

 

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
8921100

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Contact hours8Regular progress reviews with WIE tutor via a combination of telephone/email/Skype/face-to-face meeting. Students on international placement will have reviews by phone, email or Skype.

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Assessment 1: Professional Skills ReviewDraft answer to ONE question1-8Employability Placement Adviser (EPA) will provide feedback guidance for student’s answer to ONE competency
15 minute Skype callEPA will host a 3-way Skype meeting with student & line manager to focus on student’s personal development
Assessment 2: Business ReportDraft report1-7Feedback provided by WIE tutor either electronically via e mail/ELE/phone/Skype or personally on a one to one placement visit

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Assignment 1: Professional Skills Review incorporating and reflecting on feedback directly from the student’s work placement supervisor401,700 words due by end of March in the placement year1-8Feedback by Employability Team
Assignment 2: Business Report603,500 words due by mid-June in the placement year1-7Feedback by WIE Tutor

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Assignment 1: Professional Skills Review.Employability Self-Assessment 1,700 words (40%)1-8August Reassessment Period
Assignment 2: Business ReportBusiness Report 3,500 words (60%)1-7August Reassessment Period

Re-assessment notes

Deferred students will be reassessed in the element that has been mitigated.

Students will be referred if they achieve an overall module mark below 40%. If this is the case students will then be reassessed in any elements they have failed.

Please note if students do not achieve 40% on the reassessment attempt, they will be put on to the three year variant of their programme. This module will appear on your transcript as a fail and the student will no longer have ‘with Industrial Experience’ in their degree title.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Please refer to the relevant placement year ELE site for general reading and guidance, specific reading/research will need to be discussed with your placement organisation and WIE Academic tutor.

Web based resources refer to ELE site:

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=8633

Other resources:

Preparatory materials provided by the BSD2002 skills development sessions, including guidance on critical reflection techniques, employability competencies and making the most of placement opportunities are also provided on the ELE site

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Refer to With Industrial Experience ELE site and resources from BSD1002 and BSD2002.

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Preparatory materials provided by the Placement Preparation sessions, including guidance on writing a reflective log (appropriate examples provided if available).

Key words search

Placement, Selection, Reflection, Employment, Competency, Competencies, WIE

Credit value120
Module ECTS

60

Module pre-requisites

Minimum overall weighted average of 50.0% in Level 1; satisfactory completion of the compulsory Placement Preparation modules BSD1002 (with minimum 50% mark) and BSD2002.

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

6

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

01/09/2011

Last revision date

18/12/2023