Module Information
Module Identifier
BR34010
Module Title
Agricultural Study Tour and The Work Environment
Academic Year
2017/2018
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Field Trip | 5 x 8 Hour Field Trips |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Study tour written report 4,500 words. Study tour seminars. | 70% |
| Semester Assessment | Work Experience and Career Planning Portfolio | 30% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to the failure of the module. | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between policy, location, agricultural practices and the rural economy.
2. Adopt a critical, evaluative and analytical approach towards agriculture and the rural economy.
3. Appreciate the complexity of decision-making in the management and diversification of rural UK.
4. Reflect in depth on workplace experience and identify strengths and weaknesses and identify strategies for addressing the latter.
5. Communicate experience in ways expected by employers and plan for a future career-enhancing strategy.
6. Develop and maintain a portfolio for future reflection on work experiences beyond the end of the module.
Brief description
Students will visit a county / region within the UK on a week-long field course / study tour and gain an appreciation of its geographical, social and economic features. Visits to farms, rural businesses and organisations involved in the regulation and management of the countryside will serve as case studies to highlight the key issues at stake.
In addition to participation on visits and during evening seminar, students will submit a written report on the region. The approach throughout will be analytical, critical and evaluative and will include a thorough review of appropriate literature.
Students will reflect on their experience in the context of employability development with the aim of producing supportive resources for their peers. Students will be expected to produce a briefing document, aimed at their fellow students, which is a profile of their career focusing on skills, challenges and opportunities. In addition, students will be expected to produce a short 10 minute presentation followed by a Q&A session aimed at their fellow students.
Students will also be expected to complete a minimum of 50 hours of voluntary or paid work (part time or full time) experience during year 2 and its associated vacations. The work experience must conform to a set of minimum criteria and it is required that the work be directly relevant to degree schemes. Students will keep a reflective diary during their time working and complete as series of formative assessments. At the end of the working period, students will submit a portfolio in which they reflect on their experience, identify skills which need to be developed (and opportunities for this) and create a SMART plan, as part of a work experience portfolio, aimed at further enhancing their employability during year 3 and beyond.
In addition to participation on visits and during evening seminar, students will submit a written report on the region. The approach throughout will be analytical, critical and evaluative and will include a thorough review of appropriate literature.
Students will reflect on their experience in the context of employability development with the aim of producing supportive resources for their peers. Students will be expected to produce a briefing document, aimed at their fellow students, which is a profile of their career focusing on skills, challenges and opportunities. In addition, students will be expected to produce a short 10 minute presentation followed by a Q&A session aimed at their fellow students.
Students will also be expected to complete a minimum of 50 hours of voluntary or paid work (part time or full time) experience during year 2 and its associated vacations. The work experience must conform to a set of minimum criteria and it is required that the work be directly relevant to degree schemes. Students will keep a reflective diary during their time working and complete as series of formative assessments. At the end of the working period, students will submit a portfolio in which they reflect on their experience, identify skills which need to be developed (and opportunities for this) and create a SMART plan, as part of a work experience portfolio, aimed at further enhancing their employability during year 3 and beyond.
Content
The module will be delivered through a combination of visits undertaken whilst on a week-long field course / study tour. Seminars will be conducted during the evenings following visits. In addition, there will be a briefing lecture at the end of the preceding semester to cover the requirements of the module and 4 lectures and 4 seminars will be organized following the students' return.
Students will keep a reflective diary for the first 50 hours of their work. A pro-forma will be provided and students will be expected to make an entry once per working day (or contiguous 8 hour period if part-time). Students will be supported by online resources (provided on Blackboard (and as downloadable/printable packages for those who do not have internet access). The reflective diary will form part of their portfolio.
Once 50 hours of experience have been completed, students will undertake a series of exercises aimed at raising awareness of the skills they have developed, the way in which these are perceived by employers and how their achievements can be communicated. The exercises will be developed in consultation with CAS.
Students will also be expected to compile a portfolio containing (in addition to the journal):
a. evidence of the work period
b. a completed skills audit (based on the current APPR)
c. evidence of engagement with CAS during years 1 and 2
d. a SMART plan of action identifying steps to be taken in year 3
e. a CV incorporating the experience gained during the placement.
Appropriate templates will be provided which will allow students to build further work experience into the portfolio which will expand and remain a resource long after the end of the module.
Students will keep a reflective diary for the first 50 hours of their work. A pro-forma will be provided and students will be expected to make an entry once per working day (or contiguous 8 hour period if part-time). Students will be supported by online resources (provided on Blackboard (and as downloadable/printable packages for those who do not have internet access). The reflective diary will form part of their portfolio.
Once 50 hours of experience have been completed, students will undertake a series of exercises aimed at raising awareness of the skills they have developed, the way in which these are perceived by employers and how their achievements can be communicated. The exercises will be developed in consultation with CAS.
Students will also be expected to compile a portfolio containing (in addition to the journal):
a. evidence of the work period
b. a completed skills audit (based on the current APPR)
c. evidence of engagement with CAS during years 1 and 2
d. a SMART plan of action identifying steps to be taken in year 3
e. a CV incorporating the experience gained during the placement.
Appropriate templates will be provided which will allow students to build further work experience into the portfolio which will expand and remain a resource long after the end of the module.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | |
| Communication | Both the study tour (incl evening seminars whilst on tour), the written report and the work experience / career planning portfolio will develop communication skills. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Reflection on the work experience and career planning will improve the student’s own learning and performance. |
| Information Technology | The presentation of coursework will further develop IT. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Industry contacts will be made during field trip and the portfolio will form part of the career planning and job seeking process. |
| Problem solving | This will form a part of the coursework set. |
| Research skills | Students will gain research experience both prior to and during the study tour in addition to the completion of coursework. |
| Subject Specific Skills | The field trip provides a unique opportunity to integrate the material covered in Years 1 and 2 and gain an appreciation of the industry in the context of the rural environment and economy. |
| Team work | The study tour and associated coursework provides for significant opportunities for group interaction and discussion. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6