Module Information

Module Identifier
MM38020
Module Title
Employability Skills for Professionals
Academic Year
2017/2018
Co-ordinator
Mr Iain McDougall
Semester
Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Practical 6 x 7 Hour Practicals
Seminar 4 x 1 Hour Seminars
Practical 5 x 7 Hour Practicals
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Final report  3,000 words  70%
Semester Assessment Oral Presentation on placement  30%
Supplementary Assessment Resit by submission of Extended Reflective Placement Report  4,000 words  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

* Apply knowledge and develop an understanding of Business and Management in practice;

* Identify tasks and problems relevant to the placement organisation and facilitate appropriate outcomes;

* Evaluate their own performance and increase awareness of their own skill profile;

* Engage proactively with individuals and groups within the organisation;

* Develop the ability to reflect on knowledge and experience gained on placement;

* Present ideas effectively in both written format and oral presentation;

* Communicate and collaborate effectively with peers and with diverse individuals within the practice setting;

* Develop competence in a wide range of transferable skills, including reading, assimilating, investigating, and criticising complex organisational or institutional systems;

  • Develop the ability to communicate academic knowledge in a practical setting using modes appropriate to the placement, including oral, written, and electronic communication.

Aims

The module aims to offer final year Institute of Business and Law (IBL) students the opportunity to undertake a work placement with an external organisation broadly related to the general sphere of their degree studies. It ensures that students are engaged in real pieces of work or projects that are valued and used by employers and reflect current needs and practice in the workplace.

Brief description

This module provides practical and specific workplace experience to enhance the future employability prospects of students in chosen fields. There are ring-fenced opportunities for IBL students to work in commercial, government, local authority or charity organisations. This will enable students to proactively develop their employability skills whilst contributing meaningfully to the work of the host organisation.
Students are required to critically reflect on their personal and professional development. Places on the module are not guaranteed for any student and may be allocated by selection following interview.


Content

The module is taught over 2 semesters and through the work placement students must successfully complete at least 112 hours over two semesters (min. 112 hours, max 126 hours). Work placements will involve a regular time commitment each week e.g Wednesday for 7 hours.
In addition to their placement requirements, students will attend seminars on campus which address issues relevant to their placement experiences and their development as future professionals, 8 x 1 hour seminars (over 2 semesters).

Preparing and writing the 3,000-word placement report will ordinarily involve undertaking research. The placement report will assess the student's understanding of the project in which they have been involved and their ability to reflect on the outcomes of the placement. The report will take the form of an academic essay on the placement, i.e. not only an account of the tasks completed but an intellectually robust critical reflection highlighting the link between the placement and a relevant area(s) of study.



Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number N/A
Communication Effective use of different communication methods, including the final report and oral presentation. Also, oral communication will be encouraged and developed during interactive seminar discussions and in their interactions with colleagues and/or clients in their work placement.
Improving own Learning and Performance Assessment via the final report and oral presentation will enhance critical self-reflection and self-awareness.
Information Technology Acquired through activities undertaken during the placement.
Personal Development and Career planning Learning throughout the module will equip students with the necessary knowledge, transferable skills, and confidence to succeed in a wide variety of careers. The module is very well placed to enhance student learning in these areas, in fact it is the underlying ethos behind the module.
Problem solving In the course of their placement they will have to solve many practical issues which will develop and enhance students critical and practical problem solving skills.
Research skills Research skills will be developed by accessing literature on the aspects of their placement.
Subject Specific Skills The development of subject specific skills will be an aspect for each and every student but the content and breadth of these skills will vary depending on the placement.
Team work Placement organisations ordinarily rely on team work so the module will necessarily enhance team working skills.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6