Module Information
Module Identifier
GSS0260
Module Title
Work Placement
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Pre-Requisite
Other Staff
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Reflective Portfolio (5000 words) | 75% |
| Semester Assessment | Employer Report | 25% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Reflective Portfolio (5000 words) | 75% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Employer Report | 25% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. An understanding of the complexities and demands of the recruitment process.
2. An insight into the day-to-day priorities of the workplace.
3. An insight into the roles and skill sets of professionals in an applied setting.
4. Experience of a range of work-based situations and problems.
5. An insight into professional practice in the workplace.
6. Ability to reflect on and evidence skill sets to enhance personal growth and future positioning in the graduate labour market.
7. A range of transferable skills including initiative, independence and commercial awareness.
Brief description
This module is a placement which gives students the opportunity to acquire and practice their skill sets in the workplace setting. Placement also offers the student a chance to apply their geographical knowledge in the practical setting. Students will also gain insight into the workplace context and professional roles facilitating their own thinking about career pathways and aspirations.
Students will be assessed through a reflective portfolio and employer report:
- The portfolio aims to develop the student’s ability to recognise, reflect, and capitalise on the skills they build during the work placement.
- The employer report will provide the students and DGES with valuable feedback on the students’ ability to apply geographic approaches, concepts, skills, methods and/or theories in a practical context.
All students are responsible for securing their own placement.
Students will be assessed through a reflective portfolio and employer report:
- The portfolio aims to develop the student’s ability to recognise, reflect, and capitalise on the skills they build during the work placement.
- The employer report will provide the students and DGES with valuable feedback on the students’ ability to apply geographic approaches, concepts, skills, methods and/or theories in a practical context.
All students are responsible for securing their own placement.
Content
This module is a `Year in Industry’ work placement. The work placement presents an opportunity for each student to obtain experience in the workplace and voluntary setting.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Work placements are diverse and encompass a broad range of skills and experience. While on placement students are encouraged to think about and practice their numerical skills across contexts. |
| Communication | Work placements are diverse and encompass a broad range of skills and experience. While on placement students are encouraged to practice their listening, speaking, and writing for different purposes and different audiences. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Work placements are diverse and encompass a broad range of skills and experience. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their own learning style, personal preferences, and future goals. They will gain insight into learning in the workplace context and monitor their own progress towards their learning goals. |
| Information Technology | Work placements are diverse and encompass a broad range of skills and experience. While on placement a student will observe, and may practice the efficiency of IT skills in the professional and practical setting. This action may include using a range of commonly used software packages, managing storage systems and using email/the internet appropriately and effectively. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Work placements are diverse and encompass a broad range of skills and experience. This module supports students to develop insight into their own skill set in relationship to the applied setting. Students will understand and use a range of job search strategies and be encouraged to market themselves on paper and in person. This work placement offers the opportunity to prepare, or plan for, future career pathways and routes to progression. |
| Problem solving | Work placements are diverse and encompass a broad range of skills and experience. While on placement students are expected to gain insight into problem-solving in an applied setting; this may include the identification of problems, the evaluation of potential solutions, building of resilience in problematized settings, or creative thinking to problem-solving. |
| Research skills | Work placements are diverse and encompass a broad range of skills and experience. While on placement, students are anticipated to gain insights into the utility of research methods in the applied setting and reflect on their specialist or technical skills. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Work placements are diverse and encompass a broad range of skills and experience. While on this module the student will understand and practice their geographical knowledge in the applied setting. Students will gain insights into professional practice across a range of contexts. |
| Team work | Work placements are diverse and encompass a broad range of skills and experience. While on placement students will gain insight into group dynamics, group goals, and their own contribution to effective team work. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5