Support the work placement search process

WHEN and WHAT this tool/approach is to be used

This resource will help staff in planning work placement preparation modules and in supporting students seeking placements. It does not address the needs of students already on placement and the staff supporting them - see contacts at the end for this purpose.

Why would a teacher use this approach/tool, and link to the 4C features

Finding work placements will be more challenging in 2020/21. Many organisations may have a reduced workforce and will have other constraints upon hosting placement students. Face-to-face UK placement opportunities may be fewer and more competitive, and international face-to-face placement opportunities may face other restrictions.

Staff will need to prepare students seeking placements for this potentially more limited set of opportunities and actively seek and promote alternative avenues for gaining work-related experience.

One of these alternatives may be remote or virtual placements. Such placements (including remote onboarding and remote supervision) will be a very different kind of experience, potentially requiring more independence, and entailing more isolated working, compared to conventional placements. Students will need support in preparing for, seeking and managing remote placements. Better preparation should lead to more choice and more constructive experiences. Seeking a placement can be a lonely experience and setbacks can be frequent: creating a sense of community amongst those searching will be even more important than normal.

How to use this approach/tool

Inclusivity and Accessibility review

Review all placement preparation plans with the priority of maintaining and growing the number of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) and Widening Participation (WP) students who will benefit from placement/work experience, as these students have been underrepresented in this student group.

Ensure all relevant activities are added to the Student Study Plan for the module in question.

All online resources should be compatible with the UK Digital Accessibility Standards 2020. See Creating Digitally Accessible Learning and Teaching Materials Brookes Moodle course.

Use the Blackboard Ally tool to help check the accessibility of the content you have prepared (available within Moodle late July - early August 2020).

Author/s

  • Andrea Macrae
  • Jonathan Louw