Module BIOL3996: Biology Placement Year

Department: Biosciences

BIOL3996: Biology Placement Year

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To provide the experience of working in a science or science-related field as complementary to academic study.
• To enable students to acquire transferable skills, to develop personally, and to enhance their employability with the placement provider or otherwise, upon graduation.

Content

• This will be determined in agreement with the placement provider. Content will usually focus on business needs and can include routine work, research or projects that would be suitable for a science graduate.

Learning Outcomes

• Increased knowledge and understanding of the work environment, as distinct from the academic, and of the hierarchies, routines, pressures, and disciplines of this environment.
• Increased knowledge of the specific techniques involved in the placement, and of their practical application.

• An enhanced ability to work independently or in a team, as appropriate to the placement.
• An enhanced ability to work on both technical and non-technical tasks, and with non-technical colleagues.

• Increased confidence in the ability to work in different environments and to assume personal responsibility.
• An ability to carry out work as instructed by host, manage workload and meet deadlines.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Pre-placement briefing in order to prepare the student for the work environment and the nature of the placement.
• Regular contact with a placement advisor during the placement to help the student assess the on-going value of the placement and the skills acquired including one site visit by the placement advisor, where this is reasonably practical.
• Post-placement debriefing to help the student assess the final value of the placement and reflect on the skills acquired.
• The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis. Assessment is via satisfactory completion of the placement, as evidenced by an end of placement report.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University