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Energy Infrastructure Environment Placement

Module description

This module is designed to encourage you to enhance your employability through a guided programme of study and practical experience with employers involved with energy, infrastructure, or environmental work. Guidance is provided through subject based seminars, interactive electronic resources, and personal guidance.

You are required to participate in an approved work placement, organised by yourself, for a minimum of 140 hours (4 weeks). This can be undertaken during or after the taught element of the module and you will be expected to complete your placement by Week 3 of Term 3  Ultimate responsibility for finding and scheduling a placement lies with you; however, there will be advice and support from the module team, particularly on how to approach employers and identify suitable opportunities. It is important that all placements are deemed of ‘degree’ level, relevant to the programme, for you to gain useful experience for the future. Low-level part-time jobs will not be approved. You must be active from the outset in pursuing placement opportunities of your choice to give you the greatest chance of achieving your preference.

This module is only available to students on the MA Politics of Energy Infrastructure and Environment.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to prepare you for the world of work beyond university: it aims to develop your knowledge of the energy, environment or infrastructure industries through the hands-on experience of work placement or projects.You will be encouraged to research and reflect on a range of work-related ‘explorations’ - from the nature of an organisation and your role within it to self-appraisal of how this experience has influenced your understanding of your area of study and your professional development, and how it plays a part in your own personal development planning. The flexibility of the module allows you to fully explore the links between the skills developed in the MA with the particular professional goal you have chosen.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate understanding of what your placement/project organisation does; how it is managed, the culture within the organisation and what influences this
• 2. Reflect on and evaluate the experiential learning process

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Reflect on the relationship between skills and theoretical knowledge developed in the MA with the learning and skills developed through your work placement or project.
• 4. Apply your academic background to the professions within your industry of interest (energy and environment in particular)

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Identify the skills needed in relation to particular career opportunities in the industries of interest, and with reference to the work placement/project in particular
• 6. Present yourself effectively in CVs, applications, oral presentations and interviews.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Finding and applying for a work placement: Preparing CVs, applications and personal statements
• Preparing for your work placement
• Personal development planning and learning from experience
• Reflective writing and self-assessment
• Work experience and the study and practice of translation
• An introduction to employment policies, practices in the industry of interest. Values and professionalism in the workplace
• Personal development and academic skills review

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee,you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for are-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were yourfi rst attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a fi nal overall module mark of less than 50%) you will berequired to redo the assessment(s) as defi ned above. If you are successful on referral, your overall modulemark will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Cottrell, S. (2003), Skills for Success: The Personal Development Planning Handbook. Palgrave Study Guides. London
Fanthorne, C. (2004), Work Placements – A Survival Guide for Students. Palgrave Study Guides. Macmillan, London.
Kolb, D. (1984), ‘Experiential Learning: Experience as a source of Learning and Development.’ PHI, New Jersey.
Longson, S. (1999), Making Work Experience Count. How to Books.
Moon, J. (1999), Learning Journals: A handbook for academics, students and professional development. Kogan Page. London.

Key words search

Work placement; energy/infrastructure/environment; employability; internship