Development Record
Record (PEDR) system. In order to do so, students must register with the PEDR scheme, and complete a quarterly record of their experience to be signed by the Universities Assistant Professional Studies Advisor — Jane Paterson. A workshop introducing students to the PEDR Scheme will be offered during the lecture series. Further details regarding the scheme, and other essential guidance on all aspects of professional training, can be found on the RIBA website(www.pedr.co.uk).Students with specific queries should contact the RIBA, or Jane, directly (address below).
Preparing for your Placement
Students are advised to prepare a CV, a digital sample of work (small enough to be e-mailed) as well as a physical portfolio (to be taken to interview). Students might also consider developing an on-line portfolio or web-site. A workshop will be held offering advise on these documents. Students are also advised to begin identifying, and applying for, work placements. Where known to ESALA, placement opportunities will be listed on the course LEARN page and on the Library Noticeboard (Minto House). Students are recommended to check these forums regularly while looking for work. Placement opportunities are also listed in trade periodicals such as Building Design (www.buildingdesign.ubmmagazines.com) and The Architects Journal (www.architectsjournal.co.uk). The RIBA also offers an appointment service that lists Part 1 Placements (www.ribaappointments.com). The most comprehensive listing of UK practices is the RIBA Directory of Practices. There is also an RIAS Directory of Members and Practices. The latest editions of both of these are also available in the Architecture Library. The RIBA also publishes a Directory of International Architects. A list of employers who have previously offered ESALA students placements will also be posted on LEARN.
ERASMUS
The Erasmus programme provides financial support for students studying in another European country as part of their undergraduate degree. Because the Placement period forms part of your MA Degree at ESALA, Placement students are eligible to apply for financial support if they undertake a work placement in another European Country. In order to gain grant funding, students must apply before Christmas of this year. Therefore, any student considering applying for a work-placement or internship in Europe (but not in the UK) should register with ERASMUS during semester 1. Further details are available at http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/internationaloffice/exchanges/erasmus/placements. Any queries about the scheme should be addressed to the University Exchanges Officer, Lesley Balharra.
Payment
Under the National Minimum Wage Act, anyone who is classified as a ‘worker’ has specific legal rights and is entitled to the minimum wage. This act safeguards employees against individual exploitation and general wage depression. It is possible for employers to gain exemption from this act where work experience has an educational benefit; in the current economic climate, some employers are using this exemption to offer unpaid internships to Part 1 students completing PEDR. The RIBA is seeking to remove this exemption, to bring in measures to ensure that chartered practice are required to pay minimum-wage to Part 1 students, and also to make unpaid work ineligible for recognition as practical training. It should be noted, then, that ESALA does not recommend or condone students undertaking unpaid work in architectural practice. If students are offered an unpaid opportunity – such as a voluntary post, internship, or Host Practice position, they should carefully consider the education benefit of the opportunity, and ensure that they are not being exploited, or contributing to wage depression.
Contact
It is important to maintain contact with the University while on Placement.
ESALA Course Handbook: Architectural Placement: Working Learning (ARCH10004)
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