Placements Employer Information Pack

Department of Politics, History & International Relations Professional Placement Scheme

Employer Information Pack www.lboro.ac.uk/phir

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The Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS)

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What we ask of the employer

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The Placement Visit & Contact Info

Sarah Lafferty Placements Officer

Dr Robert Knight Placements Director

Thank you Thank you for offering one (or more) of our students a placement in your company/ organisation for a period of professional training during their next academic year.

The professional placement you are offering our student(s) is an integral element of our courses and something we believe is of particular benefit to our students. Over many years, Loughborough University has earned a high reputation for producing graduates who are well suited to the demands of modern businesses. Our placement programme will lead to the award of the Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) for our students and aims to further equip them with the skills needed to succeed in the current, rapidly changing job market.

This information pack gives you an overview of the requirements needed for the student to qualify for the award of DPS, as well as a summary of what we ask of your company/organisation.

It also gives you details of the students’ online placement information; key information on the placement visit and contact details you may need for the Placements Office.

Each student will be visited on placement by a member of staff allocated as the student’s placement Visiting Tutor. More details about this visit can be found in this information pack.

Finally, the recruitment process for next year’s placement students will start shortly and second year students will begin looking for a placement from October. We would be grateful if you could send us the details of any placements you may be offering next year.

We hope that the year ahead goes well for you and for the student(s). Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance at any stage.

Robert and Sarah

The Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) What we require from the student Our placement programme leads to the award of the Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) on successful completion of the student placement.

To obtain the DPS on graduation, the student must satisfactorily complete: 1. A minimum of 45 weeks (excluding holidays) in a suitable and relevant placement.

2. A series of four, 250 word, reflective STAR diary entries including evidence of communications skills, problem-solving ability and success in accomplishing assignments.

3. A report of around 5000 words on a placement workrelated topic agreed in consultation with the student’s line manager and Visiting Tutor.

4. A presentation to current second year students briefly summarising their report and providing information and reflection on the work placement experience upon return to university.

5. A competent performance of duties whilst on placement; maintaining good conduct and upholding the reputation and standards of both the company and the University. This is evidenced through two employer appraisals during the placement.

Student Responsibilities • It is the overall responsibility of the student to contribute to ensuring that they receive a suitable professional experience; to maintain satisfactory communication with the University; and to ensure that the requirements for the award of DPS are met.

• Students are to complete their assessments outside of their working hours.

• Students are equipped with all relevant information that they need for successful completion of their placement year, as well as the award of the DPS. This information is held on LEARN, the School’s virtual learning environment (VLE). Please ask the student to access this information if and when you need it.

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Start of placement

What we ask of the employer 1. Prior to the placement

Nov – Jan

• A Host Declaration Form will have been sent to you by the student to be completed and returned to the Placements Officer as soon as possible. The placement cannot be approved for the purposes of DPS until we receive this.

2. At the start of the placement • Assign a supervisor to the student.

• Draw up a programme of work for the student, including suitable relevant experiences, which require a level of intellectual participation appropriate to a third year undergraduate student.

• Complete an induction and training programme with the student.

Dec – Feb

3. The Visiting Tutor • A member of staff will be assigned to the student as a Visiting Tutor.

The allocated Visiting Tutor will usually visit the student on site on one occasion, typically around December/January. More information on the visit is included later in this pack.

4. Prior to the Visiting Tutor meeting May – June

• Assist the student, where appropriate, in their selecting a suitable work-related topic for their report.

• Complete the first appraisal of the student. The appraisal documents have been sent with this information pack. If you would rather use your company’s own appraisal please do so but ensure the student has a copy for their DPS.

5. The Visiting Tutor meeting End of placement

• Please meet the student’s Visiting Tutor at a mutually convenient time and review the student’s progress. Adjust the programme of work as necessary.

6. Before the end of the placement • Complete the final appraisal form and ensure the student has a copy for their DPS. • Approve the students report by signing the cover sheet. This is to confirm that any information or data students may use within their report is permitted. The cover sheet has been sent with this information pack.

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The Placement Visit The placement visit typically takes place in the months of December and January but this can be adjusted to fit your needs.

The purpose of the visit is for the student and their Visiting Tutor to meet and discuss the progress of the placement and the requirements of the DPS, and also for the Visiting Tutor to meet the student’s line manager /supervisor to discuss the student’s progress and to address any queries you may have.

A placement visit usually lasts up to 90 minutes and typically comprises a meeting between the student and the Visiting Tutor; a meeting between the Visiting Tutor and the student’s line manager; and a meeting of all three parties. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange the visit, in a way which suits all parties involved.

The Visiting Tutor will have a checklist to work through to ensure that they have gained all the information they need from the visit.

If required, further contact or even a further visit, can be arranged on a needs basis.

Contact Information • The first point of contact for a student on placement is usually their Visiting Tutor • For all other queries please contact Sarah or Robert Placements Officer

Placements Director

Sarah Lafferty

Dr Robert Knight

T. +44 (0)1509 228329 E. S.Lafferty@lboro.ac.uk

T. +44 (0)1509 222999 E. R.G.Knight@lboro.ac.uk

@LboroSPGPlacements LboroSPGPlacements

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