All students on the programme will take the 40-credit point Module at Level 10 (4th year) entitled Project and Professional Skills. Students will have the opportunity to carry out their projects outside of the university at, for example, local relevant companies or hospitals.This will provide the opportunity for credit-bearing work-related learning.
Students on the BSc (Hons) (Sandwich) Physics with Nuclear Technology will have the opportunity for a one-year placement in industry or a research institution in the UK or abroad. The Physics staff will be happy to initiate contacts with known providers of sandwich placements. Details will depend on the chosen project.
The sandwich placement is primarily designed for students to gain work experience. The experience may also contribute towards meeting the membership requirements of a professional body. Students carrying out a sandwich placement are required to continue their PDP programme and to maintain a portfolio from which they will be required to produce a comprehensive “learning log report” charting their development during placement. This is assessed on a pass/fail basis only with the majority of ongoing assessment being formative in nature. The student will be required, through reflection,
to explore their own role within their placement organisation and to take account of the roles and responsibilities of themselves and others in the context of the structure in which they operate. On successful completion of the placement, the student will be more employable as a result of having developed their ability to integrate essential generic skills and attributes with subject-related knowledge.
The placement will be governed by a tripartite learning agreement between the student, placement provider and the university. The agreement will define the learning outcomes and confirm elements of support and commitment from all parties. The agreement will be signed by each party prior to the start of the placement and it is expected that Schools will continue to use their existing placement systems for the management of such agreements.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the placement the student will be able to:
• L1 Critically relate elements of the placement work experience to the main themes and issues of academic student of physics relevant within the workplace and be confident in articulating this to others.
• L2 Analyse organisational cultures and structures with particular relevance to the current workplace and exhibit the ability to critically evaluate employee roles in an applied setting.
• L3 Recognise, critically assess and be able to clearly demonstrate to others the personal development and application of essential employability skills and attributes within a real work situation.
Assessment
Assessment will be based on pass/fail only and all assessment elements must be passed for progression as part of the Sandwich programme. Assignments will be open to external examiners in accordance with university regulations.
In order to submit for assessment students need to:
• Attend the workplace(s) in which they have been placed for a minimum total of 36 weeks (180 full working days) and have their employer(s) confirm their attendance.
• Receive a satisfactory assessment of work performance from their workplace supervisor(s) and academic tutor (based on two interviews and other evidence as required).
• Maintain a PDP portfolio and use this to submit a satisfactory “learning log report” reflecting on the placement experience (minimum 2,000 words).
• Successfully complete a subject related project (minimum 3,000 words or equivalent).
Where a student’s sandwich placement is made up of two separate planned periods of work experience (i.e. a “Thin Sandwich”), the PDP portfolio report and subject related report will normally be submitted and assessed during the second period of placement.
Assessment of the first period of placement will relate to satisfactory performance in the workplace.
Extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration in accordance with University regulations.
Reassessment
• Minimum period in work: It is essential that the student completes at least 36 weeks (180 working days) in employment. If the student does not meet this minimum requirement then they cannot pass the placement.
• Catch up: Where through no fault of their own a student has been unable to attain at least 36 weeks placement experience they will be entitled to secure the additional work experience required through a suitable additional period of work experience provided this is agreed in advance with the Programme Team.
• Retake of Placement: a repeat or alternative placement will only be considered on health or other mitigating grounds or where the placement is terminated due to no fault of the student. In such cases the student will receive counselling from the placement tutor on how best to proceed.
• Satisfactory Performance: The first interview will be used to assess the student’s progress. If it is considered that the student’s performance is less than expected at that stage, the student will be advised of this and of the elements of their performance that need to improve. If the student’s performance is assessed as unsatisfactory at the second interview then the student will be given further advice on the steps they need to take to achieve a satisfactory assessment and will be reassessed through a third interview at the end of their placement period. Interviews will normally be conducted within the workplace unless a suitable alternative method is agreed by all parties.
• Reflective Report from PDP: If the reflective report is unsatisfactory, the student will be given the opportunity to resubmit in line with University regulations.
• Subject related report: If the subject related report is unsatisfactory the student will be given the opportunity to resubmit in line with University regulations.
Progression/Award
• Placement students will be assigned to a specific Subject and Programme Panel.
• The relevant Programme Panel will consider the performance of each sandwich placement student enrolled on that Programme and decide eligibility for reassessment, progression and awards in accordance with University Regulations, in particular Regulation 7.10.4
• A student who fails the sandwich placement after reassessment will no longer be eligible for a “with sandwich” award. They will either progress to level 9 or 10 (as appropriate) of a non-sandwich equivalent programme or exit with an equivalent non-sandwich award.
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