PLACEMENT - 2019/0
Module code: MANM424
Module Overview
The Placement module is designed to enable students to develop an advanced ability to select, define, research, analyse, develop solutions and reach evidence-based conclusions to an issue relevant to their programme of study through applied research in a real business context.
The module is available as an alternative to the Dissertation module offered on the MSc programme that a student is enrolled in. It is conceived as the final project, integrating the learning from the entire programme and offering an opportunity to apply it in a relevant organsiational context under the supervision of an both an academic and a professional supervisor.
The module supports two simultaneous and interrelated learning trajectories - a professional development project and an applied research project. Both these trajectories unfold over a period of work experience in an area relevant to the programme of study, i.e. a student work placement.
At the end of the Placement module, students will have developed advanced professional and research skills relevant to their programme of study. They will have demonstrated the ability to secure appropriate employment in an area relevant to their programme of study, gained practical work experience in a specific job role, and completed a substantial project of relevance to the placement organisation and their own academic and professional career.
Module provider
Surrey Business School
Module Leader
BRABON Benjamin (SBS)
Number of Credits: 60
ECTS Credits: 30
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Personal Tutorial Hours: 10
Independent Learning Hours: 590
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
The pre-requisites that apply to the Dissertation module offered on the MSc programme that a student is registered on also apply to the Placement module, i.e.: - for Business Analytics MSc: to have completed the Quantitative Methods Induction course; - for Human Resources Management MSc: to have completed MANM382 Methods and Analytics For HR Research;
Module content
The Placement module includes a supervised placement experience and an independent applied research project that are focused on two interrelated sets of learning outcomes: professional development and the integration of learning from the programme through applied research in the placement organisation.
Both aspects of the learning experience are supervised by an academic supervisor as well as a professional supervisor in the workplace. Under their guidance, students undertake a research projects focused on an issue identified within the placement organisation and relevant to their programme of study as well as their placement work responsibilities.
With the support of both supervisors, students define and investigate the issue to propose evidence-based solutions and recommendations to the placement organisation. They present the results of their work in a Placement Report and reflect on their professional development in a Professional Development Review document.
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Professional Development Review | 20 |
| Project (Group/Individual/Dissertation) | Placement Report | 80 |
Alternative Assessment
n/a
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:
- Evidence of ability to work as an independent, critical and competent evidence-based practitioner;
- Ability to carry out primary applied research;
- Ability to report findings of applied research in writing clearly and effectively;
- Ability critically to reflect on their professional experience and plan their professional development and career.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
10,000-word Placement Report, including a 1,500-word executive summary;
2,500-word Professional Development Review document.
Formative assessment includes a 3,000-word research project proposal and a 1,000-word Professional Development Plan.
Feedback will be provided in written and verbal format from both the academic and professional placement supervisor.
Module aims
- To enable students to develop a major piece of original independent work under the supervision of a member of faculty.
- To guide students in applying the knowledge from their MSc programme to research in a specific organizational setting.
- To provide students with experience of conceptualizing practical issues occurring in organisations in research terms, designing research studies, and conducting primary research to develop effective, evidence-based solutions and recommendations.
- To demonstrate an awareness of any ethical dilemmas that arise at the intersection of research and professional practice.
- To allow students to specialise their learning in an area that is relevant and interesting to them.
- To support students to develop and apply new skills appropriate to the professional setting in which they are working.
- To enable students to develop advanced employability skills relevant to appropriate, graduate-level job roles in areas relevant to their programme of study.
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Understand and demonstrate appropriate professional behaviour in a professional context relevant to the programme of study. | KCPT |
| 002 | Developed a practical ability to understand a new organisational context, the relevant functional area, job role and the appropriate professional contribution. | KCPT |
| 003 | Apply academic knowledge to professional practice relevant to the programme of study in a reflexive and ethically informed manner. | KCPT |
| 004 | Critically evaluate personal and professional strengths, areas requiring further improvement and developmental trajectory. | KCPT |
| 005 | Demonstrate an advanced ability to plan professional development and develop an appropriate career strategy. | KCPT |
| 006 | Understand in depth and provide insight into a relevant applied topic of academic interest. | KCPT |
| 007 | Write with clarity and precision about the research project. | KCPT |
| 008 | Critically evaluate models, theories and research in the chosen topic area. | KCPT |
| 009 | Demonstrate critical engagement with existing literature relevant to the chosen topic. | KCPT |
| 010 | Design and carry out appropriate methodology, justifying and evaluating chosen methods practically, technically, and ethically.. | KCPT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching methods are predicated on experiential learning through the placement experience itself.
The mentoring, coaching and assessment role of both the workplace supervisor and the academic supervisor are focused on ensuring that students achieve the learning outcomes for the module; these relate to (1) personal and professional development, (2) academic development of the student taking the Placement module.
The academic supervisor advises on the research project via regular supervisory sessions and facilitates critical self- reflection by offering regular mentoring sessions. If students work on placements at remote locations, both forms of support are provided via phone, email or teleconference.
The evaluation of students’ performance by their respective placement provider is another key aspect of the experiential learning process for the placement student.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MANM424
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2019/0 academic year.