In 2016 the Politics Department at Newcastle University developed a work placement module in response to student demand for work experience opportunities. It proved very successful with positive feedback from both host organisations and students. Interest has grown and planning is now underway for the 2017/18 academic year. We are currently looking for organisations who may wish to take part.
This module is aimed at second year undergraduate students to give them an insight into the world of work, contribute to their academic studies, and provide a worthwhile contribution for the organisation they are placed with. The ethos is very much that both the student and the placement provider gain from this experience. The work the students carry out is unpaid, but they receive academic credit that contributes towards their degree, as well as the benefits of the work experience itself.
These placements should have a political aspect, but in the broadest sense, so they are not restricted to political organisations or to work purely in the political sphere.
The 2016 placements included:
· West End Refugee Services – an audit of service users’ skills and interests
· Changing Lives – research into digital inclusion
· Youth Focus North East – research into political education for young people
· West End Foodbank – hands on work with clients and an assignment on food poverty
Experience has taught us that the module works best if a specific piece of work is offered, with the host organisations gaining genuinely useful outcomes and the students learning a range of skills. Some of the students worked in groups, some were single placements, depending on what best suited the host organisation.
Students start the placements in October 2017 and should finish them by mid-March 2018, with a deadline for assessment in May. They will need to complete a minimum of 70 hours of direct engagement with the organisation- often this will work as a day a week, but this is flexible, and can be tailored to suit different host organisations. The nature of the work can also be negotiated and we can provide a matching process based on the kind of volunteer required.
Students will have ongoing contact with the module leader to monitor and discuss progress, and the placement coordinator will remain in touch with the placement provider throughout.
There is also an expectation that a nominated person within the host organisation provides supervision and is a point of contact throughout the placement. This would include drawing up a learning agreement and providing an assessment of the student’s work performance at the end of the placement (25% of the overall mark). These are not onerous or lengthy, and templates are provided.
If you think this is something your organisation would be interested in, or if you have any questions, please get in touch - all those involved last year are keen to do it again which is a great vote of confidence.
Contacts for the module are:
David Walker – Module Leader david.walker@newcastle.ac.uk
Mary Hull – Placement Coordinator mary.hull@newcastle.ac.uk