{"id":330,"date":"2023-07-20T10:13:11","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T09:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/?page_id=330"},"modified":"2024-06-21T13:21:34","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T12:21:34","slug":"work-experience-placements-working-with-employers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/theme-overview\/employability\/work-experience-placements-working-with-employers\/","title":{"rendered":"Work Experience, Placements & Working with Employers"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Employability Theme Page\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Getting Started with Work Placements<\/h3>\n

What is a Work Placement?<\/h2>\n

The University regards the key features of a work placement as being:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. An activity supported by the University (i.e. the placement is only available to the student by virtue of being a student at Cardiff)<\/li>\n
  2. An experience which includes an element of externality (i.e. the student is required to engage with an organisation external to the University or undertakes an activity external to their programme of study)<\/li>\n
  3. An activity that involves a student commitment of at least 35 hours<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    Why Does Work-Based Learning Matter?<\/h2>\n

    The University recognises that experience acquired via work-based learning supports students to transition into the world of work, and is committed to at least 50% of undergraduate students undertaking a work placement during the course of their studies. Placements and wider work-based learning can be undertaken on both a curricular and extracurricular basis. <\/p>\n

    In fact, in the Education and Students Sub-Strategy 2018-2023 (Recast during Covid-19), the University commits to: <\/p>\n

    Sourc[ing] a wide range of domestic and international placement opportunities in all sectors, available in traditional, virtual, and blended formats. This will include hosting student and graduate placements within the University, expanding our alumni mentoring and placement opportunities, and providing placement opportunities with Welsh SMEs to support the local economy and ensure the retention of graduate skills in Wales. <\/em><\/p>\n

    Student Futures staff can work with Schools to discuss embedding placement into the curriculum and there is a range of paperwork and support available for the process of embedding available on the Intranet and created by Registry.<\/p>\n

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    Creating Work Placements for My Students<\/h2>\n

    Student Futures staff can collaborate with you to envision what will make the best placement for your programme.\u202f We can liaise with employers to embed employer activity within the curriculum, enhancing both learning and teaching, and student employability.\u202f Employer engagement activity is hugely diverse, ranging from work-based learning, internships and placements, to employers providing case studies, guest speakers, mentors, knowledge exchange, consultancy projects and career insights.\u202f Employers can provide real world examples, research projects and opportunities for authentic assessment within the curriculum, enabling students to better understand how their subject and its methods are applied in practice.\u202f\u00a0 <\/p>\n

    Employers and alumni can provide invaluable insights into the range of career pathways available to students, the knowledge and skills students will need when they transition into the world of work, and some of the key trends and challenges facing specific industries.\u202f\u00a0 <\/p>\n

    Increasingly, employers are aiming to increase the diversity in their workforce and looking for opportunities to work with universities in a more bespoke way.\u202f Student Futures have an extensive network of employers and alumni, and a dedicated engagement team with a wealth of expertise to support schools to embed employer activity within the curriculum.\u202f\u202f\u00a0 <\/p>\n

    In addition to Insights and short internships, which can be completed during each semester, students can access career mentoring with an employer or alumnus and undertake a paid placement on a part-time or full-time basis.\u202f More tailored and flexible work experience is available for under-represented groups of students who may face barriers, or lack employability skills or networks.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n

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    \n Globe<\/title><\/path><\/svg> <\/div>\n \n
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    Case Study: Inclusive Work Experience<\/h3>

    I have supported a student with neurodiversity via Career Confident (formally GOWales scheme).\u00a0 A generic email was sent out by Careers Confident asking staff to offer work experience.\u00a0 I met with the programme coordinator to see what was required and what I could offer.\u00a0 We worked sensitively with the student, who then agreed to meet me to see if they could work with me.\u00a0 We discussed options until we had something that they were happy to participate in.\u00a0 Most of my team are part time and don\u2019t work on a Friday so the student chose this day to come in, as the working environment was quieter.\u00a0 I booked one of the smaller labs so the student could work alone, quietly and without lights.\u00a0 I made sure I was available, and always provided support when they asked. Dr Sarah Youde<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n\n \n

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    \n Chevron right<\/title>\n <\/path>\n<\/svg> Study Abroad Guidance<\/h2>

    Access the Study Abroad Intranet pages<\/a>, to find the following policy documents and paperwork:<\/p>\n