Study information

Industrial Placement - 2025 entry

MODULE TITLEIndustrial Placement CREDIT VALUE120
MODULE CODEECM3419 MODULE CONVENERProf Ronaldo Menezes (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 52 weeks (spanning all 3 terms) (See Term 1) (See Term 1)
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 14
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

This module will provide you with extensive practical work experience in a business or commercial setting that is of direct relevance to your development as an experienced computer scientist. You will apply the knowledge and skills from taught modules to a real problem in computer science at a professional level. You will be encouraged to use imagination and creativity in problem solving and to develop communication skills, planning and time management and team-working skills. Placements will involve a substantial technical role in the host organisation. Individual placements are subject to availability and approval by the module leader.

AIMS - intentions of the module

This module aims to provide students with the experience of working in industry in order for them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in an academic environment to an industrial setting.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

1. demonstrate the acquisition of new knowledge and practical skills in computer science; specific skills will depend on the particular placement. 
 

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

2. apply academic skills from your degree programme to a workplace setting;  
3. write a concise technical report

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

4. write a reflective essay
5. keep a record of contributions to a technical project
6. present technical information visually for non-experts
7. discuss the key features of a learning experience
8. appreciate the constraints imposed on a work situation
9. respond to work appraisal
10. reflect critically on your experience
11. Appreciate business pressures in a commercial setting
12. work within the hierarchy of a commercial organisation

 

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

Although the content of this module varies with the placement, its structure is fixed as follows: 

Before Commencement of the Placement: 

  • It is up to the student to choose a suitable Placement Organisation that has sufficient work to be undertaken. 
  • Assistance in making this choice may be provided by the Faculty Employability Officer and the University Career Zone. The chosen Placement Organisation and the work to be undertaken are both subject to approval by the Module Convenor, who draws up a formal agreement to be deposited with the Faculty. Usually, this agreement will be made on the basis of an exchange of letters between the Placement Organisation and the Module Convenor, which sets out aims and objectives, duties and obligations of all parties involved. Once this agreement is complete, the Module Convenor will make the student aware of the named link person in the College and the named link person in the Placement Organisation who are responsible for their pastoral/tutorial support, and of the nature of this support. Where the Placement Organisation is overseas and the language spoken is not English, the student may be required to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the language concerned in tests set by the Foreign Language Centre. Before commencement of the placement, the student will be issued with a copy of the College Placement Handbook by the Module Convenor. 

During the Placement: 

  • Progress during the placement will be monitored through discussion in placement visits. Production of one or more of these reports will coincide with a meeting at the Placement Organisation attended by the link person in the College, the link person in the Placement Organisation, and the student to discuss matters of interest and/or concern. Where the Placement Organisation is overseas, this meeting may take the form of a video conference. 

After Completion of the Placement: 

  • On return from the Placement Organisation, the student produces an essay, allowing them to reflect on their experience in the context of their programme of study, and a poster, allowing them to share their experience with those subsequently going on placement. 
LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 6 Guided Independent Study 314 Placement / Study Abroad 880
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 6 Supervisory meetings
Guided independent study 1194 Work placement and assessment preparation
     

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Not applicable      
       
       
       
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 90 Written Exams 0 Practical Exams 10
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Assessment 1 40 1000-1500 words    1-3,8, 11, 12 Written mark sheet
Assessment 2 60 1500-2000 words  1-3, 5-12  Written mark sheet
         
         
         

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-assessment
Assessment 1 Assessment 1  1-3,8, 11, 12 Ref/Def Period
Assessment 2 Assessment 2 1-3, 5-12  Ref/Def Period
       

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment. 

 

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%. 

 

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Placement dependent.

Reading list for this module:

There are currently no reading list entries found for this module.

CREDIT VALUE 120 ECTS VALUE 60
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 3 (NQF level 6) AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Thursday 19th October 2023 LAST REVISION DATE Friday 25th April 2025
KEY WORDS SEARCH Work placement; computing.

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.