Introducing Degrees with Employment Experience

There a number of real benefits in offering students in your department a placement year as part of their degree programme, these include:

• improving the employability prospects of your students upon graduation
• creating further opportunities for collaborative research activities with industry.
• unique selling point of degree programme to future students.
• an increase in students' skills and maturity leading to enhanced learning potential and a greater capacity to contribute to the life of the department.
• students remain registered students of the University of Sheffield whilst on placement (as opposed to taking a leave of absence).

Timescale

The best time to speak to your students about undertaking a work placement is towards the end of level 1 or the beginning of level 2.

Most large companies will start to advertise placement opportunities from October onwards with interviews and selection taking place in December and January. Smaller companies may have later deadlines, however it is a good idea to start talking to students about the possibility of taking a year out placement sooner rather than later to ensure that they are appropriately prepared.

Workshops

The Student Placement Officer is available to organise a number of pre placement talks and workshops for your students. The following timetable is recommended to students as part of their pre-placement preparation:

• Introduction to placements - why do a placement year? - this could take place towards the end of level 1 after the Easter vacation or at the beginning of level 2 early October.
• Applying for placements - application and interview techniques - November 2009 and February 2010.
• Pre-placement briefing (compulsory for all students undertaking a placement) - May 2010.

If you are interested in having a programme of talks delivered within your department, please discuss your requirements with Claire Brooke, Student Placement Officer. The programme of talks and workshops can be tailored to suit your students and/or delivered in conjunction with staff from your department. Please contact her on 01142 220962 or email:
placements@sheffield.ac.uk

Website

Please direct your students to the student section of this website if they would like to find out about Degrees with Employment Experience.