IMPORTANCE OF PLACEMENTS

The Importance of placements
The School of Service Management believes that taking a Placement is one of the most important decisions you can make in your university career. Not only will you benefit from building personal confidence during your placement year but you will also establish contacts in your chosen sector which may prove invaluable for graduate opportunity.
The Placement team
Because we place such emphasis on the importance of taking a placement we have invested heavily in our placement provision. Our current placement team consists of a placement co-ordinator and four academic placement tutors, each with specialist knowledge relevant to the degree courses you under their supervision are studying. These tutors advise and support you throughout your preparation for placement, continuing their individual support through email and telephone contact, as well as personal visits throughout the duration of the placement, and aim to visit every student at least once, with many receiving a second visit.
Support before the placement
During the preparation for your placement year, you are supported by a series of academic and skills-based workshops specifically designed to prepare you for the world of work both in the UK and overseas. The placement co-ordinator’s role during this time is to offer advice and assistance to you during your search for suitable placements, arranging for employers to recruit students, on campus, throughout the year. The placement co-ordinator also offers assistance on a range of subjects including job applications, working visas, insurance, travel arrangements and so on.
Support after the placement
On return to your final year of university, you attend a series of reflective practice workshops which support you through the process of reflecting on the learning which has taken place during the Placement. Throughout this time, the academic placement tutors continue to guide and supervise you towards successful completion of your final year placement project. This project forms a unique opportunity for you to relate the Honours element of your degree to your placement experience, thus enabling you to demonstrate to future employers the true extent of your knowledge and appreciation of your chosen sector.
In line with all UK universities, students taking a Placement with the support of the School of Service Management pay a reduced tuition fee for Placement year.