Module Information

This module is designed to offer students support in developing their employability through professional practice activities. This module will operate on a student-centred basis, prioritizing and promoting personal development goals rather than generic activities. As such, the content as outlined below is deliberately broad, focusing instead on a pattern of delivery that will support and promote individualized learning and experience. As a basic template, possible routes that students might take could include (but are not limited to):

1) A work-placement [5-15 days based in a relevant industry placement]
2) An employability project – a CV ready product offering evidence of activity that boosts employability
3) A mini-production project organised and delivered by the students with support from the Arts Centre
4) Internships with local Creative Industries, for example, Poetry Wales / NWR / School of Art / Aberystwyth Arts Centre / Planet / Honno / Y Lolfa / NLW / Ceredigion Museum / Gas Gallery / Arad Goch
5) Drama / art / writing workshops for local schools or community groups organised and delivered by the students
6) Critical evaluations of final year project(s) – focusing on creative processes as well as delivering a formal review of the creative product
7) Editing a special edition of a relevant student publication such as AberInk

All activities will be assessed via a fully documented reflective portfolio that will demonstrate student projects at all stages and provide evidence of students’ engagement with a range of problem-based learning activities.

Week 1:
Lecture I - Module introduction, basic principles and administrative features of the module to be outlined. Broad discussion of the types of professional practice that can be undertaken and overview of any internship competitions/deadlines. Skills survey, the results of which will form the basis of the problem-based learning activity
Week 2:
Seminar I – problem-based learning activity: Skills Audit. In groups students will engage with a dialogue sheet derived from the skills survey carried out during the first session. This activity will be developed and extended during subsequent seminars.
Week 3:
Workshop I – identifying and refining a project, managing risk & project management
Week 4:
Seminar II - problem-based learning activity: Skills dialogue. This session will build upon the discussion initiated during the first session. Students will identify a range of research action points to be completed by the next seminar session in week 6.
Week 5:
Lecture II – the portfolio and the reflective process
Week 6:
Seminar III - problem-based learning activity: Skills development. Students will report back to their groups on their research findings and the results will be incorporated into their dialogue sheet. In their groups students will identify individual action plans.
Week 7:
Tutorial I – 30min individual tutorial on the topic of getting your project off-the-ground
Weeks 8-10:
Self-directed Study - Project Development Period supported with tutor consultation hours
Week 11:
Tutorial II – 30min individual tutorial aimed at supporting project development and providing formative feedback on portfolios
Week 12:
Seminar IV - problem-based learning activity: Skills planning – students will present their completed individual action plans to their groups. This session will provide an opportunity for peer feedback and reflection on the process.
Week 13:
Workshop II – 10 min presentations to tutors and peers summarizing projects and giving an up-to-date account of progress, reflection on problems encountered to date and risk management strategies for the remainder of the project.
Weeks 14-17:
Self-directed Study - Project Development Period supported with tutor consultation hours
Weeks 18-19:
Tutorial III – 30min individual tutorial aimed at supporting project development and providing formative feedback on portfolios
Week 20:
Lecture III – round-up, moving forward & next steps and making the most of your creative skills to enhance employability and personal development.

This module is designed to offer students support in developing their employability through professional practice activities. This module will operate on a student-centred basis, prioritizing and promoting personal development goals rather than generic activities. As such, the content as outlined below is deliberately broad, focusing instead on a pattern of delivery that will support and promote individualized learning and experience. As a basic template, possible routes that students might take could include (but are not limited to):

1) A work-placement [5-15 days based in a relevant industry placement]
2) An employability project – a CV ready product offering evidence of activity that boosts employability
3) A mini-production project organised and delivered by the students with support from the Arts Centre
4) Internships with local Creative Industries, for example, Poetry Wales / NWR / School of Art / Aberystwyth Arts Centre / Planet / Honno / Y Lolfa / NLW / Ceredigion Museum / Gas Gallery / Arad Goch
5) Drama / art / writing workshops for local schools or community groups organised and delivered by the students
6) Critical evaluations of final year project(s) – focusing on creative processes as well as delivering a formal review of the creative product
7) Editing a special edition of a relevant student publication such as AberInk

All activities will be assessed via a fully documented reflective portfolio that will demonstrate student projects at all stages and provide evidence of students’ engagement with a range of problem-based learning activities.

Week 1:
Lecture I - Module introduction, basic principles and administrative features of the module to be outlined. Broad discussion of the types of professional practice that can be undertaken and overview of any internship competitions/deadlines. Skills survey, the results of which will form the basis of the problem-based learning activity
Week 2:
Seminar I – problem-based learning activity: Skills Audit. In groups students will engage with a dialogue sheet derived from the skills survey carried out during the first session. This activity will be developed and extended during subsequent seminars.
Week 3:
Workshop I – identifying and refining a project, managing risk & project management
Week 4:
Seminar II - problem-based learning activity: Skills dialogue. This session will build upon the discussion initiated during the first session. Students will identify a range of research action points to be completed by the next seminar session in week 6.
Week 5:
Lecture II – the portfolio and the reflective process
Week 6:
Seminar III - problem-based learning activity: Skills development. Students will report back to their groups on their research findings and the results will be incorporated into their dialogue sheet. In their groups students will identify individual action plans.
Week 7:
Tutorial I – 30min individual tutorial on the topic of getting your project off-the-ground
Weeks 8-10:
Self-directed Study - Project Development Period supported with tutor consultation hours
Week 11:
Tutorial II – 30min individual tutorial aimed at supporting project development and providing formative feedback on portfolios
Week 12:
Seminar IV - problem-based learning activity: Skills planning – students will present their completed individual action plans to their groups. This session will provide an opportunity for peer feedback and reflection on the process.
Week 13:
Workshop II – 10 min presentations to tutors and peers summarizing projects and giving an up-to-date account of progress, reflection on problems encountered to date and risk management strategies for the remainder of the project.
Weeks 14-17:
Self-directed Study - Project Development Period supported with tutor consultation hours
Weeks 18-19:
Tutorial III – 30min individual tutorial aimed at supporting project development and providing formative feedback on portfolios
Week 20:
Lecture III – round-up, moving forward & next steps and making the most of your creative skills to enhance employability and personal development.