University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Revised November 2002 )

Code: UAMPE7-20-2 Title: Preparing for Employment and Work Placement Version: 3

Level: 2 UWE credit rating: 20 ECTS credit rating: 10

Module type: Professional Practice

Owning Faculty: Faculty of Creative Arts/ Field: Stage Management

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

Faculty Committee Approval: Q & S Committee Date 7th October 2009 - Approved Chairs action Nov 2009

Valid from: Sept 2009 Discontinued from:

Contributes towards: FdA – Costume for Theatre, TV and Film

Pre-requisites: All Level 1 modules.

Co-requisites: All other modules at this level under this award.

Excluded combinations: Modules included under Awards in Stage Management and Design.

    Learning outcomes:

    On satisfactory completion of this module the student will be able to:

    Knowledge and Understanding

    • Participate in and contribute towards the working of a professional production department in a working environment other than the School;

    • Relate the learning on the Costume for Theatre, TV and Film Award to a professional context;

    • Understand the implications and practicalities of working freelance

    Intellectual Skills

    • Undertake potential employer research

    • Make informed decisions in seeking work, which relate to their current training;

    • Evaluate their own skills in relation to the employment opportunities identified;

    Subject / Practical Skills

    • Match their employable skills to a professional job description;

    • Establish their own professional contacts with potential employers;

    • Demonstrate confidence and familiarity with the interview process;

    • Provide a CV and Portfolio for self-promotion to potential employers.

    Transferable Skills

    • Communicate effectively with potential employers;

    • Demonstrate a good standard of self-organisation;

    • Work to deadlines.

    • Adapt to new situations

Syllabus outline:

Work Placement: to consolidate training at the School, students are placed for (up to) three weeks. The host employer organisation is selected by negotiation between the student and the course tutors with due regard to the student's profile, other commitments on the course, and their chosen area of specialism.

Monitoring of the placement is undertaken by School staff. The host organisation will provide a mentor for the student who will also act as a contact for the School. Where possible both student and host organisation will provide a report of the student’s performance while on placement. The student will not be in a position where they are used to replace professional staff.

Self-promotion: classes / lectures in understanding self-employment, managing work as a freelance, tax, membership of trade unions and professional associations, preparing a portfolio, CV writing, etc.

A series of interviews with potential employers are held during the last term and the students will be given feedback from these.

Teaching and learning methods:

Teaching of this module will be through group class work, discussions and sharing information. Students will take part in mock interviews with potential employers. Students will undertake work placements within the professional industry, which will be chosen to complement their preferred specialist skills.

Reading Strategy

Students are encouraged to become familiar with the subject area, and texts specific to the module, through reading lists and reference material provided. Lists are updated annually to maintain currency and relevance. Each department holds texts and reference material, as well as the general access provided to the Schools library and access to the Internet. The specifically vocational nature of training and study, combined with the project based nature of learning on the course, may require that students are guided to reading and research material in the first instance by the module leader.

NB: BOVTS students do not have access to UWE Libraries and UWE OnLine

Indicative sources:

The primary source for this module will be trade directories, theatre / recorded media industry individual websites and trade publications.

To include:

The Performing Arts Year Book Rheingold PUBLISHING (2009/10)

Contacts 2009 The Spotlight, London (2008)

Tavidival, M (Ed) The British Theatre Directory Richmond House Publishing Co. (2007)

The Knowledge Hollis Publishing Ltd (2009)

Websites for key employment information sources – including:

www.skillset.org

www.skillscene.com

www.thestage.co.uk

and individual websites for Professional Theatres, Television/Film Production Companies, and specialist costume departments and suppliers.

Corfield R

Preparing the Perfect Job Application Letters

ISBN: 0749450223; Hardcover; 2008-01

Corfield R

Preparing Your Own CV to Improve your chances of getting the Job you want.

ISBN: 074942852X

DeLuca MJ

24 hours to the Perfect Interview

ISBN: 0071424032; Paperback; 2004-05-21

Fry R

Your First Interview

ISBN: 0934829675

Assessment

This is a Professional Practice module with two components of assessment. Each component has only one element.

In assessing Component A there will be meetings between the student and the relevant tutor at formal assessment points over the course of the module to discuss and record the student's progress judged against the learning outcomes for this module. The result of these assessment points (of which there are normally not more than three) are cumulative in nature and give rise to a final mark/grade at the end of the module.

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Description Element weighting

1. Work on placement/ Self-promotion Skills 100%

Work during period of placement with professional organisation. Evidence from feedback from the professional organisation and student's own report. Student's self promotional material (c.v., portfolio, etc.), approach to interview situation and employer contacts.

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is required)

Description Element weighting

2. Work on placement/ Self-promotion Skills 100%

Work during period of placement with professional organisation. Evidence from feedback from the professional organisation and student's own report. Student's self promotional material (c.v., portfolio, etc.), approach to interview situation and employer contacts.

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes is required.

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

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