University of the West of England
MODULE SPECIFICATION
(Revised October 2005)
Code: UAMA3A-40-3 Title: Industry Placement Version: 2
Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 40 ECTS credit rating: 20
Module type: Project
Owning Faculty: Creative Arts / Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Field: Stage Management
Faculty Committee Approval: Q & S Committee Date: 7th October 2009
Valid from: September 2009 Discontinued from:
Contributes towards: BA Hons Costume for Theatre, Television and Film
Pre-requisites: All Level 2 modules relevant to the above award.
Co-requisites: None
Excluded combinations: None
Learning outcomes:
On satisfactory completion of this module the student will be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
i) Participate in and contribute to the working of a costume department in a professional arts environment;
ii) Analyse the range of costume-related employment opportunities available within the Arts and Entertainment industry;
iii) Evaluate one’s own skills in relation to the employment opportunities identified;
Intellectual Skills
iv) Industry research and analysis;
v) Able to utilize rapid and adaptable decision-making;
vi) Responsibility for their own learning;
Subject / Practical Skills
vii) Engage with employers and co-workers;
viii) Produce specialist articles of costume to a high standard in a professional work place,
to a given brief, on-time and to budget;
ix) Produce relevant self-presentation materials to potential employers, eg. CV, portfolio;
x) Match their employable skills to a professional job description;
Transferable Skills
xi) Communicate effectively with potential employers;
xii) Articulate and present their range of employable skills to potential employers;
xiii) Assimilate new work place environments;
xiv) Demonstrate a high standard of self-organisation;
xv) Work to strict deadlines.
Syllabus outline:
This will normally be the final module of the course, providing students with the opportunity to engage directly with specialist costume departments at a professional level. It is envisaged that placements would last for up to a whole term, with regular contact between the host organisation and the module leader.
As there are no more than four students in the final year of the BA Hons, each possibly with different areas of interest in costume, the range of placement opportunities will be a good match with the students’ known career aspirations. Placements currently take place with the major opera, theatre and specialist costume making and hiring organisations.
Students keen to find placements in TV and film may find it necessary to undertake a number of shorter placements, reflecting the nature of those industries and working patterns.
Teaching and learning methods:
The aim of this aspect of the student’s learning is to consolidate their training at BOVTS and its fit with the world of professional costume employment.
Students will have produced a portfolio and other self-promotional materials to present to potential placement organisations. They will research and select potential placement organisations in the previous term: subject to approval by the module leader of the suitability of the proposition and the availability of the placement opportunity, a schedule of the placement learning will be agreed by the parties concerned.
In developing their independent working and learning skills, students will be have the opportunity through the placement to further their craft skills and experience working life ‘at the coal face’ whilst enjoying the safety net of supervision by both the placement structure and BOVTS staff.
The host organisation will provide a mentor for the student who will also act as a contact for the School. Regular feedback reports of the student’s performance while on placement will be sought from the host organization. Students will provide a written self-evaluative report on what they have learnt from the placement and its application to their chosen area of training.
The student will not be in a position where s/he is used to replace professional staff.
Assessment of this module is through placement feedback from the host organisation and the student’s own self-evaluative report; success being measured through the match of a student’s performance to professional working standards.
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 (2008)
Contacts 2009 The Spotlight, London (2008)
Tavidival, M (Ed) The British Theatre Directory Richmond House Publishing Co. (2007)
The Knowledge Hollis Publishing Ltd (May 2006)
Websites for key employment information sources – including:
www.skillset.org
www.thestage.co.uk
and individual websites for Professional Theatres, Television/Film Production Companies, and specialist costume departments and suppliers.
Assessment
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment Opportunity
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Work On Placement. 100%
Assessed through:
Self-evaluative / reflective report on the period of placement of approximately 1500 words, to include feedback from host organisation.
Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is required)
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Work On Placement. 100%
Assessed through: Self-evaluative / reflective report on the period of placement of approximately 1500 words, to include feedback from host organisation.
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes is required.
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director) October 2005