University of the West of England
MODULE SPECIFICATION
(Revised October 2005)
Code: UAMA96-40-3 Title: Employment Focus Version: 2
Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 40 ECTS credit rating: 20
Module type: Professional Practice
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 Professional Stage Management
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
• Participate in and contribute to the working of a production department in a professional arts environment;
• Analyse the range of employment opportunities available within the Arts and Entertainment industry;
• Evaluate one’s own skills in relation to the employment opportunities identified;
Intellectual Skills
• Make informed decisions in seeking work which relates to their current training;
• Relate the learning on their BA Hons course to a professional context;
• Research areas of potential employment;
Subject / Practical Skills
• Produce relevant self-presentation materials to potential employers, eg. CV, portfolio.
• Match their employable skills to a professional job description
• Demonstrate confidence and familiarity with the interview process;
Transferable Skills
• Communicate effectively with potential employers
• Articulate and present their range of employable skills to potential employers
• Assimilate new work place environments
• Demonstrate a high standard of self-organisation
• Work to strict deadlines
Syllabus outline:
The module has two parts: a period of work placement with a professional theatre, television or radio company; and learning self-promotion skills for finding employment (contracts, CVs, interviews etc).
Placement: In developing students’ ability to successfully deal with the world of work, in particular the freelance world of the Arts and Entertainment Industry, the ability to be at ease in the workplace and contribute immediately to a production is required.
The learning at the Theatre School is carried out in a work-based learning environment – reproducing professional practice; adapting the skills learned to a different working environment provides both confidence and employment contacts – testing their skills and knowledge ‘for real’. Up to five weeks is set aside within the training to be on placement: assessment of this element is through a student’s self-evaluative report.
Self-Presentation: Over the final year of training, a range of ‘employability’ skills are built up – CV writing, creating a portfolio (as relevant), interview technique, practise interviews, lectures from trade associations, tax accountant and Inland Revenue specialists.
Assessment is through the quality and effective use of self-promotional materials, and feedback from interviewers.
Teaching and learning methods:
Self-promotion: classes in understanding employment contracts, membership of trade and professional associations, aspects of self-employment, CV writing etc. A series of interviews with potential employers are held during the last term - including feedback from the interview.
Work placement: to consolidate training at the School, students are placed for (normally up to) five weeks. The host employer organisation is selected by negotiation between the student and the course tutors with due regard to the student profile, other commitments on the course and their chosen area of specialism.
Monitoring of the placement is undertaken by the School’s staff as appropriate. The host organisation will provide a mentor for the student who will also act as a contact for the School. A feedback report of the student’s performance while on placement is 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. It follows that students are usually involved in the preparation and rehearsal stages of a production or recording.
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, and Television/Film Production Companies
Additionally specialist information relating employment (notes / handouts from visiting tutors on tax, self-employment etc) is provided.
Assessment
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment Opportunity
Description ` Element weighting
1. Work On Placement/ Self-Promotion Skills. 100%
Assessed and evidenced through:
Self-evaluative / reflective report on the period of placement; expected to be 1000-1500 words, to include
feedback from host organisation. Students will be assessed on their self-promotional material (CV etc), approach to interview situation and feedback from interviews.
Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is required)
Description ` Element weighting
2. Work On Placement/ Self-Promotion Skills. 100%
Assessed and evidenced through:
Self-evaluative / reflective report on the period of placement; expected to be 1000-1500 words, to include
feedback from host organisation. Students will be assessed on their self-promotional material (CV etc), approach to interview situation and feedback from interviews.
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes is required.
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)