As explained in a workshop provided by the Career Service, employers value a variety of activities from graduates, apart from the basic degree qualifications, placement experiences are considered important!

Compulsory Placement Experience Required

As a current Y2 BSc Education student, our compulsory module entitled “Planning for a Research Project & Employment”, aims to prepare students with academic research proposal skills for dissertations later in the final year. Additionally, this module emphasizes on the real application by completing at least 40 hours of placement with a host organization in any educational setting. Finally, one of the course assessments combines these two emphases, requiring students to evaluate the specific contributions and limitations of their research proposal to the chosen placement.

This curriculum design provides students with the opportunity not only to select their area of interest along with a basic understanding of academic writing but also the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice to gain placement experience. Think about the time you would save by avoiding spending extra time on holidays to do internships! What’s more, since doing the placement is part of the curriculum, tutors will be available to assist throughout, for example, with information on finding relevant organizations, developing CVs, preparing for interviews, completing effective reflections following the placement, and so on.

Ways to Find Related Host Organizations – A Chinese Language School

For those who are also BSc Education students, you can get many resources through our university in collaboration with several organizations. For example, a Language School called Huaxia Chinese School holds Chinese language classes every Sunday. All classrooms are located in the campus Mansfield Cooper Building and Samuel Alexandra Building.

Based on my own experience last year, there are few requirements for becoming a volunteer, as long as you are willing to donate your time on weekends, you are welcome to join! Though it’s unpaid, your volunteer hours can be counted toward the 40 hours. Alternatively, if you wish to challenge yourself further, you may apply for a position as a teaching assistant at the end of the school year. After passing the interview and completing training sessions, you are paid to assist a teacher with a specific class. However, I would say it is useful to volunteer for a while before applying for a teaching assistant, as they give priority to internal staff for interviews and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Besides, you can even be a teacher if you are able and passionate about teaching languages! More information can be found here: https://huaxiaschool.org.uk/

Ways to Find Related Host Organizations – A Local Mentoring Charity Focus on Character and Confidence in Education

Although the above is an excellent choice, I wanted to immerse myself more in the local culture, so I opted to select ReachOut as my host organization. The application process can be found clearly through all times updated emails.

ReachOut Application Process

I would like to give several tips. 

1. Start the application as soon as possible since there is another DBS check that needs to be applied for (usually takes 2-3 weeks). 
2. Find 2 referees to give detailed references. It would be easy if you still keep in touch with your previous employers or teachers apart from the paired academic advisor. 
3. For ID-check, you need to provide three documents for different purposes (one for your photo, one for your birthdate, and one for your current address). 
4. After getting signed up for a project, don’t forget to bring your ID and DBS to school for the first time! 
5. If you choose this organization as your 40-hour placement and one project, then you must come for every session to successfully get the certificate. Otherwise, it would be safer to choose two projects to make any necessary and unavoidable absences during busy times.

More information can be found here.

My Reflections through this Placement Experience 

In practice, it is necessary to learn to be flexible since we deal with individuals with their thoughts rather than cold words from class or training. Additionally, practice is also a good chance to further enhance or reconsider your potential career choices! 

Written by Keyi, current BSc Education at The University of Manchester

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