BSEN40580 ME Professional Work Experienc

Academic Year 2024/2025

The opportunity of a professional work placement experience is offered to students for approximately a 10-week period. The aim of this module is to give students the opportunity to gain on-the-job experience in industry or business. Work placement opportunities are sourced in relevant engineering companies. Students make application for these placements and may be offered interviews by the placement providers. Students may alternatively recommend a placement provider for approval by the Programme Board. Overseas placements are also permitted. A member of the academic staff will be appointed as academic supervisor to liaise with the student during the period of their work placement. The placement provider will nominate a sponsor within the organisation to oversee the placement. A programme of work will be agreed between the academic supervisor and the sponsor, to ensure that students can meet the learning outcomes associated with this module using the opportunities that are available during the scheduled period of placement. The supervisor will maintain regular contact with the student, and the student's sponsor, throughout the work placement period. Special arrangements for supervision apply in the case of students on placement overseas. Attendance requirements are agreed in consultation with the student, supervisor and sponsor and may in certain cases exceed the minimum requirements for satisfying the module. Assessment of the module involves a diary, an oral examination, and final reports from both the student and the sponsor. The module will be assessed as Pass/Fail. Successful completion of the module will result in a module grade P which will be grade point neutral. An unsuccessful attempt at the module will be awarded an F or and NG giving a grade point of 1.0 or 0 respectively. Failure to meet the learning outcomes associated with this module represents grounds for failure. Remediation of failure will be discussed with the module co-ordinator. All aspects of the placement will be managed in accordance with the UCD policy document 'Work Placement / Practice Experience Guidelines & Good Practice', 12th April 2007, Version 1.4 or later.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students will be expected achieve outcomes under three headings:
1) General Learning:
• Understand the need for high ethical standards in the practice of engineering.
• Understand the health and safety issues and responsibilities of engineering practice
• Critically reflect on their experiences during the placement.
• Describe the business organisation and the functions and responsibilities of key elements of the organisation in which they worked.

2) Technical Learning:
• Demonstrate the ability to integrate classroom theory with workplace practice, through the application of academic learning in the workplace. This learning will be specific the discipline studied and the nature of the placement, and specifics will be agreed between the academic supervisor and the sponsor over the course of the placement.

3) Personal Learning:
• Describe the business organization and the responsibilities of key operatives in the enterprises/organizations on which they were located.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of workplace culture
• Demonstrate interpersonal and self-management transferable skills such as:
• Work independently in unfamiliar situations;
• Manage their time effectively;
• Develop their communication skills.
• Work effectively as a team member and respecting the views of others in the team;
• Accept and respond to constructive criticism;
• Account for their actions and decisions;
• Based on their contacts and experiences, be able to critically identify and develop potential sources of appropriate employment for their future career.
• Identify potential areas of interest for their ME thesis.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Placement/Work Experience

300
Total

300
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is about learning in the workplace. This can vary a lot depending on the specific placement. Consequently students should direct their own learning in conjunction with their employer supervisor. Student should keep a diary that summarizes what they are learning as they go along and also write up a report at the end. Each student will be interviewed by the module coordinator at the end of the placement. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Report(s): Employer Assessment n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

24
Report(s): Diary n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

24
Report(s): Final report n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

24
Report(s): Presentation and/or oral n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

28

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat (CFP) Within Three Semesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Student ME Internship Handbook