EBSC5280 Professional Placement: TERM 2 Unit Handbook 2024-25 | UCFI

UNIT HANDBOOK INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the handbook is to give you all the information you will need to study for this unit, including your unit teachers, teaching dates/time, assessment and deadlines, learning objectives, reading lists, and your weekly class plan.

Please refer to this guide throughout the course of this unit to help answer any questions you may have.

Content

This unit is self-initiated and will involve you taking a legitimate Industry placement opportunity, regarded by you and your unit leader as an appropriate and unique professional experience.

This unit will help you to develop an appreciation of your chosen creative industry sector. By observing company functions, strategies and operations, you will gain valuable insight into how a company works. You will also gain understanding of how different departments inter-relate and collaborate. You will experience an overview of the industry through a study of your own journey in the creative industries environment.
Syllabus

•  Industry Placement
• Placement report and review
• Critical evaluation
• Self-reflection

UNIT LEARNING OBJECTIVES

LO1 Apply and comprehend a business plan/proposal underlying the concepts or principles outside the context in which they were first studied, through research and critical evaluation of the company practices and markets.

LO2  Effectively communicate and evidence the accomplishment of your professional industry journey. 

LO3   Demonstrate and document critical evaluation and self-reflection.

Summative Assessment 

PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

Individual Portfolio [100% of Unit Grade]
(For all students, including those undertaking an external placement or an internal live brief)

This assessment requires you to document and critically reflect on your professional placement experience, whether externally within an organisation or through an internal live brief. You will demonstrate your professional development, industry awareness, and critical evaluation skills by completing:

1.  Evidence of your placement search process (Portfolio Part A – no word limit)
2. A structured weekly reflective journal (Portfolio Part B – 1,500 words)
3.  Insight and development proposal (Portfolio Part C – 1,000 words)
4. Supporting evidence of your engagement (Portfolio Part D – no word limit)

This ensures that all students engage with real-world industry practices and develop skills essential for their future careers.

• Submission Format: One PDF submitted via Turnitin, must be below 100MB
• Word Count: 2,500 words (+/-10%)
• Academic Integrity: Your work must be original. Any use of AI or external tools must be declared and used ethically.
• Submission Deadline: By 4PM, Friday 9th May 2025

Portfolio Part A:

Evidence of professional placement search – no word limit

This section will provide documented evidence of your proactive approach to securing a professional placement. It will demonstrate your ability to research, apply, and engage with industry professionals, reflecting the real-world process of job-seeking in your chosen field. You must Include:

Placement Research Log – A record of at least 10 placement opportunities you considered, including:

• Company name
• Position applied for / opportunity explored
• Date of application or contact
• Outcome (e.g., response received, interview attended, offer made)

Evidence of placement applications you made – Screenshots or copies of:

• Emails to potential employers (covering speculative applications or formal applications)
• CVs, cover letters, or LinkedIn messages sent
• Responses received from companies (where applicable)

Portfolio Part B:

Structured weekly reflective journal – approx. 1,500 words

You will produce five (5) weekly journal entries using Rolfe et al.’s (2001) Reflective Model:

1. What? Describe the key experience that week—tasks completed; challenges faced.
2. So what? Analyse the significance of this experience—skills gained, feedback received, industry insights.
3. What now? Explain how this learning will shape your future actions and professional growth.
   Weekly Journal Template

(Approx. 300 words per weekly entry)

• Week X (Dates) – Summary of key tasks and activities
• What? – Key experiences, challenges, responsibilities undertaken
• So what? – Key learning points, reflection on feedback, insights into professional practice
•  What now? – How will you apply this learning in your career? What skills do you need to develop further?
•  Include relevant images/screenshots of work completed, meetings attended, or relevant research.
• Ensure each entry is well-structured and critically reflective.
• Make sure you use UCA Harvard Referencing – the Guide is on the UCA website at the following link: https://mylibrary.uca.ac.uk/referencing

NB: How this task applies to different placement types:

1. If you are in an external placement, reflect on your direct industry experience.
2. If you are working on an internal live brief, reflect on your engagement with the project, team collaboration, and applied research.

Portfolio Part C:

Insight & development proposal – approx. 1,000 words
This section critically evaluates your professional experience and provides recommendations for development, tailored to your placement type:

If you are in an external placement:
You will conduct a SWOT analysis of your placement company, followed by industry insights and recommendations:

•  Introduction to the organisation (Industry sector, size, business model, key competitors)
•  SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats – supported by industry sources)
• Industry insights & future trends (What challenges or opportunities does the organisation face? How do external factors impact them?)
• Recommendations (Based on your research and experience, propose strategies for business improvement or development)
• Use at least three referenced sources (e.g., industry reports, academic research, case studies, market trends)

Portfolio Part D:

Supporting evidence – no word limit
To verify and strengthen your portfolio, submit:

• Timesheets – Signed by your placement manager (or digitally verified). If working on an internal live brief, include documentation of project engagement.
• LinkedIn recommendation or alternative feedback – Optional but encouraged—if applicable, a statement from a mentor or supervisor acknowledging your contributions.
•  Any additional relevant evidence e.g., screenshots of completed tasks, project outputs, reports produced.