The Engineering Placements Toolkit is designed to support higher education institutions and employers to enhance the experience and the value of students’ placements. Aligned with the Your Placement Journey toolkit, designed for students, this toolkit aims to support the placement experience in three key stages: before, during and after placement.
Universities
Academic supervisor
- Ensure ongoing support and visits to the student at the placement site
- Be available to meet face-to-face, by email or phone, accordint to the pre-placement agreement
- Monitor student progress and attainment of learning outcomes. This is particularly relevant if the placement is credited by the university.
University facilities
- Provide pastoral care for students
- Consider implementing a peer mentor scheme, as appropriate
Employers
Placement supervisor
- Try to give your student a set of activities that are valuable to the company, fit with the curriculum and are related with the degree
- Ensure that your student is given the opportunity to present their work to a small audience from various areas of the business
- Allow the student to explore different areas of the company and engage with different projects
- Identify learning and training opportunities that are available in the company and encourage students to participate
- Treat the student as regular staff, in the context of the placement experience
Joint actions
- Provide regular and constructive feedback
- Monitor student progress and attainment of learning outcomes
- Provide time for reflection, regular and constructive feedback. Give suggestions on how to make further improvements
- Set clear milestones and reviewing points with both the student, their academic supervisor and their placement supervisor
Read more
- Before placement – Advice for universities and employers
- After placement – Advice for universities and employers
- What can you expect from your students at this stage?
Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.
