Dr Ron Cole

School of Sports Studies

Use of the Placement Management System in the School of Sports Studies OPUS

B.Sc (Hons) Sports Studies B.Sc(Hons) Sport & Exercise Science    Teaching Coaching Sports Development

Employers

       Commercial Organisations Leisure Centres City & Borough Councils Government Departments Sports Governing Bodies Universities Primary, Secondary Schools, F.E Colleges

Placement Preparation

 Student responsibilities.

   Articulate Strengths.

Identify Goals.

Prepare CV.

Application Procedure

 Pre – 2006    Specific applications-usually provided as paper copies via the Placement Tutor. Posted or e-mailed CVs & letters of application.

Application forms directly from the organisation.

Application Procedure

 2006     Posted or e-mailed CVs & letters of application.

Specific applications-provided electronically via the PMS but returned by post or e-mail.

Application forms directly from the organisation. Full us of the facilities provided by OPUS.

The introduction of the PMS for Employer use has been slow  Many of the organisations have had a system in place for a number of years. It works and they do not wish to change.

Goal for 2007

  Greater uptake of employer use of OPUS.

Introduction of the placement assessment using OPUS.

Use of OPUS with Sports Students  Advantages:     Direct input of information by employers.

Direct application to employers.

Provision of an easily accessible database of placement opportunities.

Ability to have an up to date CV available at all times.

Some difficulties

  Students were not familiar with the PDS and so were not able to use the PMS efficiently.

Students were not prepared to use some of the resources (wanted to do things there own way).

Lessons Learnt on the Introduction of OPUS   You cannot assume that the students are familiar with the PDS.

As there is no “practise” login available to staff, you can only go so far in describing OPUS before the students must read the instructions and work through the system for themselves.

Lessons Learnt on the Introduction of OPUS  School Placements do not fit well with the use of OPUS as they are often one off’s organised to suit a specific student.

Lessons Learnt on the Introduction of OPUS  Employers like systems that work and will not readily change.

Lessons Learnt on the Introduction of OPUS The database of opportunities was the most useful in this first year

The introduction of the Placement Management System has been useful.

There is more work to be done to realise it’s full potential.