Transcript slides
ASSESSMENT OF PROFESSIONAL
SKILL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN AN
ENGINEERING CURRICULUM:
A way towards a qualification in
‘Industrial studies’
Jarka Glassey (CEAM), Katie Wray (SAgE), Jess Jung (Careers)
Heather Cambell, Dovile Gruzdyte, Rojiar Ferschy – formal
placements students
+ 4 volunteer students
Motivation
Importance of experiential learning in developing
important employability skills
A number of programmes incorporating placement
already exist, based on diverse assessment
requirements
A large number of students taking a ‘voluntary year
out’ for placement – no formal recognition of the
placement
Competitors offering Certificate or Diploma in
Industrial studies qualifications
Process
Researched other Chemical Engineering
Departments across the UK and Ireland and the
types of placements offered. This included
contacting schools and academics and online
research.
Placement students and volunteers created online
surveys
Students -25 questions
Academics - 15 questions
Process
Student Survey
Catered for all students- those with/without placement experience
Determined :
• motivation for/against a placement
• the most important factors considered when applying for a placement
• How helpful the university was in finding/organising a placement
• Skills developed on placement and if these were assessed
• Preferred method of assessment whilst on placement
The student surveys were distributed to the President of the Chemical
Engineering Society at over 15 universities
Process
Academic Survey
Catered for all academics- universities offering/ not offering assessed
placement years
The chosen academic was the careers liaison officer/ placement coordinator
for the school where possible
Determined:
• Placements offered
• % of students opting for placements
• Help provided by school in finding a placement
• Skills developed on placement and if/how these were assessed
• Opinion on best method of assessment
Interviews
Findings
Students
24 Replies
21 had placement experience – 16 organised by their School
20 placements duration ≥ 1 year
15 placements were assessed
Skills developed- leadership skills, problem solving, communication ,
professionalism
The majority would be more likely to undertake a placement if it was assessed
or give some formal recognition
Suggested forms of assessment :
Written/oral report on projects they were involved in
A work journal updated weekly
Feedback from employers
Findings
Academics
6 replies
All academics come from schools offering placements as part of the course
50% organised the placements
% of students undertaking placements
0-15% in stage 2
10%-40% in stage 3
Students were assessed during and after the placement
Presentations
Written Reports
Skills Acquired Reports
Log Books
100% believe academics and employers should both be involved in assessing
students
Importance of support from careers service
Concluding remarks
Both students and academics believe placements are
extremely important for personal and professional
development
Assessment would be welcome if time appropriate
Most popular suggestions for assessment of skills
developed:
1.
Log Book – updated weekly / monthly
2.
Presentation of skills gained – 1 per semester
3.
Written Report/Dissertation to be worked on throughout the year
Thanks to all students and
colleagues involved in the project
Thank you for your attention