PHA-30061 - Professional Placement in Bioengineering
Coordinator: Gianpiero Di Leva Tel: +44 1782 671651
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 0
Study Hours: 1200
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

All students of the BRM programme that have successfully completed the 240 credits of the Level 4 and 5 will have the opportunity to integrate their academic work with an optional period of practical experience and employment in academic laboratory, industry or research institutes. Students will need to secure their own placements and will be guided in the task by the Programme director. The professional placements will feature ~45 weeks in a variety of research environment and some students will have the chance to work overseas during their placement year. We will expect an average of 1200 hours to be spent in the research environment by the placement student and the successful completion of this ~45-week long placements will lead to the award of a degree qualification in Bioengineering[Regenerative Medicine] with placement experience. The optional placement year is a no-credit bearing experience and the student will need to return to University and complete the normal L6 curriculum and project. The School will work alongside students during the L5 of the programme to identify suitable placement opportunities and all placements will be scrutinised in advance by the School and approved based on the appropriateness of the learning experience provided by the job provider and in conformity with the Keele University Placement Code of Practice.

Aims
The aim of the Professional Placement Year for the B[RM] undergraduate students is to gain a graduate-level work experience in an academic laboratory, industry or research institution for an extended period of time. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills and sector knowledge relevant to their programme of study as well as the professional attitude that is needed in the work environment.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Understand how B[RM]-related academic studies are reflected into the research, industrial or professional environment: 1,2,3
Apply their knowledge and practical skills for an extended period of time: 1,2,3,4
Improve competences in documenting results and appreciate their importance in a research work environment: 1,2,3,4
Expand their written and oral skills in research setting: 1,2,3,4
Appreciate the importance of working effectively, reliably, honestly, diplomatically as an individual or as part of a team: 1,2,3,4
Comprehend the concepts of occupational health, safety requirements and procedures and employee welfare: 1,2,3,4

Study hours

2 pre-placement sessions (8 hours)
4 study skills sessions during placement (4hours)
2 placement visits (4 hours)
Independent studies:
- reading and studying for daily laboratory and work tasks (192 hours);
- preparation and delivery of assessments: (100 hours);

School Rules

The placement offer will be available only to students that have: 1) completed all 240 credits of core, optional and elective modules at Level 4 and 5 with an average mark of 50% and higher in the core modules; 2) shown high attendance and engagement during the academic course.

Description of Module Assessment

1: Professional Development weighted 10%
CV writing
The student will submit a two pages professional CV tailored on the academic studies and work placement experience and featuring the skills developed during the placement year.

2: Oral Presentation weighted 20%
Presentation
A 10-minutes presentation with 5 minutes questions featuring the work experience, the placement host, and the scientific work or results obtained during the placement. Presentation will be delivered via Teams to a group of at least two academics of the B[RM] programme.

3: Report weighted 60%
Report
A systematic and well structured 3000-word written report covering the work experience and describing the host environment, duties and tasks completed during the placement year. The report will be tailored and rubrics adapted at the beginning of the academic year by the module leader based on the nature of placements secured by the students.

4: Performance weighted 10%
Placement Provider Performance Review
A performance review form assessing attendance, engagement and research skills during placement will need to be submitted by the placement provider via email to the placement module leader. It will be responsibility of the placement student to ensure that the form is received by the end of the placement experience.