AP2SCP-Career Planning (APD students only)

Module Provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Number of credits: 0 [0 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Module Convenor: Mr Nick Beard

Email: n.f.beard@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Aims:
This module follows on from AP1SCP and aims to provide undergraduate students in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development with the opportunity to develop:
•self-awareness in the context of career decision making,
•knowledge of the career opportunities that are available to them,
•the skills to make effective applications
•an action plan to gain the experience needed and manage the process towards applying for a specific career.
The focus changes inAP2SCP towards preparation for graduate level job applications.

Although the module itself has no credit value, the coursework that is undertaken contributes towards 25% of the module marks for specific modules at Part 2. This is clearly outlined in the relevant module descriptions and the modules are different for each BSc programme in the School. Therefore your attendance at lectures is very important, as is submission of your coursework.

Assessable learning outcomes:
Over the course of the two modules (AP1SCP and AP2SCP) students will be able to:
- Identify, assess and articulate their skills, interests, values and personality traits in the context of career decision making.
- Develop careers information retrieval, research and decision making skills, using a variety of sources
- Recognise and be able to write an effective application (a CV, covering letter and standard application forms) informed by their understanding of the recruitment and selection processes.

Additional outcomes:
Students will develop:
- business awareness through understanding broad trends in the graduate labour market and the personal attributes and achievements that employers require;
- oral communication and team working skills through practical group exercises;
- IT and information handling skills by using the Internet;
- Personal Development Planning (PDP) abilities through the reflective exercises and forward-looking nature of career planning.

Mature students are encouraged to take both AP1SCP and AP2SCP along with other undergraduates. However, those mature students who are not planning to seek paid work after graduating, or who are going to return to a career in which they are already established, may instead choose an assessment path that address career planning in its widest sense, as an alternative to doing the standard assignments.

Outline content:
1. Finding the Fit (Autumn, Part 2)
- Detailed look at the wide range of career opportunities available to graduates.
- The first destinations of graduates nationally and Reading graduates in particular, including postgraduate options.
- Introduction to the use of careers information sources (e.g. web sites).
- Demonstration of related online learning material.
- Online learning material (advice, information and interactive exercises).
- Learn from experience, advice and interaction with former students.

2. How to make effective applications for graduate level jobs (Autumn, Part 2)
- Overview of recruitment and selection procedures.
- Strategies for identifying employer requirements and demonstrating suitability for the post applied for.
- Practical exercises and advice on recruitment and selection methods (e.g. CVs, applications forms, job interviews, assessment centres) most relevant to students' likely career plans.< br /> - Online learning material (advice, information and interactive exercises).
- Writing a graduate level CV and covering letter which will get you an interview.
- How to answer free-form questions on Application Forms.
- Interviews and how to prepare for an interview.
- Practical interviews - rôle play.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Interactive lectures and group work are complemented by self-directed learning using online resources. Teaching is carried out by staff from the Careers Centre, SAPD and, importantly, by graduates and contacts from industry relevant to your degree programme. You are also encouraged to discuss career plans with your personal tutor.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	4
Guided independent study:	16
Total hours by term	20
Total hours for module

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Portfolio	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
Coursework: Career Planning Portfolio 2 (Autumn, Part 2)
The second career planning portfolio comprises three formative tasks and three summative tasks:
1. key learning points from each of the taught sessions (formative)
2. a Skills Profile of a graduate level job appropriate to your degree programme (tabulated on one page of A4) including a column giving your evaluation of your suitability and also the advertisement (formative),
3. a completed current Curriculum Vitae targeted at the job for which you have prepared the skills profile and your self-evaluation of the CV (summative 50% of marks),
4. a covering letter to accompany the CV for the graduate level job (summative, 25% of total marks),
5. answers to two application form questions (summative, 25% of marks),
6. your revised action plan for career management from spring Part 2 through to achieving the graduate level job targeted in your CV (formative),
In addition you must complete an end of module survey.

Note 1. Although formative assignments do not attract marks, failure to submit them will result in a penalty for each missing assignment.
Note 2. AP2SCP contributes 2.5 credits to a specific Part 2 module. The actual module to which it contributes varies with degree programme and is indicated in your Programme Specification.
Note 3. For students entering directly into Part 2 of their degree programme, the five credits for this module are based on Career Planning Portfolio 2 only.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:
Career Planning Portfolios 1 and 2 for AP1SCP and AP2SCP to be revised and resubmitted.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 4 April 2020