Dr Sue Sherman (Programme Director BSc Applied Psychology) & Dr - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Dr Sue Sherman (Programme Director BSc Applied Psychology) & Dr Nicky Edelstyn

BSc in Psychology

 3 year programme  BPS accredited  Core modules in years 2 and 3  200 students per year  Applied fields (e.g., clinical/forensic psychology) –

highly competitive

Background

 University drive to increase the ‘employability’ skills of

undergraduates

 Curriculum Annual Review Development (November

2007) - required faculties and schools to refresh UG courses in light of student demand, competitor behaviour and market trends

 Personal experience of placement student from Bath

Proposal

 Originally to develop a Diploma in Applied Psychology  Now the 4 year BSc in Applied Psychology  Introduce a placement year between levels 2 and 3.  Psychology students 2007-8 were surveyed:

 All respondents indicated they would have potentially

been interested in such an option

Placement Year

 30 week placement between yrs 2 & 3  Psychology setting

 E.g., with a clinical psychologist, in a prison, in a school

 Year 1 - must obtain a 2:1 in Psychology and pass an interview with

placement team

 Year 2 – cv-writing and interview workshops. Write to placement

• providers. Interviews.

 Year 3 – placement (supported by academic supervisor)  Year 4 – final year of degree course  Assessed by:

 Reflective diary  Supervisor report  Presentation on return to University

Teaching and Learning Issues

 Generic employability skills

 cv writing, interview skills, real working environment

 Psychology specific employability skills

 Applied Psychology setting

 Development of practice and knowledge leading to

improved final year performance

 Personal Development planning (PDP)

 cv, reflective diary

Award aims and innovation

 AIM: To set up placement year:

 Promotional materials (for prospective students and

placement providers)

 Placement student handbook  Meet with potential placement providers

 Innovation:

 Only 2 immediate competitors offer placement years  Dearing Report (1997) “every student should be given

the opportunity to undertake a placement”

Progress

 2009/10 cohort

 5 students have successfully completed 1st year with a 2:1

• r higher

 2010/11 cohort

 99 applications  15 firm offers, 13 insurance

 BPS accreditation obtained

Progress (cont’d.)

 Placements

 Several placements identified, interviewed and offered

for Sept 2011 start

 Leeds, Nottingham Trent & Bath Universities  Beth Johnson Foundation  Learning Disability Service  Derbyshire CC - Educational Psychologist

Ashley House (Care Principles)

• Low-medium secure

institution

• Autistic spectrum and

behavioural disorders

• Placement – evaluation of

provision

• Some evaluation of

patients

Hull University

 Working in ERP lab  Object and face recognition  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSoPsRPGjs4

Ongoing

 Preparing training for students

 cv and interview skills workshop

 To be rolled out across all Psychology students if successful

 Visits from placement providers  Visit from ex-student now training as forensic

psychologist

 By Easter 2011, students will be matched with

placements

 Preparing contracts

Current student

“I see an academic placement as an ideal opportunity to gain experience in a research environment and to learn from members of a team. However I do feel that while learning I can be of help and benefit to whomever I work with. I am currently on target to achieve a 1st in year one hopefully proving I would become a competent member of any team.”

Future plans

 Interview students at entry level  Ongoing development of student handbook, with

FAQs

 Database of different placement providers  By 2012 will have 4 cohorts – up to 40 students  Evaluation of placement year in Sept 2012

Thank you for listening!