SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE, FOODAND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

FOOD AND HUMAN NUTRITIONPLACEMENT YEAR

DEGREE PROGRAMME HANDBOOK2007-2008 SESSION

CONTENTS

Page

Section 1 The Degree Programme

1.1 Aims of the Degree Programme 11.2 Specific Objectives of the Degree Programme 11.3 Outcomes 21.4 Modular Structure of the Degree Programme 3

Section 2 Placement Information

2.1 Introduction 8 2.2 Assessment 82.3 Roles and Responsibilities 92.4 Contact Addresses 112.5 Placement Students 2006-2007 132.6 Using Blackboard on Placement 14

Section 3

Form 1 Copy of Placement Information FormForm 2 Copy of First Report FormForm 3 Copy of Bimonthly Report FormForm 4 Copy of Placement Supervisor Report Form

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SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL DEVELOPMENTFOOD AND HUMAN NUTRITION

DEGREE PROGRAMME HANDBOOK

PLACEMENT YEAR, 2007-2008

SECTION 1

The Degree Programme

1.1 Aims of the Degree Programme

(i) The overall aim is to facilitate the general higher education and intellectual development, within the context of the science of food and human nutrition, of well motivated students recruited from diverse geographical and academic backgrounds. This degree programme teaches students how to acquire and utilise information, to deploy logic and received theory in the analysis of problems and issues, to synthesise pragmatic resolutions where a practical course of action is demanded and to derive critical accounts of alternatives.

(ii) We aim to encourage students to develop an informed interest in food, human nutrition and health and to engender an awareness of (i) the impact of food production and processing on the environment and (ii) the central importance of food-related activities on society.

(iii) Graduates from the Food and Human Nutrition degree programme will have a thorough understanding of the scientific basis of food and human nutrition and of relationships between food, nutrition and human health. Students will be enabled to acquire both theoretical knowledge and laboratory skills and to develop ways of handling complex and conflicting information.

(iv) This degree programme will assist students to acquire skills in communication and information technology and in management of personnel and time. It also provides a setting for personal development.

1.2 Specific Objectives of the Degree Programme

In Stage 1 students:

• are provided with a broad scientific foundation on which to build a knowledge and understanding of food and human nutrition

• are introduced to some of the issues relating to food, nutrition and human health and explore ways to analyse the underlying problems

• study primary food production and subsequent processing in modules which include farm and factory visits

• have the opportunity to broaden their interests through taking optional modules from outside the School

• develop presentational skills by participating in group discussions and writing reports of laboratory and library exercises

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In Stage 2 students are:

• presented with the core knowledge base for food and human nutrition including substantial elements of cellular and whole body physiology

• encouraged to develop a critical approach to experimental/laboratory studies and to the information derived from them

• given practical experience of experimental methods including the design, execution and evaluation of experiments

• encouraged to develop and to apply transferable skills in computer literacy, communication, numeracy, time management and teamwork.

The Placement Year is an integral and compulsory component of this degree programme which aims to:

• provide students with the experience of seeking and securing a position within an appropriate placement organisation

• encourage self appraisal and the ability to present themselves effectively to potential placement hosts

• provide a period of practical experience which will benefit the student's academic study and longer term career

• provide the opportunity to recognise and record the development of work place skills through the preparation of a portfolio of evidence suitable for the award of a Licentiateship of the City & Guilds.

• facilitate personal development in a non-university setting.

In Stage 3 students are:

• provided with in-depth experience of primary research and enabled to develop research skills

• required to produce a substantial dissertation the preparation of which teaches evaluation of evidence and effective written communication of complex ideas

• exposed to the strengths and weaknesses of evidence upon which current theories, policies and practices are based and encouraged to develop a critical approach to the analysis of dogma and the resolution of controversies.

1.3 Outcomes

Upon graduation, students from this degree programme will have:

• extensive knowledge of the scientific basis of current understanding of food and human nutrition

• developed a repertoire of skills for the acquisition, evaluation and interpretation of information

• acquired substantial practical and transferable skills in the areas of communication, information technology, computing and other laboratory procedures, and personnel and time management

• developed work place skills recognised through the award of a Licentiateship of a City & Guilds.

• developed effective strategies for handling complex and controversial information and ideas.

• viable strategies for obtaining and developing careers in a wide range of work environments.

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1.4 Modular Structure of the Degree Programme

The formal regulations for the degree programme can be found at the following web address http://www.ncl.ac.uk/calendar/regulations.html?id=168 [as at 4 th June 2007].

All modules are offered subject to the constraints of the timetable and to any restrictions on the number of students who may be taught on a particular module. Not all modules may be offered in all years and they are listed subject to availability. Some modules may specify study of another module as a pre-requisite or co-requisite. These restrictions are noted in the module outlines.

STAGE 1(a) All candidates shall take the following compulsory modules:Code Title Total

CreditsCredits SM1

Credits SM2

Credits SM3

Level Type

ACE1013 Introduction to Genetics (10) (10) (0) (0) C

ACE1018 Introduction to Nutrition (20) (10) (10) (0) C

ACE1019 Introductory Biochemistry for Biologists

(20) (10) (10) (0) C

BIO1004 Microbiology (10) (10) (0) (0) C

ACE1023 Introduction to Information Technology

(10) (10) (0) (0) C

MAS1401 Statistical Methods (10) (0) (10) (0) C

PSC1001 Physiology (20) (0) (20) (0) C

(b) All candidates shall select, subject to the approval of the Degree Programme Director and as determined by the prerequisites for each module, further optional and non-core modules with a total value of 20 credits. These modules shall normally be selected from the following list:Code Title Total

CreditsCredits SM1

Credits SM2

Credits SM3

Level Type

ACE1001 Introduction to Management II (10) (0) (10) (0) C

ACE1026 Essentials of Marketing – Part 1 (10) (10) (0) (0) C

ACE1028 Essentials of Marketing – Part 2 (10) (0) (10) (0) C

ACE1006 Agri-Business Economics (10) (10) (0) (0) C

ACE1014 British Agriculture (10) (10) (0) (0) C

ACE1020 Mans Uses of Animals (10) (0) (10) (0) C

FRE1065 French : Level A (10) (10) (0) (0) C

PSY1002 Development of Social (10) (0) (10) (0) C

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Psychology

SFY0005 Foundations of Chemistry (10) (10) (0) (0) C

SPA1065 Spanish : Level A (10) (10) (0) (0) C

BIO1001 Cell Biology (10) (10) (0) (0) C

With the approval of the Degree Programme Director, alternative Stage 1 modules may be added to the above list.

STAGE 2

(a) All Stage 2 modules are Honours modules.

(b) All candidates shall take the following compulsory modules:Code Title Total

CreditsCredits SM1

Credits SM2

Credits SM3

Level Type

BIO2012 Molecular Genetics and Mammalian Biochemistry

(10) (10) (0) (0) I

ACE2036 Nutrition Principles (10) (10) (0) (0) I Core

ACE2037 Experimental Human Nutrition (10) (0) (10) (0) I

ACE2038 Introduction to Human Nutrition (10) (10) (0) (0) I Core

ACE2039 Food Science (10) (10) (0) (0) I Core

ACE2040 Experimental Food Science (10) (0) (10) (0) I

ACE2041 Food Microbiology (10) (0) (10) (0) I

ACE2034 Introduction to Immunology (10) (0) (10) (0) I

ACE2044 Food Technology Applications (10) (0) (10) (0) I

ACE2046 Quantitative Techniques (10) (10) (0) (0) I

(c) All candidates shall select, subject to the approval of the Degree Programme Director and as determined by the prerequisites for each module, further optional modules with a total value of 20 credits, from the following:

Code Title Total Credits

Credits SM1

Credits SM2

Credits SM3

Level Type

ACE2045 Service Marketing (10) (0) (10) (0) I

ACE2007 Consumer Behaviour (10) (10) (0) (0) I

BIO2017 Microbial Diversity and its Applications

(10) (0) (10) (0) I

CHY2102 Medicinal Plants (10) (0) (10) (0) I

FRE1065 French : Level A* (20) (20) (0) (0) I

PSY2001 Development Psychology (10) (0) (10) (0) I

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SPA1065 Spanish : Level A (20) (20) (0) (0) I

* Students with an A-level in the relevant language should enrol for Level B

(d) Upon completion of Stage 2 and before entering Stage 3, all candidates shall spend the equivalent of one academic year in a placement approved by the Degree Programme Director. The placement shall involve work in food and/or human nutrition and may be within the UK or abroad. Preparation of a report on the work shall be an integral part of the placement year.

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Placement Year

Upon completion of Stage 2 and before entering Stage 3, all candidates will spend the equivalent of one academic year in a placement approved by the Degree Programme Director. The placement shall involve work in food and/or human nutrition and may be within the UK or abroad. Preparation of a portfolio for a City & Guilds Award will be an integral part of the placement year.

The placement year is a very important part of this degree programme and students are encouraged to make preparations for it from the start of Stage 2. Key requirements are a well-prepared curriculum vitae, identification of the type of work and geographical location desired of the placement, and applications to appropriate host organisations using their application procedures or by letter. Advice on the preparation for, and taking of, standard aptitude and psychometric tests used by employers will be provided. Teaching staff will assist students in identifying suitable placements and in preparing their applications but it is the students' responsibility to meet application deadlines and attend interviews if requested to do so.

Detailed written advice on what is expected from students during their placement year including the City & Guilds portfolio will be provided. During their placement year, students remain registered with the university and retain pastoral care from their tutors. Under university regulations placement students are required to pay fees at half the standard rate. There is a system of reports from students to the Placement Year Tutor to ensure that satisfactory progress is made. In addition, students are encouraged to keep in touch with their tutors and other key teaching staff by e-mail or other means. When practicable, students are visited in their host organisation during the placement year by the Degree Programme Director, the Placement Year Tutor or another member of teaching staff.

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City & Guilds

City and Guilds (C&G) was founded in 1878 and has been establishing and developing qualifications since then. The C&G Senior Awards are part of a structure that allows you to progress over seven levels (see diagram). They are designed to suit all abilities and experi-ence, and to enable progression. The University has recently been accepted as a deleg-ated authority for the C&G and has piloted a scheme using placement students from the FHN and Chemical Engineering Degree Programmes. Under this scheme placement stu-dents have been able to enter C&G awards at the Licentiateship level (LCGI) which is equi-valent to the NVQ level 4. The LCGI denotes the ability to understand and practice the prin-ciples of a professional activity in the context of the workplace and is based on the assess-ment of a portfolio of activity recorded during the placement year. Licentiates are entitled to use the letters LCGI after their name.

Level 7 Fellowship (FCGI)

 

   

Level 6 Membership (MCGI)

 

Level 5 Graduateship (GCGI)/Associateship (ACGI)* NVQ 5

Level 4 Licentiateship (LCGI) NVQ 4 Career Extension Master Full Technological Certificate

Level 2 NVQ 2 Intermediate GNVQ Vocational (non NVQ) General Education

 

Level 3 NVQ 3 Advanced GNVQ Vocational (non NVQ) Technological Baccalaureate General Education

Level 1 NVQ 1 Foundation GNVQ Vocational (non NVQ) Diploma of Vocational Education (Foundation) GCSE General Education

C&G awards are internationally recognised and have the special advantage that they represent workplace skills (as distinct from subject-specific skills learnt in the Degree Programme). As such the award of an LCGI is a major fillip for your CV. Participation in the C&G scheme is a compulsory part of the FHN placement year.

You will receive guidance about the scheme before you leave for your placement and throughout the placement year. When you return we will also facilitate the preparation of your portfolio through a workshop.

Further information about the C&G can be found on their web site at:http://www.city-and-guilds.co.uk

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STAGE 3

(a) All candidates shall take the following compulsory modules:

Code Title Total Credits

Credits SM1

Credits SM2

Credits SM3

Level Type

BIO3017 Biotechnology in the Food Industry

(10) (10) (0) (10) H

ACE3051 Human Nutrition and Health (10) (0) (10) (0) H

ACE3052 Human Nutrition (10) (10) (0) (0) H

ACE3053 Nutrition and Disease (10) (10) (0) (0) H

ACE3054 Plants as Food (10) (0) (10) (0) H

ACE3056 Food and Human Nutrition (10) (0) (10) (0) H

ACE3090 Project and Dissertation (30) (20) (10) (0) H

ACE3062 Sports and Exercise Nutrition (10) (10) (0) (0) H

ACE3057 Food and Human Nutrition – General Examination

(20) (10) (10) (0) H

(b) All candidates shall select, subject to the approval of the Degree Programme Director and as determined by the prerequisites for each module, further optional modules with a total value of 20 credits. These modules shall normally be selected from the following list:

Code Title Total Credits

Credits SM1

Credits SM2

Credits SM3

Level Type

ACE3066 European Food Marketing and Policy

(10) (0) (10) (0) H

ACE3040 Animal Product Quality and Marketing

(10) (0) (10) (0) H

BIO3015 Social Impact of Biology (10) (0) (10) (0) H

FRE1065 French : Level A* (20) (20) (0) (0) C

SPA1065 Spanish : Level A* (20) (20) (0) (0) C

* Students with an A-level in the relevant language should enrol for Level B

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Assessment Methods

(a) The following assessment methods will be used: written examination papers; in-course assessments of practical classes; in-course assessments of tutorial classes; assessment of essays; dissertation assessment; oral examinations.

Details of the assessment methods for each module are specified in the Degree Programme Handbook.

(b) A general paper, non-modular aggregated assessment, will be set at the end of the second semester of Stage 3. It will be equivalent, for the purpose of assessment, to a Stage 3 module with a value of 20 credits. The credit value is stated in the examination conventions for this degree programme and in the Degree Programme Handbook. The module is included for the purpose of assessing a student’s cross-modular understanding of learning material.

Honours Performance

Candidates will be assessed for Honours performance on the basis of the assessment of all the modules taken at Stage 2 plus all the modules taken at Stage 3. Stage 2 contributes 25 per cent and Stage 3 contributes 75 per cent towards Honours performance.

Transfer to the Ordinary Degree Programme for students registered before 2004

Students who do not satisfy the requirements to progress within the Honours degree programme but who do satisfy the requirements for progression within the Ordinary degree in Food and Human Nutrition may transfer to this Ordinary degree programme at the end of Stage 1 or Stage 2, or, on tutorial advice, during Stage 2. Such transfer will be subject to the approval of Faculty Progress and Concessions Committee.

Transfer from the Ordinary Degree Programmes for students registered before 2004

Transfer may be permitted from the Ordinary degree programmes of the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering into an Honours degree programme within the Faculty at the discretion of Faculty Progress and Concessions Committee and subject to the relevant regulations for the Ordinary degree programmes in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering.

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SECTION 2

Placement Information

2.1 Introduction

The placement year makes a very important contribution to both your academic and personal development during your degree programme. It is situated after Stage 2, so that you have extended your knowledge into areas specific for your degree programme and of relevance to your placement provider's business, and before Stage 3, so that your approach to your Stage 3 studies can take advantage of the increased maturity, better time management and other personal skills and appreciation of your academic subject's application gained while on placement.

The specific objectives of the Placement are:[Those marked with an asterix (*) correspond to the City and Guilds Units]

1. Demonstrate an ability to analyse own skills and experience prior to making applications2. Effective self presentation

On paper through CVs/applications forms and covering letters In person at interview (or other selection processes)

3. * Identify and develop an understanding of how your role contributes to the organisation achieving its goals

4. * Use interpersonal and communication skills to work co-operatively with others and take a leadership role where appropriate in order to achieve personal, team and organisational goals

5. * Acquire, evaluate and interpret information in a work setting and use it to solve problems and make appropriate decisions in line with the organisation’s aims

6. * Manage yourself, your time and your work effectively7. * Demonstrate that you have taken responsibility for your own development by setting

goals and targets and reviewing progress 8. * Identify and adhere to good (or best) practice in your placement environment in order to

set an example for others

At the stage of going on placement the first two of the above points will have been achieved as evidenced in the gaining of a placement position. It is the final six points which will be achieved during the next 9-12 months. Achievement of these objectives, and the satisfactory completion of a portfolio of evidence will lead to the Licentiateship award from the City & Guilds.

2.2 Assessment

The assessment of the placement year will be very different from that of the other parts of your degree programme. You will be required to reflect, at regular intervals, on the skills, both subject specific and personal, that you are developing during your placement. This will require identifying areas in which you perform well and also admitting to areas in which you perform less well. You will be able to set yourself targets for subsequent periods of the placement and assess to what extent you achieve those targets. These assessments will be formative, ie. they are designed to help you assess your own achievements, and they will undoubtedly be supported by appraisals from your workplace supervisor. In addition you will be required to collect evidence of the development of your workplace skills to submit in a portfolio for

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consideration of the City and Guilds Licentiateship award. This will be a summative assessment ie. it will occur at the end of your placement year and if the evidence submitted is deemed appropriate you will receive a qualification from a universally recognised authority to formally acknowledge the workplace skills developed during placement. When put together with your degree awarded on academic merit you will have a clearly recognisable set of academic and workplace skills which should enhance your opportunities of obtaining a high quality appointment on graduation.

2.3 Roles and Responsibilities

When you are on placement you must remember that you are an employee of your placement provider and are therefore expected to meet all the obligations of a normal employee of that organisation such as attending placement provider's induction programme, time keeping, meeting all health and safety requirements, holiday arrangements, etc. You must comply with any reasonable instructions given to you by your supervisor or other manager at your place of work. In addition you are acting as an ambassador for Newcastle University and, in particularly, for your degree programme. The way in which you behave during your placement can influence your placement provider's willingness to take subsequent placement students. Please make sure that you create as good an impression as possible with your employer.

2.3.1 Before starting your placement

You must attend a briefing meeting with the Placement Tutor prior to going on placement and you will be required to submit a form giving details of your pre-placement contact address (in case we need to contact you urgently), the name and address of your placement provider and the dates of your placement. You will also be required to confirm that you understand your commitments to the University and your employer during the placement year.

2.3.2 Contact with the Department during your placement

Your placement tutor will monitor your performance during your placement through submission of regular bimonthly progress reports. It is essential that all reports are submitted by you when requested and failure to do so will result in the Department requiring you to pay your assessment fees for the City and Guilds award which would otherwise be paid by the Department. You will be given a copy of the first progress report before you leave Newcastle and it is important that you complete this report and return it within a week or so of starting work. The report gives us details of how to contact you and allows us to ensure that appropriate arrangements have been made to enable you to settle in to your placement. (A copy of the form, Form 2, is included at the back of this handbook in case you have lost the original). Subsequent report forms will be sent to you at regular intervals. A blank form, Form 3, is included at the back of this handbook so that you know what you will have to fill in and can be thinking about it before the form actually arrives.

If your placement is on the UK mainland, and possibly if it is elsewhere, you will receive a visit from a member of Departmental staff within the first 5 months of your placement. This will provide the opportunity for a member of staff to see you in your workplace and to discuss your progress with both yourself and your supervisor. Placement supervisors will be asked to complete an assessment form during this visit and at the end of the placement to give their appraisal of your performance. A copy of this form, Form 4 is at the back of this handbook so that you know what your placement supervisor will be asked to fill in. For those students with overseas placements we will try to arrange a video conference between yourself, your supervisor and a member of Departmental staff during which your progress can be discussed.

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Most of you will have access to e-mail so you will be able to keep in contact with Departmental staff, in addition to your placement tutor, if necessary. In addition, you should keep in contact with other members of your year group and we will distribute a list of e-mail addresses for all placement students shortly after we receive all the first reports. Departmental e-mail addresses are shown on the next page. While you are on placement you remain a Newcastle University student and your NuSmart card will remain active whilst you are out on placement.

2.3.3 In case of difficulties

Very occasionally some problem may arise during your placement. In the first instance you should try to solve the problem yourself by initiating discussions with the most appropriate person (probably your supervisor). If you are unable to resolve the problem you should contact the placement tutor, your personal tutor or your degree programme director. You should outline the problem, what you have already done to try to solve it and why that has not been successful. You will then be contacted by someone from the Department who will, if necessary, make contact with your placement provider on your behalf. Please remember, though, that you are an employee of your placement provider and should not expect any special treatment. It is important that if real difficulties arise the Department is told as soon as possible because it is always easier to sort out problems as they arise rather than months later.

2.3.4 Health and Safety

While on placement the University retains responsibility for your health and safety . Before you go on placement your placement provider will be asked to complete a Health and Safety Checklist and return it to the Department. This will allow us to be sure that your employer has in place appropriate Health and Safety provision. Such provision is only effective if you take note of your Health and Safety induction at the company and any subsequent briefings. You should ensure that you: have received a copy of your placement provider's Health and Safety guidelines are aware of the action to be taken in case of an emergency have familiarised yourself with the layout of the building, the location of firefighting

appliances and how they work, position of emergency exits, position of telephones and first aid arrangements

know of any specific health and safety requirements if you are required to work off-site or out of normal working hours

report any accidents or incidents in accordance with placement provider's requirements

2.3.5 Personal liability and insurance responsibilities

For the majority of placements you will be covered by your employer's insurance. Alternatively, you will, if necessary, be covered by the University's indemnity insurance. Further details can be obtained from the Placement Tutor who will provide the necessary forms which the employer will need to complete.

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2.4 Contact Addresses

Dr Alan Younger (Head of School)2nd Floor, Agriculture Building e.mail: Alan.Younger@ncl.ac.uk

Dr Ashley J. AdamsonHuman Nutrition Research Centre, William Leech Building e-mail: A.J.Adamson@ncl.ac.uk

Dr Kirsten BrandtRoom 6.09, Agriculture Building e-mail: Kirsten.Brandt@ncl.ac.uk

Dr Heather Finlayson (Undergraduate Dean, SAgE)Room to be confirmed e-mail: Heather.Finlayson@ncl.ac.uk

Dr Georg Lietz (Stage 1 Tutor)Room to be confirmed e-mail: Georg.Lietz@ncl.ac.uk

Professor John Mathers (Stage 3 Tutor)William Leech Building e-mail: John.Mathers@ncl.ac.uk

Dr Chris Seal (Food & Human Nutrition Degree Programme Director and Placement Tutor)Room 604 e-mail: Chris.Seal@ncl.ac.uk

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School Office

School Teaching Administrator: Miss Tina Huddart

e-mail: Tina.Huddart@ncl.ac.uk

website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/afrd/

School Address:School of Agriculture, Food and Rural DevelopmentFaculty of Science, Agriculture and EngineeringAgriculture BuildingNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneNE1 7RU

Telephone: 0191 222 6600Fax: 0191 222 6720

Human Nutrition Research Centre

Human Nutrition Research CentreUniversity of Newcastle upon TyneWilliam Leech BuildingNewcastle upon TyneNE1 4LP

Secretary Miss Nicola StellingTel/Fax: 0191 222 5276e-mail: hnrc@ncl.ac.ukwebsite: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/hnrc/

Professor Mathers’ personal assistant

Mrs Gill McRae (mornings only)

Tel: 0191 222 8487e-mail: G.A.MacRae@ncl.ac.uk

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2.5 Placement Students 2007-2008

Below is a list of the placement students for the academic year 2007-2008. Use the space provided to add contact details which we will send to you when the information becomes available.

Food and Human Nutrition

Name Placement Organisation Contact e-mail/telephone

Boulton-Lear, Abigail

Briggs, Laura

Grewal, Amardeep

Jordon, Nicola

Lawrence, Alexandra

Malla, Sagun

McFarlane, Ian

Murray, Danielle

Neil, Carys

Rayner, Sarah-Jane

Samuels, Laura

Simpson, Sharon

Stote, Hannah

Thompson, Rachel

Upton, Hannah

Withnall, Stephanie

Yardley, Helen

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2.6 Using Blackboard on Placement

Your placement year is an exciting opportunity for you to gain really valuable experience, to apply things you have already learned and to gain an extra, internationally recognised qualification in the City & Guilds licentiateship.

To help you make the most of the opportunities you will have while you are on placement, we have developed a module in Blackboard with background information, hints and tips on gathering evidence for your portfolios, a calendar of important dates and so on. When you log on to the module, you will see something like this:

We suggest that you make Blackboard part of your working routine by logging on on a weekly basis to make sure that you keep up with any new developments. This is particularly important as City & Guilds are making changes to the Licentiateship and we will be able to keep you updated on any changes that might affect you.

If you cannot access Blackboard during your placement you must inform Chris Seal at the earliest possible opportunity.

The key areas of the module are Announcements, Course Documents, Assignments, Communication and Tools. You will find brief details about the module in the Course Information section and some biographical and contact information about the people involved in the module in the Staff Information section.

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This is a basic guide to the things we think you will find useful in the key areas of the module. If there are other things you want to use or want to know more about, go ahead or use the Discussion Boards to ask about it.

You will see new announcements when you log in to the module but you can use the menu button to return to the Announcements page if you need to re-read anything.

The Course Documents section contains most of the module content. Here you will find the Learning Outcomes that you will be working towards and a Unit to provide support and information for each of these outcomes. We suggest that you try to work through the Units early on in your placement to give yourself plenty of opportunities to gather evidence to present in your portfolio.

Forms to fill in at the start of your placement and on a bi-monthly basis can be found in this section. They are Microsoft Word documents and you can fill them in on the screen, save them (make sure you choose the folder you save them into so that you can easily identify them later otherwise they will probably end up in an obscure ‘attachments’ folder somewhere). You can then use the Digital Drop box (see under Tools) to submit them.

Discussion Board – this contains two areas where you can take part in discussions with each other, two members of staff (Chris Seal and Joanne Allison) and one postgrad student (Angela Jones) who graduated in 2002 having successfully completed a placement and the City & Guilds qualification. The areas are:

o Workplace Issueso City & Guilds issues

Group Pages – this contains another Discussion area but this one is just for you. There are no staff in this area (although Angela will be around) so you can ask questions you might feel you don’t want to ask in front of Chris! Or just swap invitations to parties, opinions on the latest Justin Timberlake video… The area is called Social chit-chat and gossip

RosterTo view other people’s Homepages, click on Roster and then search for a name or click on ‘List all’ to get the complete list of people on the module. You can just click on a name to see people’s home page.

Digital Drop Box – you can use this to submit reports or other documents. Don’t forget to choose Send File to submit your work. Once you have submitted it, your file will still be in your Drop Box but it will have a note of the date and time it was submitted. This is quite a good way of having somewhere to store your documents that will still be accessible after you leave your placement.

Edit your Homepage – it would be great if everyone had the opportunity to find out a bit about what everyone else is doing. Choose this option to add a few basic details about where you are working and what kind of job you have. You can add links to a few of your favourite websites too – how about one to the website of the organisation you’re working for?

You will also find the Calendar in this section. You will see any immediate calendar events when you log in to Blackboard but you can choose the Calendar area from here if you want to look ahead.

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FORM 1NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY

School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

PLACEMENT YEAR INFORMATION

Pre-placement contact address:

Name:…………………………………………………………………………………………

Address:………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Telephone:……………………………………………………………………………………

Available at above address until:…………………………………………………………..

Placement:Name of Institution or Company:…………………………………………………………..

Address of Institution or Company:………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Telephone:……………………………………………………………………………………

Starting date in placement: ……………………………

Projected completion date:……………………………

I have received and agree to read the Placement Year Handbook Yes/No

I understand my commitments to the University and my employer during the placement year in relation to:

Health and Safety Yes/No

Completion of reports to the University as required Yes/No

Collection of necessary evidence for the City and Guilds portfolio Yes/No

My behaviour as a representative of the University Yes/No

Signed: ………………………….. Name: ……………………………. Date: ……………

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FORM 2NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY

School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

PLACEMENT YEAR (First Report)

The purpose of this report is to make sure that we have all of your details up to date during your placement year and to ensure that the initial requirements of the placement are satisfactory and to identify at the earliest opportunity any problems that you may have. Please complete the form and return it to me as soon as possible. If any of your details change, particularly your accommodation address, please inform us immediately.

Your name:

A. Work related matters

1.

Placement organisation

name

Address

Telephone

Fax

Email address [if available]

2. Title or description of your job:

3. Have you been assigned a particular project? Yes/No

If Yes, please give a brief summary of the work in which you will be involved

4. Have the aims and objectives of the placement been clearly outlined? Yes/No

5. Has your role in your workgroup been identified? Yes/No

6. Has your role in the organisation been identified? Yes/No

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7. Have specific targets and deadlines been set for you? Yes/No

8. Do you see a link between your present work and your studies at University? Yes/No

Comment:

9. Do you see a link between this work and the kind of work you would like to be involved with in the future? Yes/No

Comment:

10. Has the host organisation identified a member of staff (supervisor) to whom you are responsible? Yes/No

If yes, please give details of your supervisor

Name

Designation (job title)

Telephone number

Email address

11. How much contact do you have with your supervisor? (choose one of the following or give details)

Daily Weekly Monthly

Once at start of placement Not yet made contact

Comments:

12. Have you encountered any problems with your salary payments (if applicable)

Comments:

13. Will you be required to work shift work? Yes/No

14. Are transport arrangements satisfactory if you need to work late? Yes/No

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B. Workplace induction

1. Please indicate which of the following have been dealt with during your induction to the company.

Introduced to key staff members and their roles explained Yes/No/NA

Lunch, tea and coffee arrangements Yes/No/NA

Holiday and sickness arrangements Yes/No/NA

Place of work Yes/No/NA

Dress code Yes/No/NA

Work space Yes/No/NA

How to answer the telephone, transfer calls and make calls

both internally and externally

Yes/No/NA

Post arrangements Yes/No/NA

Car parking Yes/No/NA

Health and Safety IssuesHave you attended a health and safety briefing? Yes/No/NA

Emergency procedures Yes/No/NA

Safety policy received or location known Yes/No/NA

Location of First Aid box Yes/No/NA

First Aid arrangements (including names of first aiders) Yes/No/NA

Fire procedures and location of fire extinguishers Yes/No/NA

Accident reporting and location of accident book Yes/No/NA

COSHH regulations/requirements Yes/No/NA

Display Screen Equipment regulations/procedures Yes/No/NA

Manual handling procedures Yes/No/NA

Protective clothing arrangements Yes/No/NA

Instruction on equipment you will be using (list equipment) Yes/No/NA

Other issues

It is your responsibility to clarify with your employer any points listed in the table above concerning your workplace induction that are relevant to your placement but about which you have not received any information.

2. (a) Have you asked your supervisor whether or not you are coveredby the company insurance while working on your placement? Yes/No

(b) Are you covered by your company's insurance? Yes/NoIf the answer is no, please contact Chris Seal immediately.

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C. Personal matters

1. Please provide your accommodation address:

Telephone:

2. Which address would you like us to use if we need to write to you during your placement year? Work/Accommodation

3. Do you have or anticipate any specific problems with which you would like our help? Yes/No

Comments:

If there are any confidential matters which you would like to discuss with your tutor, please do not hesitate to contact him or her (see Section 2.4 of handbook). If you prefer to speak with the placement tutor or Degree Programme Director (DPD) then please do so.

Food and Human Nutrition Placement TutorDr Chris Seal (Placement Tutor and DPD)0191 222 7650 (with voicemail)chris.seal@ncl.ac.uk

The School address is: School of Agriculture, Food and Rural DevelopmentAgriculture BuildingUniversity of Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU

The AFRD School office telephone number is 0191 222 6900

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FORM 3NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY

School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

BIOMONTHLY REPORT ON PLACEMENT YEAR

[MONTH YEAR]

Your Name:

Date:

Summary of work since last report

Did you achieve the targets you set?

Work targets set for the next period [or the end of the placement]

Any other comments or queries

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FORM 4SUPERVISOR’S REPORT ON THE PROGRESS

OF INDUSTRIAL PLACEMENT STUDENTS

Name of Company:.........................................................................................

Name of Industrial Supervisor:........................................................................

Name of Student: ..........................................................................................

Please could you give a brief overview of the student’s activities

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Has the student’s background knowledge been sufficient for the work undertaken?

YES/NO

If not please specify the areas in which the student has been deficient

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Has the student been punctual? YES/NO

Has the student been conscientious? YES/NO

Has the student displayed initiative? YES/NO

Has the student fitted into the working environment? YES/NO

Has the student done any literature searches, reports and/or presentations? YES/NO

For laboratory based placements onlyHas the student’s experimental technique been GOOD / AVERAGE / POOR

If the answer is YES what was the standard of the student’s work

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Overall, how would you rate the student’s performance compared to other Industrial Placement Students you have worked with?

VERY GOOD / GOOD / AVERAGE / BELOW AVERAGE / POOR

Please add any comments that you would like to make concerning the student.

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………....………………………………………………………………………………….24