Work- Based Learning

Assessment: Pre-placement evaluation

There are few work placement vacancies for students in different work placement organisations. In each placement, there are three stakeholders involved in the evaluation of placements and each have an important role to play.

The college/ University Host institutions/employers Placement students

In order to achieve high quality placements, where student learning is facilitated effectively, the college requires you to provide a pre-placement evaluation assessment. This includes the evaluation of the potential placement and yourself.

Task 1- Self-evaluation of the student:

Your ability and achievements to date Your previous experience
Your discipline- and work-related preferences Any special support requirements you may need
In general terms, your personality. Are you shy or outgoing, dependent or independent?

Task 2 - You are required to provide information on the following when evaluating potential placement opportunities:

1) The placement provider/host institution.

The nature of the company or institution (mission/scope of industry/company profile) The nature of placement work envisaged
The role and status of the student while on placement
The support for learning, e.g. induction, teaching/training provision, library and/or computing facilities available for the student
The culture of the host institution: Is it supportive of students as individuals?

2) Evaluate the organisational structure of the workplace?
Here you will need to identify and explain the different types of organisation structures such as Functional, Divisional, Matrix structures etc.

3) Analyse the Internal, External and Industry Environment in which the work placement operates

Here you will explain the various business environments, commenting on issues or drivers of change and how they can affect the activities of the organisation. Include commentaries on PESTLE framework, Five Forces and Resource audit

4) Using the theories of management evaluate the management practices in the work placement.

Here you will need to consider the impact of the theories of management on current management practices in organisations. The theories of management include: Classical, Behavioural, Human relations, Contingency theories etc.

Task 3 - Based on your self-evaluation and the work placement evaluation what is the career path for you in the work placement?