Institute of Technology Carlow Curriculum

Preparation for work placement will take place in Y3 Semester 1. It is provided in two ways: Pre-placement academic support and Placement Office support. Pre-placement Academic Support: Learners will engage with lectures, workshops and tutorials to prepare for placement search & engagement with the Placement Office. The focus of these contact hours will be supporting learners with (but not exclusively): identification of career opportunities and development of a placement search strategy; development of job application skills and documentation; networking; professionalism in the workplace; assessment criteria & rubrics, guidance on reflective writing and maintaining their reflective journal. Placement Office Support: Learners will register with the Placement Office and engage with the office in support of securing their placement.

The Work Placement experience will enable learners to participate in a work placement or an EU funded ERASMUS+ Traineeship with an organisation engaged in business / activities related to the learner's studies, in Ireland or abroad. The placement is weighted at 30 ECTS and will last a minimum 12 weeks (420 hours). It is scheduled to commence in Semester 2 of Stage 3 of the programme however, it may begin or extend or take place at another time with negotiation but must be completed before commencement of Semester 1 of Stage 4. The learner will be supported by the Placement Office, Careers Office and International Office (where relevant). Learners will be appointed an Academic Mentor who will undertake a minimum of one on-site visit if located in the island of Ireland, or on-line progress interviews if located outside the island of Ireland and assessment of learner submissions. The Placement Office will act as point of contact for all stakeholders - employers, Academic Mentors and learners, and will manage all logistics of the placement module.