BY RORY EAVES
In a world where Microsoft advertised a job that requires 8 years experience in a programming language that has only existed for 5, it’s quite obvious how highly companies value prior work experience. That, however, can be difficult to come by for new graduates, which is why more and more students are opting for courses that offer the opportunity of a placement.
Placements come in 2 varieties – work or study. Both are pretty self-explanatory, and you might be quick to dismiss study placements as less worth your while (who would choose to study for an extra year willingly?); however, that isn’t the case. Both forms of placements have their pros and cons, but one thing that they share in common is that they both stand out on a CV.
2020 has, unsurprisingly, brought its fair share of challenges. Due to the global Coronavirus Pandemic, placements are in jeopardy, with many not going ahead at all. Not only is this disappointing for students in terms of missing out on one of the most rewarding and valuable experiences of their lives, it also brings with it a host of logistical challenges too.
From a student perspective, planning a placement can be a long, arduous process. The options are often overwhelming to say the least. Perhaps the biggest challenge is the decision between work or study, closely followed by where you go. The placement planning process takes most of your 2nd year, from applications to housing requests, it’s a lot of effort, but ultimately worth the reward.
Dave Walkden is a Senior Exchange Coordinator with Plymouth Global, the arm of the University of Plymouth that manages both work and study placements. He can’t stress the vitality of placements enough.
“There are a number of well-documented benefits students can accrue from studying abroad during their degree. For instance, research by Universities UK consistently shows that students who have studied abroad are more likely than those who haven’t to achieve a higher classification of degree. And, six months after graduating, less likely to be unemployed and more likely to be on a higher starting salary… But maybe the greatest value is the intrinsic personal development that comes from stepping outside your comfort zone and making a success of it. All our lecturers will describe the student who returns from their mobility to begin their final year as a different person to the one that left these shores to begin their mobility at the end of their first year.”
Placements are available for a plethora of 3 year courses offered by the University of Plymouth, however they’re rarely a requirement. This isn’t the case however for BA International Business. BA International Business is unique in the fact that a year’s worth of work or study placements is a mandatory requirement in order to complete their course. The Plymouth Gazette is home to a number of BA International Business students (or BAIBs, pronounced “babes”, as they tend to be called), the majority of which have been negatively impacted by losing their placement opportunity and have had to make the difficult decision to transition straight to their final year. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, was meant to be in Manchester on a Business Analyst placement.
“I felt disappointed and sad of course [that the placement was cancelled last minute], because I was really looking forward to it. I don’t think it would impact me a lot after graduation seeing as the pandemic is still going on and serves as the biggest threat so far. However after graduating there is the plan of working for a significant amount of time, and I believe it will be around the same area such as marketing, to help fund my masters if I still choose to do so afterwards.”
Not everyone was so unlucky though. Poppy Orla Carroll was lucky enough to bag a placement with City College Plymouth, working for the International and Strategic Partnerships Department.
“Having been a student at the college before, it’s completely different now with the coronavirus regulations. There are a limited number of staff permitted in each office, the college has a one-way system in place, and we have to wear masks everywhere except for in our own office “bubbles”. In addition to this, COVID has meant that we don’t have the same number of international students that we usually would have. Days have been condensed so that students are doing a set number of full days at college, rather than more part-time days.”
It’s not just business courses that are affected by the placement disruption. Educational courses and psychology students have also experienced difficulties.
Abi Horning, a final year psychology student, was also due to undertake a placement that had to be cancelled last minute.
“I was disappointed as it was a long process to get the placement and I was excited about moving to London. However, with the current situation, I don’t think I would have had the full experience anyway. I don’t think I’ll be disadvantaged because it was an optional placement year anyway and I can reapply for their post-grad placement. I think I will look for a similar opportunity afterwards though potentially not in London or with Bosch, it depends on the circumstances but I’d like to do some form of HR placement or grad scheme to gain the experience I would have if this placement had gone ahead.”
Dave Walkden also highlighted the stark failure rate of placement opportunities this year, citing both COVID and Brexit as contributing factors.
“In February 2020, at the end of the 2020/21 application round, we had approved nearly 100 outgoing student mobilities abroad (study and work). At the last count in September we had 23 students mobile for the full academic year or semester 1, with another 22 hoping to be mobile in semester 2. So, a drop-out rate of at least 50% which is very disappointing, not only for the students but for us being unable to help these students to realise their dreams, especially as it is often a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
If there is anything positive to come out of this less-than-ideal situation, it’s the resilience and adaptability of the classes of 2020 and 2021. 2020 has sure been one hell of a downward spiral, and university students have been left at the wayside somewhat more than most, especially with graduation ceremonies being cancelled.
If you’re reading this and are contemplating a placement next academic year, you may be hesitant to apply, but in the words of Dave Walkden…
“Go for it! None of us know the future but what we do know is that you won’t go if you don’t apply; when you do, we’ll be here to help you every step of the way. As Anke says in the video “This is the best time in your life. You are young, you have the structures and support from the university, and it is the best training opportunity for your future.”
For more information about placement years and whether you would be able to do one, email your personal tutor, or speak to Plymouth Global.