1. SUPPORTING
STUDENTS' PLACEMENT
SEEKING ACTIVITIES
By Melissa, Stephanie, Matilda, Komal & Arif
Mentored by Michelle Blackburn

2. Overview
• Project in support of 'I'm developing
my...' brand.
• Aim is to produce recommendations
for L4 and L5 format and content of
communications.

3. Rationale
• The relationship between work placements, in sandwich
courses, and subsequent short-term employment
outcomes tend to find sandwich students are
advantaged in the labour market.
• The student dynamics are also evolving with many
students being mature or international
• Sheffield Hallam imbeds placements within its ethos –
yet some students are still not taking the sandwich year
(Bowes and Harvey, 1999; Mason et al., 2003).

4. Aim & Objectives
Aim:
• To produce recommendations for L4 and L5 format and
content of communications.
Objectives:
• Review L4 and L5 students understanding and motivation to
look for a placement
• Identify routes to more effectively communicate placements
with L4 and L5 students
• Examine the sources of support that were highly valued by
placement seeking students
• Establish the motivating factors that influence a students'
decision to do a placement

5. Methodology

6. Methodology
Approach:
• Socrative in lectures during semester two
placement briefings across level four and
level five
• 18 open and closed questions for level
four
• 19 open and closed questions for level five
• 366 Responses (159 Level 4, 207 Level 5)

7. Strengths & Limitations
Size and breadth of our sample
Using smart phones
Socrative collated data together in Excel
The scope and areas covered
× Participant fatigue
× Some courses not represented and levels
× Design of questions within the technology
× Timetabling and attendance

8. Findings
• For detailed
findings please
see our report
Student Executives
SUPPORTING STUDENTS' PLACEMENT
SEEKING ACTIVITIES
Overview:
Project in support of 'I'm developing my...' brand
focusing on delivering recommendations for pre-
placement preparation support for Level 4 and
placement seeking support for Level 5, UK and
international students.
Aim is to produce recommendations for L4 and L5
format and content of communications.
Melissa Turner, Matilda Hawes,
Komal Mirza, Stephanie Tsepo
Masuwa and Arif Muradi
Mentored by: Michelle Blackburn,
Sheffield Business School

9. Recommendations
• Additional research
– More varied sample
– Both levels, across all courses that do placements
– Different lectures
– Level 5 semester 1
– Would Level 5’s have liked more support with
internships when in Level 4
• Promotion of Placement Rep. scheme
– Placement Reps. introduced at Level 4
– Placement Reps. paired up with seminar groups

10. Recommendations
• Assistance for Level 4’s finding internships
– Internship portal
• More application guidance in seminars
– Including help finding information
• Timetabling in Employability Fairs to
increase attendance
– Use text reminder system too
• More partnering with employers

11. Thank You
• For everyone who is here tonight.
• To our guest speakers throughout the student
executive experience.
• To the academics that let us crash their briefings
and collect our data!
• Our mentors (Michelle, Rachel and James).
• Jordan for his legendary support.
• Ruth, Derek and Chris for Bake Off Assistance
and Cameron for judging.
• To each other and our fellow team members for
supporting and inspiring each other.