Nikki Abbott (HESCU funded research project) PLACEMENTS How effective are they and why students choose not to do them? Nikki Abbott (HESCU funded research project)

A bit of background... Employability adviser for Bioscience and Chemistry Placement years are an important part of the course However placements are non- compulsory Want to know Who chooses/ is able to go on placement? Why don't students go on placement? ?

Why is a placement important? for Bioscience and Chemistry studenta

Importance of a placement 25% improvement on highly skilled graduate employment/ study outcome Former Bioscience placement students earned on average £3,600 more, 6 months after graduation It improves grades (4% improvement)* Based on DLHE data (Driffield, 2011)(Gomez, 2018)

Problem for the department! Only a third choose to do a placement/ are successful Many of the placements are only funded with a loan (for example over 20 unpaid Sheffield University and NHS biomedical science roles)

What was I looking at? Demographic variations in placement choice Barriers to completion of a placement year What we can do to help

What did I do? Questionnaire Final year and second year students (n=164) Completion voluntary Student Data analysis 2014 start cohort analysed using data from SHU's online student database (SITS Online). Destination of Leavers of Higher Education

Second year students considering placement % A placement would improve job chances 94 I am definitely wanting to do a placement 78.8 I want to work in science upon graduation 74.7 I am looking forward to doing placement year 68.7 Location is important to me 58.6 I am anxious about the application process 53.5 Being paid is important to me 52.5 I want a placement close to my family 37.1 I know what I want to do when I graduate 33.3 I want to stay near friends 29 I am confident about the application procedure 14.1 I have enough relevant work experience 13.1 I have childcare issues when considering placements 7.1 Placement choice is dependent on care issues 6

Mature students Had the highest levels of unemployment and the lowest proportion of students progressing into highly skilled employment or postgraduate study. Were the least confident in their experiences, yet were significantly less likely to do a placement. Were statistically more likely to say that location was important to them. Had higher proportions affected by childcare and other care issues. Had higher proportions agreeing that being paid was important to them Higher proportions wanted to stay in the Sheffield region and want a placement close to their family.

Demographics Demographics (total student population =256) % Final Year non placement students (172) % Current placement students (85) male 52.9 43.4 female 47.1 56.6 non polar 3 Q1 80.8 84.3 polar 3 Q1 19.2 15.7 white 74.4 86.6 BME 16.3 13.4 no known disability 79.1 77.1 disabled 20.9 22.9 mature (delayed entry by at least a year) 29.1 14.5 non mature 70.9 85.5

Unemployment levels of DLHE 2016/17 full-time UG cohort 18%

Issues Those most in need of local placements are those least likely to get them This in turn means it is harder for those students to find local graduate employers (they have missed out on local networking opportunities)

Some of what Sheffield Hallam does: Bioscience dept offers 1 or 2 paid placements Recommends work experience, advertises and locates roles Graduate internships Mentor programmes/ fairs/ networking events Volunteering Venture matrix (usually devising school lessons)

Recommendations for an Applied University 1 Practical support such as financial assistance in the form of bursaries for unpaid placements, childcare, travel and accommodation support to students (Better use of graduate internship money?) Internal placements (both short and yearlong) as part of course Provision of a wide variety of assessed activities within the curriculum volunteering/ venture matrix Develop partnerships between universities and industries, specifically with local and regional companies (final year projects/ networking) 2 3 4

Comments from students Comments from students.. 'I have children and wish to do a placement closer to home for childcare and travelling issues' 'lone parent/ no afterschool or sitters, with mortgage and bills. have to be home for 4 for children's' transport' 'I will have to have a paid placement and I will be doing a masters and will have to do pays fees and childcare' 'If it is close to Sheffield it would be great because I have childcare issues and I will have accommodation issues' 'I have my own home with my partner so the placement needs to be in commuting distance'

' Unpaid placements': Ethical Dilemma? Best practice initiatives? Over to you... ' Unpaid placements': Ethical Dilemma? Best practice initiatives?