Volunteering in the Community
A101CSU

1. MODULE SUMMARY

Aims and Summary

This module provides students with an opportunity to gain practical experience and understanding of a local voluntary or community based agency. This is achieved by participating as a volunteer for a minimum of20 mutually agreed hours and activity. This should enable students to develop a number of transferable skills such as problem-solving, initiative and teamwork.

The module will also enable the student to analyse and reflect on their existing level of employability competencies, strengths and weaknesses, and to help them plan how to further develop these competencies from the learning experience.

Module Size and credits

Module size / Half
CATS points / 10.0
ECTS credits / 5.0
Open/Restricted / Open
Availability on/off campus / On Campus only
Total student study hours / 100
Number of weeks / 22
School responsible / Central Registry Board
Academic Year / 2017–2018

Entry Requirements (pre-requisites and co-requisites)

None

Excluded Combinations

None

Composition of module mark (including weighting of components)

100% Coursework

Pass requirements

Module Mark must be at least 40%

Special Features

A Minimum of 20 hours of voluntary activity.

Students musthave CRB clearance as this is a legal requirement for anyone working with young people under 18 years of age, or vulnerable adults, on a one-to-one basis. Students will need to provide specific information and produce forms of identity to the University to complete this process

Course stages for which this module is mandatory

None

Course stages for which this module is a core option

None

2. TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT

Intended Module Learning Outcomes

The intended learning outcomes are that on completion of this module the student should be able to:

1. Describe the organisation with which they are volunteering for, identifying their aims and objectives.

2.Discuss the benefits and pitfalls of the voluntary sector from the perspective of a volunteer and the organisation.

3. Reflect on their employability skills to identify areas for development.

Indicative Content

There are up to 10 hours of teaching sessions covering areas including introduction to the module, developing employability skills, a review of the impact of volunteering and completing reflective portfolios.

The remainder of the module is the experience and completion of activities for a minimum of 25 hours.

In this module you will have the opportunity to reflect upon how the module content supports and enhances employability/career development.

Teaching and Learning

This module will include up to 10 hours of teaching sessions held on campus to ensure that students are fully conversant with appropriate good practice and legislation where applicable. Students will be provided with the opportunity to identify their skills both before and post volunteering in element of the learning experience through the practical participation in a volunteering opportunity.

Student activity and time spent on each activity comprises:

Guided / 20 hours / (20%)
Placement / 40 hours / (40%)
Project Supervision / 12 hours / (12%)
Self guided / 26 hours / (26%)
Tutorial / 2 hours / (2%)
Total / 100 hours

Method Of Assessment (normally assessed as follows)

Coursework one (10 credits)

All of the intended learning outcomes will be summatively assessed through the production of a reflective portfolio that includes evidence of learning and development undertaken during the volunteering teaching experience and demonstrates that you have achieved the module’s intended learning outcomes. This portfolio will enable students to provide evidence of the employability competencies they have used or develop during this module.

Re-assessment: For students who have successfully completed their volunteering placement, re-assessment will be by submission of a new reflective portfolio.

For students who did not successfully complete their volunteering placement,

Re-assessment can only be via re-attendance (i.e. completing a new volunteering placement).

Date of last amendment

March 2013

3. MODULE RESOURCES

Click here to access the module reading list via the University's Resource Lists system.

Required Equipment

None

4. MODULE ORGANISATION

Module leader

Name / Mr P Burt
Telephone number / 655249
E-mail /

Length and month of examination

None

Common Exam(s)

None

Exam Equipment Required

None

Expected teaching timetable slots

Note that some tutorials/seminars may be provided at times other than those shown below. Timetable information should be verified with the School responsible for the module

Occurrence / Day / Start Time / End time / Location
A / Thursday / 04:00 pm / 06:00 pm / UNI
B / Thursday / 04:00 pm / 06:00 pm / UNI

Subject Quality and Approval information

Board of Study / Central Registry Board
Subject Assessment Board / Registry Board
Shortened title / VOLUNTEER IN THE COMM
Date of approval by BoS / 18-Feb-2015