MSc Geographical Information Science

• The course prepares students with job search strategies to undertake a practical work experience in the environmental and geospatial industries. To do so, it offers them a chance to complete one of two forms of applied study: internal or external.
• Students looking to move into the environmental or geospatial industries will have to opportunity to search for and complete a 3-week work placement at an external employer. Students interested in a research career may undertake an internal placement through association with a member of staff and work alongside them in ongoing research projects.
• Students are responsible for finding their own suitable placement either externally or internally attached to a research project. They will be assisted in this by the interactive sessions from the course leader and teaching assistant and the University Careers Service and will be encouraged to consult course staff for potential contacts.
• Preparation sessions 1, 2, and 3 will take place in semester 1. Session 4 will be mid-semester 2 before Easter, with a final debrief session at end of term. Additional drop-in sessions are available throughout the year to address specific needs or opportunities.
• The placements will typically take place during semester 2, either running ‘long and thin’ (1 or 2 days per week) throughout the semester 1 & 2, or in a more concentrated period e.g. over the Easter vacation. Exact timing will be variable to retain flexibility for employers and students, but all placements must be completed by the end of April in Semester 2 in order for students to complete their assignments in a timely fashion.

The unit aims to:

Give students experience of the practical applications of their studies in an industrial or research setting, and, consequently, to enhance student employability and skills acquisition in a professional setting.

The 15-day placement, either internal or external, will provide a real-world experience in the workplace. Students will use several job search strategies, gain work experience (or increase their previous experience), apply their knowledge form their studies into the job market, learn soft skills such as teamwork and collaboration, and increase professional networking for future employment.

• The unit will support students to develop their digital learning, and information, media and data literacies.
• Blackboard Collaborate for digital communication, collaboration and participation.
• Sharing digital resources and content.
• Engaging with university platforms including the VLE, email, and library.

Semester 1
- Session 1: Overview of the course (Week 1)
- Session 2: Careers talk and finding a placement (Week 5)
- Session 3: Internal placement projects (Week 7)

Semester 2
- Session 4: Placement updates and health and safety (Week 1)
- Session 5: Placement progress and diary assignments (Week 5)
- Session 6: Placement feedback and reflective writing (Week 7)

A combination of teaching and learning methods are employed to provide students with the necessary knowledge, structure, and opportunities to achieve the learning outcomes. Lectures focus on appropriate job search strategy, health and safety, and reflection on the work experience. Hands-on practical learning through the work experience also provides students with significant experience that will enable them to link their academic studies with professional skill acquisition. Diary entries on Blackboard will be utilised to facilitate learning, reflection, and feedback.

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of environmental/geospatial industries.
• Demonstrate understanding of the placement work.

• Reflect on the way in which their classroom studies relate to the commercial or research applications of their discipline.
• Reflect on how the placement contributes to their discipline.

• Apply a range of employment search strategies.
• Undertake practical experience of the application of their studies either in industry or in a research context.

• Demonstrate the ability to work with the correct ethos in a professional environment.
• Demonstrate collaboration and teamwork experience.

A1: Workplace Diary - Every 5 days of work placement.

A2: Reflective Report - After completion of work placement (end of Semester 2).

• Material supplied by the careers service. 
• Applied geography publications such as Applied Geography, Journal of Geography in Higher Education and The Professional Geographer, among others. 
• Industry specific trade journals are also useful reading.